Halloween contestants prove they have the “fright” stuff

Knives were drawn this week in the fiercely-fought FoM pumpkin carving contest, but the only casualties were four orange gourds who spilled their guts for a chance at glory.

In the end, the team from Undergraduate Medical Education (UGME) took top honours with a jocular jack-o’-lantern inspired by Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

“We’re going for the Cheshire Cat,” explained master carver Jenn Therrien, a member of the UGME support staff, whose pumpkin also won a nod for “best craftwork.” 

VIP judge and Faculty of Medicine COO Michelle Émard awarded honourable mentions to the three other competing teams. “Scariest entry” went to the ghoulish gourd by the team from Procurement and Logistics. 

“I don’t think we’re the most talented team, but we’ve got heart,” said team member Thierry Gibeault.

The Faculty Affairs team was cited for “best theme” with its medically-inspired creation, while the team from the International and Global Health Office (IGHO), who carved their pumpkin to resemble a globe of the Earth, got the nod for “most original.” 

“We did the whole world in an hour!” exclaimed pumpkin craftswoman Diane Cyr, upon completion of the planetary squash. 

The pumpkin carving contest was just one in a series of events in the Halloween edition of Wellness Week, organized by the Faculty Wellness Program. The week included a scavenger hunt, art therapy class, massage therapy session, costume competition, and door decorating contest. 

Results of the costume competition were not available at press time. 

The winner of the door decorating contest will be determined based on the number of “likes” garnered by each door on the uOttawa Faculty Affairs Facebook page. To view more pumpkin photos and vote in the door decorating contest, go to: www.facebook.com/facultyaffairs/