Coming out of Sparks Street, I was surprised to see ice sculptures on the southern portion of the grounds of the National War Memorial. Coming closer, the reason for their presence made perfect sense. This was commissioned by Veterans Affairs to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Ice Storm. Early in January 1998, an ice storm blanketed eastern Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and the northeastern states, cutting off power and causing an extensive amount of damage, with lives lost. The disaster led to a military mobilization in Canada to help respond and get life back to normal. Ice sculptures here include a shattered hydro tower- one of the definitive images of that period of time.
A soldier armed with a chainsaw, working on the response, is rendered in ice form among the other figures of the set.
The Ice Storm left behind quite a legacy in many memories. For the military, it was a positive experience, after some years of negative public relations events. They were called to duty, and they really responded. And the people they helped loved them for it. A series of panels on the storm, with quotes from those in the service and others, is placed here. We'll see more of this tomorrow.
Thank you for this history lesson! Really, I learn so much in blogger-world, if I was a history teacher I would take all those snippets and teach the kids one at each end of a lesson.
ReplyDeleteSo. I call you my teacher. Thank you! Must´ve been horrible for all. Great tribute.
You're welcome.
DeleteThe whole collective of ice sculptures makes it a grand view!
ReplyDeleteIt really does.
DeleteWow I never knew about the ice storm.
ReplyDeleteIt was much publicized in this part of the world.
DeleteIt's good that attention is being paid to that ice disaster with these ice sculptures.
ReplyDeleteA fitting subject.
DeleteThat must have been terrible ! The highest snow we ever had here was maybe a meter, a little more in the Ardennes and snow storms I had never had. We have -15 at the most.
ReplyDeleteWe get significant snowfalls, and every once in awhile over the winter we get freezing rain.
Delete...I'll take a snowstorm over an ice storm any day!
ReplyDeleteFreezing rain is the one kind of winter weather I do not like.
DeleteBuen grupo escultórico, para conmemorar el hecho.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
DeleteThe ice storm sounds devastating. Love the ice sculptures! Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteI remember that ice storm well. At the time I was living in Woodville, a small town in the Kawarthas, and just missed it, but the damage to the east was extensive.
ReplyDeleteThat would have been near the edge.
DeleteIt was quite the event. My kids had just moved to Ottawa. We had transported them here and hadn’t been gone for long before they storm hit.
ReplyDeleteMemories really live on.
DeleteI guess people who experienced the ice storm will never forget it:)
ReplyDeleteCertainly not.
DeleteBeautiful representation of the disaster.
ReplyDeleteI think so.
DeleteAn interesting bit of history memorialized in ice.
ReplyDeleteIt is.
DeleteI remember it well even though it was not too bad here. Friends near Ottawa were hit really bad.
ReplyDeleteThe GTA got it as rain.
DeleteSuch a good example of modern history being the subject of art.
ReplyDeleteThat it is.
DeleteI had just retired so listened to the news about the devastation that went on for days. It was a very miserable time for the people.
ReplyDeleteIt became a big story.
DeleteSuch a terrible storm! The military came through for the country!
ReplyDeleteOne of the things the military is particularly good at is disaster response, after all.
DeleteI remember an ice storm in Maine one winter. Power lines fell with all the weight of the ice on it. It was a mess and took days to fix. Ice storms are very scary.
ReplyDeleteYes they are.
DeleteThese are such unique pieces of art. Ice storms are so damaging.
ReplyDeleteVery much so.
DeleteAmazing creations ~ ~ great photos ~ that was quite an ice storm ~ we having a smaller one currently ~
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
We get some freezing rain each winter. Today we have snow falling.
DeleteWell shared.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
DeleteA terrible storm! Another amazing ice sculpture.
ReplyDeleteI thought so.
DeleteWilliam - I will take a snow storm over an ice storm any day - ice wreaks such havoc!
ReplyDeleteI agree.
DeleteI did not know about the ice storm. Thanks for this.
ReplyDeleteIt dominated the news here at the time.
DeleteThis is a remarkable ice installation. That had to be quite the storm. Wow.
ReplyDeleteIt was.
DeleteI'd not heard about the ice storm...
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
https://thelowcarbdiabetic.blogspot.com/
In Canada it was a big story.
DeleteHeroic
ReplyDeleteDefinitely.
Delete