The Nordic Punkupine

 The detail work on these ice sculptures is exceptional, and keeping them under shelters is the right thing to do.

The Nordic Punkupine is the title of this ice sculpture.

I looked back in this section at the others.

The next shelter over featured more ice sculptures. Here we see Journey Home.

The next sculpture over, which we'll get another look at tomorrow.

Close to the visitor, a beaver.

Harmonic Mysticism

More of this marvelous ice sculpture to begin today.

 

Heart Of My Childhood is the title of this sculpture.

Here we have Harmonic Mysticism.

This is Canada's Life In The Northern Lights.

Inspired Work

 The return to Confederation Park for Winterlude was long overdue. As was the return of these shelters, which protect ice sculptures from the elements very well indeed. Many of the ice sculptures here this year have felt very Canadian in their tone. Coloured lights shift slowly, giving a pretty touch to the ice. We start with this one, titled North Star.

Moose Of The Seventh Wind has a First Nations feeling to it, with a moose head central to the sculpture.

This one was my favourite. Among Northern Stars features bears looking up at the aurora borealis, with a cabin prominently featured as well.

Ice Carvings

As I had mentioned, Confederation Park returned to being a rightful host of ice sculptures this year. I paid a number of visits during Winterlude. Most of the big sculptures were under shelters, preserving them for the entire event. Others were wrapped up during off days, and did rather well, including this one with the festival logo. 

There was a stage set up at the west end of the park for performances.

The provincial gaming organization is a major sponsor of Winterlude, and their logo was carved out of ice.

Another Winterlude logo in ice.

And the Ice Hogs, again in ice form.

This being a Winter Olympic year, this large skate carved out of ice is appropriate.

Another big sculpture was found nearby.

Over towards the east end of the park, the main sculptures were found. This was set up for photo ops, and very appropriately winter in nature.

Another ice sculpture- an old fashioned snow mobile.

With an ice wall at its base, a large screen was set up over here. At the time of this visit, the Opening Ceremonies of the Milan Winter Olympics was being shown.