A dream home of your own

This year's Homes by Avi Stampede Rotary Dream Home takes on urban eateries and foodie fanatics

While kicking up their heels and tasting the latest deep fried treats, visitors to the Calgary Stampede also have a chance to win the home of their dreams while supporting a good cause.

In its 19th year, the Homes by Avi Stampede Rotary Dream Home is the major funding initiative for the Rotary Club of Calgary South. "The Rotary Club of Calgary South funds our many community projects through the generous donation of time and money by club members, our partners, and many volunteers," said the Rotary. "The money raised by our Dream Home project goes directly to the community."

Homes by Avi constructed its first home in 1995. After taking a year off, they returned and have
built every Dream Home since.

"It's really about helping out Rotary Club of South Calgary and the Stampede Lotteries," said Christian Orme, corporate marketing and sponsorship manager with Homes by Avi. "We try and design and build a home that's going to sell tickets, that's our main objective to get people through the door, liking the home, wanting to buy tickets so we can in turn give back to the rotary and the charities they support."

ChristianOrmeweb

Orme explained the inspiration behind this year's home was urban eateries.

"You see [a] kind of open concept from the kitchen to the dining room to the living room," he said. "It's really based around that entertaining vibe and brining your friends over and having a good time; and also the urban cultivation of your own as well - there's another feature upstairs off the bonus room that's a little outdoor herb garden."

Once the home is toured by thousands of Stampede visitors and a winner is announced, it's broken
down into seven pieces and will be moved to a foundation in the southeast community of Walden. The new homeowners take possession around October.

"The [design process for the next year] starts right after that," said Orme. "Our design team, the architects, come up with that theme, then we work with them to get next year's home. So it's kind of a year long process."

Hand in hand with this year's urban-themed home is an online photo contest put on by Homes
By Avi encouraging photo buffs to show off their favourite food. Photos can be Tweeted to @homesbyaviyyc hashtagged with #myfavefood. Entries will be put in a draw for a private cooking class for the winner and 11 friends including a five-course meal and wine pairing.