Fredericton will be hosting FROSTival from January 16 to February 2, 2020. This festival has events for all ages, a variety of indoor and outdoor venues and featured work by Chef Richard Chiasson created at the Ice Sculpture Showcase on January 18.
Richard Chiasson is a chef by trade but, for the last 40 years, he has shared his passion for ice carving with the public. He says he has “always been interested in ice,” which enabled him to hone his craft through practice, as well as learning from others in the field. Chef Chiasson has blended his passions for cooking and ice carving. He says this combination comes from the hotel trade and is used for events such as conferences and weddings. He even began training other chefs in ice carving, to assist them in their industry.
Chef Chiasson has expanded his ice-carving business, and has created sculptures all over Atlantic Canada. He shares this passion with his son, Mathieu, who was present at the Ice Sculpture Showcase helping his father produce 11 different sculptures at various locations downtown. They happily answered questions, and took photos, as people gathered to watch these pieces come to life under a chainsaw, pick and chisel. These sculptures are truly magnificent, and highlight the unique offerings at each location.
Be sure to check out some of the great events at this years FROSTival, and keep an eye out for Chef Chiasson’s sculptures while you do.