Unique ice sculptures charm Fredericton residents during Frostival

Downtown Fredericton has some unique new attractions, but for a limited time only.

Eleven ice sculptures can now be seen throughout the downtown core including Officers Square, Boyce Farmers Market and City Hall.

All of the masterpieces were created by Chef Richard Chiasson of Caraquet, N.B.

Chiasson and his son Mathieu made the works from scratch, freezing the blocks over a four day period before carefully transporting them and completing them on Saturday in front of amazed onlookers.

“We can do 3D designs but since we had to make so many, 3D designs can be quite thin,” said Chiasson. “Travelling with eleven or twenty carvings in the back it could be iffy that they arrive broken.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We can do 3D designs but since we had to make so many, 3D designs can be quite thin," said Chiasson. "Travelling with eleven or twenty carvings in the back it could be iffy that they arrive broken."

Carving his first ice sculpture in 1980 for fun to now travelling throughout the Maritimes Chiasson says creating these masterpieces keeps him busy all year round.

“We do it in the summer…it’s part of the food service industry,” he explains. “When you go to banquets, buffets, they have it on the food displays so it can be corporate logos, designs.”

Chiasson says he still enjoys what he does but is humble about the talent it takes.

“For the artists that do wood carving, stone carving… this for them would be an easy medium.”

Chiasson’s ice sculptures will be on display at various locations throughout the city centre for the duration of Frostival, weather permitting of course.