An Afternoon Excursion To A Snowy Playground

 Winterlude also takes place in Gatineau, on the Quebec side of the Ottawa River, and much of the action is centered on Jacques Cartier Park, a large, sprawling park on the shores of the river. It is here that a good part of the park becomes a winter playground during the festival. Inevitably when I get out here, it almost always seems to be an overcast day. It was snowing when I came.

By this entrance was a large snow sculpture marking the 25th anniversary of Nunavut's organization as a territory, with an Inuit figure and drums. This one is by Stephane Robert and Jonathan Bouchard.

Between it and the next one is this set up, back from last year, and having a three dimensional feeling to it, as the diorama is a layered one.

Here's the next one, also celebrating Nunavut. It combines together a sled dog team with what most of us still think of as an igloo- formally the igluvigaq. They are far less used today, but still very much of the Inuit culture.

Note the lighter snow on the bas relief- after it was carved, we would have had snowfalls to add on.