"We Love It Here": Ice Carvers Share Why FSJ Keeps Them Coming Back
From 2020's Taylor victory to potential revival: Ice Carvers hope for return of the Mayor’s Challenge
FORT ST. JOHN – Days after the chainsaws fell silent, and the Fire and Ice Tower Finale lit up the night, both the ice slides and the magnificent ice sculptures from Winter Fest 2026 still adorn Centennial Park, thanks to the ongoing cold snap – inviting a final visit or two before the inevitable warmth of spring puts Winter Fest officially to bed.
The family spirit of the month-long event carried over into the camaraderie between the professional carvers, all of whom have been coming to Fort St. John for years to participate in the annual week of ice carving.
As they worked together to construct the Fire and Ice Tower, the four ice carvers joked with each other and reminisced about the High on Ice Winter Festivals of years past.
Those same warm reflections had surfaced earlier in their interviews with The Broken Typewriter. Ryan Cook and Kevin Lewis explained how they got their start in ice carving right here in Fort St. John – Cook after being cast as “the apprentice” on the TV show Saw Dogs, and both drawn back year after year by the welcoming community and the joy of creating alongside longtime friends.
Although Cook’s chainsaw carving began on television, his ice-carving journey truly took root at the High on Ice Winter Festival in 2012. “I was brought up by my mentor, Chris Foltz, and I’ve been carving here every year for the last 13 years,” he said. What keeps him returning is the event’s heart: the hard work, the camaraderie, and the community’s enthusiasm.
“We work so hard to build these ice sculptures and have a great time doing it while seeing our friends, we’ve been doing it with for years,” Cook said. “Once the kids get on the slides and you see all those little smiles, the laughs, and the fire – just the way the community comes out is fantastic. Every year, even today, it’s nonstop locals we’ve become friends with over the years.”
Lewis, who began ice carving here in 2017, agreed the week in Fort St. John stands out as a highlight, with the community’s turnout and appreciation for the sculptures providing some of the biggest rewards.
Abe Waterman, now in his third year with the event, praised the collaborative spirit: “The other sculptors and the people working for the City are a great crew to work with,” he said, adding he’s already looking forward to returning.
Dimitrii Klimenko, participating since 2013, highlighted a meaningful collaboration. Introduced to local Indigenous artist Gary Oker by Sue Popesku, the pair created ice carvings inspired by Dene Zaa creation stories. “I made the one sculpture dedicated to the creation story of the Dene people about Swan people,” Klimenko recalled. “That’s a spiritual creature. It takes the spiritual song from the medicine man and brings it to the spiritual world and back to visions. I tried to create the ice carving about that spiritual creation.”
The conversation turned to favorite pieces from past festivals, sparking laughter and reminiscences. Waterman kept it forward-looking: “My favourite sculpture will be the next one I create, or the one after that.”
Lewis and Cook had a tougher time choosing. “Mine is a big dragon I did. So, a side profile is like 14 feet. I think that was my favorite one,” Lewis said.
“I can never pick one,” Cook replied, before settling on his Ibex and his most technical: a swordfish in a circle.
All the carvers agreed the biggest ongoing challenge is the weather – this year’s temperature swings kept things unpredictable, but extremes are nothing new.
Klimenko described -40°C as tough but manageable: “Minus 40 ice is crazy hard – chisels and chainsaws dull super fast, and you can’t stay out for hours. But you figure it out.”
He much preferred it to warmer days: “When the weather is above zero, you’re wasting time putting tarps on, wrapping your sculpture, unwrapping. Personally, minus 40 is way better than plus two.”
Wrapping the Fire and Ice Tower in tarps was essential this time to shield it from the sun, despite the cold wind. Fortunately, temperatures cooled off afterward without causing excessive wear on tools.
Lewis reflected on his early days: “Learning how to work with the ice properly was the biggest thing. Also how to move it properly – dropping ice and it breaks. So, I broke a lot of pieces when I first started.”
Through the stories, challenges, and shared passion, one thing was unmistakable: these carvers genuinely love Fort St. John – the people, the place, and the event itself.
That affection fueled their hope to revive a beloved tradition: the Mayor’s Challenge, a one-day carving event where teams from municipalities around the Peace Region competed. The last one took place in 2020 and was won by the District of Taylor.
Winter Fest 2026 ends today . . . but temperatures promise to remain sub-zero for at least another week – if you haven’t yet checked out the sculptures or the 360° Slide Hill in Centennial Park, you may still have the opportunity!