Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Even in winter, there can be blooms.
As a matter of fact, a sculpture bloomed at Robson Park, thanks to local artist Charles Henzler and Communities in Blooms (CIB).
CIB committee member Jenna McGrath said it鈥檚 the second year for a winter blooms project.
鈥淟ast year, we started a winter blooms project to offer hope to the community and have something... for February and for Family Day.鈥�
In that inaugural year, Henzler sculpted a pair of hands holding a globe.
This year, McGrath and Henzler chatted about offering the community another sculpture.
Their brainstorming brought on another creation.
鈥淲e like to leave the design in his hands,鈥� McGrath said.
鈥淐harles designed a piece of art鈥擩asper the Bear, giving a thumbs up, more or less a sign of hope that everything鈥檚 going to be okay.鈥�
Henzler, who has been sculpting snow for 36 years, said, 鈥淚 want to get the message out that we carry on no matter what.鈥�
As far as how long the Jasper the Bear sculpture will last, Henzler said it would depend on the weather.
鈥淪ome sculptures have lasted a week and some have lasted three months. It鈥檚 all up to mother nature.鈥�
McGrath is grateful for an offer to help clear and move snow given by John Greathead, director of operations with the Municipality of Jasper.
There will be another sculpting event for the whole community to take part in.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also hosting a snowperson community challenge,鈥� McGrath said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e challenging people to build snow people and send pictures to the Communities in Bloom facebook page.鈥�
The project is 鈥淛asper鈥檚 Community Snowperson Challenge鈥� using the hashtag #jaspersnowpersonchallenge.
The categories include best individual snow person, best snow couple, best snow family, most creative snow person, most unique snow person, tallest snow person and snow person by a child under ten.
鈥淭he contest runs until the snow is no longer,鈥� McGrath said.
鈥淭he winners will be notified (and) get gift certificates to local establishments.鈥�
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on enhancing green spaces in communities (or, in this case, snowy spaces).
