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.

Sculptures

 A set of sculptures was found on Plaza Bridge, outside the Government Conference Centre. They featured the Ice Hogs, the mascots of Winterlude, along with animals like the bear, Canada goose, and beaver.

Nearby, I looked out over the Rideau Canal. The skateway starts down there.

I took a photograph of the ice sculptures from the back, where I got a view of the Chateau Laurier.

I was heading to Confederation Park, where the main sculptures were to be found, and took this photo of an ice sculpture outside the National Arts Centre.

Sculpted

 Winterlude is also about ice sculptures, of which we'll see plenty in the days to come. This first shot was taken before Winterlude, and my first on the theme. Around town, a number of small ice sculptures were placed, with a small sculpture beside the standard one. This one was in the Byward Market.

This one, featuring a bird, was in a courtyard at Fourth Avenue Baptist Church in the Glebe.

I found this one outside the Horticulture Building at Lansdowne Park.

Also at Lansdowne- this was outside the west entrance of the Aberdeen Pavilion.

The Lord Elgin Hotel routinely puts up an ice bench outside during Winterlude. No, I did not sit on it, but have done so in the past. I took these shots, plus a spare I'll use for the upcoming theme day White.

For a number of years, the big ice sculptures were hosted at Sparks Street. It was the wrong location, and they were rightfully returned to Confederation Park this year. However, the pedestrian street mall did put up some ice sculptures, some linked to businesses along the street.