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Ice sculptor Barry Collier would much rather leave work coated in ice crystals than be sitting behind a desk all day.
“For us, it’s not work,” he said. “We’re out here having fun, interacting with the public, and couldn’t ask for anything better.”
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Collier and his crew of two others came from St. Albert, AB. He’s been carving ice sculptures at the Frost Regina festival for the past four years. The event will run until Sunday.
“It’s a blast,” he said. “It’s like family being out here, just having a good time, and that’s what it’s all about, it’s not even work anymore.
“It’s just all about having fun.”
About 10 wintry masterpieces were carved for the festival this year at Victoria Park, including an ice throne and tower.
“It’s not so much about creating a great ice sculpture,” he said. “It’s actually doing something that is interactive for people to enjoy.”
Some of the more interactive pieces at Frost include the ice throne and a heart people can take photos through. Some of Collier’s favourite pieces he’s done are lions and dinosaurs for kids to play on.
The ice throne is one of the interactive pieces that Collier likes the most. (Gillian Massie/ 980 CJME)
“People look at ice sculptures and think ‘I’m not supposed to touch it or to get close to it’ — we like to change that.” he said. “This is all about having fun. Get up close and touch it, don’t be afraid of it.”
Collier said much of the satisfaction of his job comes from watching people enjoy the sculptures.
The festival began on Thursday with events in Regina’s downtown, Warehouse District, and Wascana Centre.
Event-goers can enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor activities free of charge.
The Grind snowboarding competition will allow people to watch 16 Canadian and international athletes compete for a $30,000 cash prize on a three-storey man-made slope constructed in Victoria Park.
Other events include ice skating, tobogganing, and street curling, and snowboard painting.
A firework show will begin at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday night.
People skate at the rink in Victoria Park at Regina’s fourth Frost event. (City of Regina/X)
Read more:
- Blowing snow, frigid temperatures set to end mild weather streak in Sask.
- Saskatoon Police investigate GPS tracking, 10 victims identified
- Sask. domestic violence report reveals four children among 34 homicides
