If you would like to volunteer to help with the 2010 celebrations, please contact us by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Ice and Snow Event

Through the continued development of the Ice and Snow event, the City of Fort St John in partnership with the Fort St John Community Arts Council desires to create a celebration of visual art and local culture, an event that fosters our local artists and providea a venue for new enthusiasts to develop their skills and techniques related to carving, and offers a community based venue to showcase, celebrate, and promote Fort St John’s talented residents.

The High On Ice Festival’s Professional Carving is known globally as a premier competition for carvers. Further, the masterpieces created each year by professional and amateur carvers alike offers a unique attraction in Northern Canada and an established winter visitors’ destination in Fort St. John.

The Professional Team Competition invites professional carving teams from around the world to our event. As BC’s only National Ice Carving Association sanctioned event, FortSt John offers over $15,000 in prizes to be won. Competitors can enter as an individual or as a team of two and are given 12 ice blocks (10” x 20” x 40”blocks) to create a sculpture in 24 non-consecutive hours. 

Professional

Professional carvers can compete in two artistic categories, Abstract or Realistic, and all works must be created within the theme, Spirit Within.  A maximum of 8 teams (or 16 competitors) are accepted for this competition. Click here for Professional Carving registration information.

Amateur

Amateur ice carving invites community teams of ice carvers to enter in beginner or intermediate community categories on the Saturday of the festival.   Click here for Amateur registration information.

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.

Diamond Sponsors

Crystal Sponsors

Mayor's Challenge

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!)

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 2010 High On Ice Festival in Fort St John!