A cloud of snow-like shavings fills the air around 黑马磁力 resident Harold Sawatzky as he uses a small power grinder to apply the finishing touches to a Maple Leaf of solid ice at the historic Fort 黑马磁力 heritage site.
The 鈥渓ive carving鈥� is a demonstration, showing how three heavy blocks of specially-made clear ice are re-shaped into a statue commemorating the 150th birthday of Canada.
Work starts with a stencil to mark the design on the ice, then rough-cutting the shape with a chainsaw before carving out the details with hand chisels and specialized power tools.
Sawatzky鈥檚 黑马磁力-based company, , makes its own crystal clear ice blocks from water filtered by reverse osmosis, freezing them to minus 30 degrees Celsius before 鈥渢hawing鈥� them in a freezer to minus 10, a temperature where the ice is less likely to shatter during the carving process.
鈥淚t鈥檚 like working with crystal,鈥� Sawatzky says.
Ice Decor creates original ice designs that are shipped to locations like Whistler, Victoria and other Vancouver Island locations.
鈥淚鈥檝e got something going to Whitehorse in February,鈥� Sawatzky says.
It all started 12 years ago on a cruise ship, when Sawatzky鈥檚 wife noticed an ice carving centrepiece of a horse鈥檚 head.
Perhaps, she thought, the big ships that sail in and out of Vancouver harbour would want to buy large blocks of ice locally.
鈥淥ne thing led to 50,鈥� Harold says.
The Sawatzkys started making ice in a small freezer, then requests for bigger blocks led them to buy commercial-grade ice block makers.
They began pouring centrepieces using latex moulds, only to discover there was a lot of demand for custom-carved designs.
鈥淵ou find out not everyone wants a swan,鈥� he says.
鈥淭hey want a flying pig, or an Optimus Prime.鈥�
For Sawatzky, who used to work with developmentally disabled adults, it鈥檚 been an opportunity to exercise some creative muscles.
鈥淚鈥檝e always had an interest in art.鈥�
An ice sculpture usually lasts somewhere between one-and-a-half to three hours, making it a less-than-lasting form of art, but Sawatzky doesn鈥檛 mind.
He says he enjoys the process.
鈥淭here is a greater degree of satisfaction in the creation,鈥� he says.
And he takes photos of the finished projects.
For all the success that the family-owned business has enjoyed, there is one thing that the Sawatzkys have not managed to accomplish.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think we鈥檝e ever sold ice to a cruise line,鈥� Harold says.
Valerie laughs.
鈥淣o. I don鈥檛 think we have.鈥�
