High on Ice

History

The Arts Council partners with the City of Fort St. John to deliver the High On Ice Festival.  The Fort St. John Community Arts Council delivers the ice and snow carving events, including an international NICA (National Ice Carving Association) sanctioned Professional Ice Carving Competition.
Each year, professional ice carvers from all over the world to participate in the competition. This partnership began back in 2005 and continues to grow each year.

With all of the excitement from the High On Ice Festival building year after year, our residents were not content to simply stand by and let the professionals get all of the glory.  We found that we have a whole lot of talent in our neck of the woods, so we now organize an Amateur Ice Carving Competition and a Snow Sculpting Competition.  We also arrange for a children’s ice and snow playground to be constructed during the festival. Residents look forward to this event and come out in vast numbers despite chilly weather.

Professional Ice Carving Competition

Professional carvers can compete in two artistic categories, Abstract or Realistic, and all works must be created within the 2011 theme, Land of Myth & Legend.  A maximum of 8 teams (or 16 competitors) are accepted for this competition. Please note that space is limited.  We suggest that those teams interested in competing contact the Arts Council  prior to sending registration fees.

Click here for Professional Carving registration information

Registration for Professional Teams and Single Block Carving due December 17, 2010. Please mail applications and payment to:

Fort St. John Community Arts Council
Box 6474
Fort St. John, BC. V1J 4H9 
Canada
 

Amateur Ice and Snow Carving Competition

*Please Note that the Amateur Ice Carving and Amateur Snow Carving are two separate competitions, though individuals may compete in one or both events.

Amateur ice carving invites community teams of ice carvers to enter in beginner or intermediate community categories on the Saturday of the festival. Beginner teams receive two blocks of ice, intermediate carving teams will receive 6 blocks of ice. As part of the amateur competition, the City of Fort St John also hosts an annual “Mayor’s Challenge” wherein dignitaries from area communities are invited to bring a team to the event to compete for bragging rights. (And a trophy!)

Amateur snow carving events are designed to be a fun activity for the whole family to take part in. The ease of working with snow allows everyone to help create a work of art in a block of snow. Community snow sculptors will have a snow block for each team with friends, family and colleagues helping with their creation during the day on the Sunday of the festival.

Click here for Amateur registration information

Registration for Professional Teams and Single Block Carving due January 7, 2011. Please mail applications and payment to:

Fort St. John Community Arts Council
Box 6474
Fort St. John, BC. V1J 4H9 
Canada
 

Community Celebration

In addition to the Ice and Snow events, the High on Ice Festival includes a community celebration featuring toboggan races, children’s activities in the park, live entertainment, sleigh rides, an ice fishing derby, an “Over the Line” ball tournament, Mukluk Curling Bonspiel and Comedy Night. It is organized by a planning committee made up of various community organizations and interested citizens, and planning starts in the fall of each year for the following year’s celebration. Watch for coming details on the 2011 High On Ice Festival in Fort St John!

Please visit the City of Fort St. John's website at http://www.fortstjohn.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=254&Itemid=124 for more information on the Community Celebration during High On Ice.