This was the 5th year for the Ice Castles in Hawelak Park, Edmonton Alberta. I wanted to Google Map this truly Northern experience. At Connect Live 2019 I was proud the represent all of Northern Canada. Watching all those application videos with waterfalls and sandy beaches gave me the idea to show what beautiful things ice and snow can do. Thirty minutes from my front door is the only Canadian location of this event that is music, light, sport, art, culture, H2O and family fun. Because people whispered in it’s presence, it felt like being in a cathedral. Please watch my video to understand how gob-smacking stunning is was. I did a review that gave helpful tips like bringing a sled for tired children, and cutting a hole in your glove so you can take lots of pictures. Attendees were considerate and took turns taking family photos for each other. The floor was chopped loose snow probably mixed with sand or sawdust. But it was 3 inches deep and although non-slip, just impossible for folks with mobility issues. I suggested that a raised path and deck would be perfect for wheelchairs or seniors with walker or canes. After I mapped the Castles, the weather dropped to -30 degrees C with a windchill of -51. They closed for one week. In that time my views exploded! This was an amazing experience that reminded me of the movie Frozen and it resembled Narnia. It was a fairy tale come to life. Part of the magic is that next week it will be a hardhat area; closed, as it melts away. A fleeting winter phenomenon that reminds us to appreciate everything. Kind of a peaceful spiritual experience that literally took my breath away. (Just listen to me try to talk with a wicked lung infection.) When the castles are gone, all we’ll have were those proposal memories, photos of brides as Ice Queens, and pics of frozen tongues sticking to the walls. For Old Edmonton Alberta, it is the most interesting thing someone can ever Google Map. The experience really illustrates my pride in being Canadian.
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Thanks I appreciate it. This is part of my Connect Live 2020 application.
Hey @Crazychicktwo ,
I actually stumble upon your video while searching for the Edmonton Ice Castle! I’m happy to read that you were able to represent Alberta in the Connect Live 2019 event. Did you bring any Canadian specialities for the Connect Live World Market last year?
Our local Tim Horton’s gave me 200 Camp Day braclettes. Each braclettes was a $2 donation for underprivileged kids to go to camp. A Devon Town Councillor personally made 200 postcards of Devon from her own photography. As Google pays for postage, this was popular. Our Economic Development Department gave 200 sweat pal Town Of Devon towels. It is a yoga shammy. I also did dollar store Canadian chocolate coins. Some people wanted real coins from each country. My suitcase was bursting.