A Cold Place For A Seat

 Here we have ice sculptures outside the Lord Elgin Hotel, which stands across from Confederation Park. These two were the choice in 2016 for the place.

The hotel has had a tradition of building ice benches for photo ops during Winterlude. Yes, I've sat on it. Yes, it's cold.

An inuksuk in ice stood outside the tourism centre downtown. Reflected in the glass is Centre Block.

The Glebe neighbourhood developed a tradition of building snow sculptures along the length of Bank Street as it runs through. This one celebrates a football player, Henry Buriss, who was playing with the Redblacks at the time.

And this one features Marg Delahunty, a character created by the comedian Mary Walsh and used to ambush politicians from time to time.

Back in Confederation Park: an unusual way to do a bit of maintenance on an ice sculpture: a flame thrower.

Some of the stand alone sculptures of the time.

And for today, I close out with two stilt walkers crossing the street from the park.

Mingling With The Visitors

Here we have more of the ice sculptures in Confederation Park as they were in 2016.

Out in the park one day, there were stilt walkers and drummers. The walkers were on apparatuses that were influenced by birds. They made for a very photogenic sight. I find myself wondering, looking back on these, what little kids were thinking looking up at the walkers.

Other interactions: the ways of old being demonstrated with plates being branded by hot irons. 

Handmade toys, some with a modern inspiration, hanging out.

And this moment just made the whole shot.

Masterpieces In The Cold Ice

Today I look at some of the big ice sculptures from Winterlude 2016. Sculptors from Canada and abroad come to do this. Some come from places with weather decidedly unfriendly to the idea of ice sculptures. And they create wonders.

Ice Sculptures And Canal Bridges

 More from 2016 today with ice sculptures in Confederation Park.

Moving on, this view from the Corktown Bridge looks out over the Rideau Canal with skaters below.

From the surface, a look at the bridge.

I followed the ice north. The Laurier Avenue Bridge was ahead.

Medics skate the ice during the season on the off chance that someone's gotten hurt. Light green jackets make them highly visible.

City Daily Photo Theme Day: Solitude

The first day of each month is a theme day for members of City Daily Photo, and for the beginning of March that theme is Solitude. Check out how other members are interpreting this theme right here.

I am in the midst of a retrospective series looking back at Winterlude in the past. The winter festival held in Ottawa and Gatineau usually takes place over the course of three February weekends. This year for the second in a row there hasn't really been formal activities. I'm in the midst of looking back at 2016.

For my interpretation of the theme, I'm thinking outside of the box and going with standalone ice sculptures. A grand piano in ice was erected by a stage in Confederation Park. 

Nearby was a beaver in ice, carved for photo ops.

A large sculpture nearby, sponsored by the diplomatic mission from the European Union, marked the 40th anniversary of formal diplomatic ties with Canada.

And this large beetle was carved on behalf of the Canadian Museum of Nature.

Around the fountain in the park were several small ice sculptures.