The Inn of the Good Shepherd had some star power on the judges’ panel for this year’s Canstruction event Sunday at Lambton Mall.
Damon Bennett, a builder and television personality, was recruited to be a judge at this year’s structure-building event by the Inn after he moved in the fall from Toronto to the Sarnia area.
Bennett has worked for nearly two decades in television, including Holmes on Holmes and Love It or List It, along with other media work and running a construction company.
He moved in October to Sarnia where his wife, Chana Mayer, attended the former SCITS high school before she moved to Toronto where they met.
Bennett helped congratulate winners Sunday when the Inn of the Good Shepherd announced the results of this year’s judging of 11 structures volunteer teams created the day before from cans and boxes of food that will end up restocking shelves at the charity’s food bank.
Bennett said his life has been “pretty hectic” since he started in television but the pause that came with the pandemic got him thinking.
“We made the decision to pack up. . . and move to where my wife’s family is to be closer to everybody and enjoy a smaller community,” he said.
“We’re happy to be here. It’s a fantastic community.”
Bennett is already finding ways to be part of life in Sarnia, helping out at the recent Coldest Night of Year Walk for Habitat for Humanity, as well as taking up the Inn’s invitation to help judge Canstruction.
“It’s a very good cause and I’m happy to be part of it,” he said.
“I’m very much looking forward to a slower pace of life, even though I still own my business in Toronto,” he said. “I have to keep it going because now I’m on Love It or List It, the TV show.”
But, he said, Sarnia “is what I call home now.”
Bennett said he has also formed Bennett Building Company along with a local partner and is working with others the community to encourage more local residents to consider working in the homebuilding trades.
“We have a labor shortage here in Sarnia,” he said. “Residential housing needs people badly.”
Benefits for workers include paid apprenticeships and the ability to start a career without student debt, Bennett said.
Canstruction returned to Sarnia this year after a forced two-year break because of the pandemic.
This year’s teams sourced 42,512 food items in total to make the structures.
“We’re figuring it’s a three week supply of food for us which, in one event, is a tremendous effort,” said Myles Vanni, executive director for the Inn of the Good Shepherd.
“This is an incredible community,” he said. “The heart and the caring that you share in making sure neighbors are looked after is tremendous.”
This year’s Canstruction winners:
Judges’ Favorite – Pembina;
Most cans – Carpenters Local 1256, with 15,792 food items;
Best rookie team – Cope Construction;
Best use of this year’s theme (Making Hunger History) – Remax;
Best meal – Shell;
Structural ingenuity – Carpenters Local 1256;
Best use of labels – Pembina;
Juniors, outstanding structure – Franco-Jeunesse, Francophone Community Center.
The structures will remain at the mall until April 12 and during that time members of the public can make cash donations at each structure. The totals will be added up to determine this year’s People’s Choice winner.