Like usual, it started with a phone call and an introduction to Fly Over Canada. If you’ve ever been around the perimeter of Canada Place in Vancouver you’ll walk right past their theatre. It’s an interactive video journey across Canada. And it attracts thousands of locals as well as visitors.
Would I consider doing some live ice carving on site during the Christmas season? So a visit to Canada Place and a meeting with Andrew, Lisa and Chris to explore the idea in person and I was commissioned to do 4 three hour demonstrations as well as 10 additional studio carved sculptures, all to get displayed on different days over the month of December. The theme was to be “something Christmasy.” Of course, what else for the month of December!
The first was a reindeer, then a sleigh complete with gifts, a festive candle (just like the one in Beauty and the Beast), a snowflake ensemble, snowman with buttons made from Oreo cookies and a nose made from… you know what, a snowflake decorated Noel, a couple more Rudolf’s complete with his bulbous red nose and a Happy New Year 2014 rounded out the ones we dropped off. Then amongst those we did larger ones of a flying angel releasing a dove, a dancing bear balancing a pile of snowflakes, another giant snowflake and two penguins in love. With the cold temperatures just before Christmas it seemed the sculptures didn’t even melt. That was a bonus for everyone who was just passing through since they got to see several carvings all in one.
Fourteen visits later and I felt like I knew the staff and they knew me. What a neat experience! And what a great way to experience the Christmas season. On one day in particular I was complaining about having to work when everyone else seemed to be going to Christmas parties and shopping in all the decorated malls. And then a children’s choir showed up to sing Christmas carols, followed by more groups all there to serenade the crowds coming out of Fly Over Canada… and me. One trio of three ladies called “Noel” even asked me for a favourite. So I got to hear “O Holy Night.” Wow, did that put me in Christmas spirit!
And then it was over. All that remains is the super memories and a lot of pictures. Check them out. And then visit Fly Over Canada. It’ll be worth it.
Here’s preview of the flight that they posted to Vimeo.