High On Ice Winter Festival kicks off in Fort St. John

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — Three days of winter fun have kicked off in Fort St. John for the city’s 20th annual High on Ice Winter Festival.

Centennial Park was transformed into a winter wonderland on February 14th with ice carvings events, ice slides for people of all ages to experience and a display featuring the Dr. Seuss book The Lorax.

Representatives from sponsors AltaGas and MNP greeted festival-goers ahead of Friday’s opening ceremony.

Savannah Campbell of Fort St. John says she has brought her daughter Haisley to the event for the past two years.

The 25-year-old Savannah grew up in Fort St. John and moved back to the area in 2023.

“[Haisley] likes the ice slides,” said Campbell. “It’s nice to have an event like this every winter.  I haven’t had an event like this in any other place I have lived.”

That was the general attitude of families, including Keely Wallace and her daughter Tanis. She says she enjoys pointing out where their Christmas tree was donated which will be mulched to build the hill after the holidays.

“They use it for decorating the ice slides,” said Wallace, who has been coming with her daughter for seven years, while they enjoyed a game of ice checkers.

Father Simon Simon brought his son and daughter, who are looking for fun, adventure and the hot chocolate.

“Hot chocolate is big for them,” said Simon, while spending time with his kids around the bonfire.

The opening ceremony continued with Mayor Lilia Hansen, who had opening remarks. The ceremony was emceed by MooseFM’s own Warren (Dub) Craig.

“We are fortunate to live in a community where businesses support our community events,” said Hansen. “I cannot express enough gratitude to city staff, Swift specialty services our community partners and local businesses and service providers,

“because of [all of] you, we get to spend a special long weekend making memories with friends and family.”

Hansen, was accompanied onstage by councillors Jim Lequiere, Trevor Bolin, Sarah McDougall, Byron Stewart and Tony Zabinsky. They were joined by participants in the ice carving competition.

Hansen led the council up to the ice slides for the ceremonial first slide.

The event finished off with a fire show, courtesy of Grande Prairie’s Dream Dance Circus. The troupe will be holding a glow in the dark show on Saturday evening at Festival Plaza starting at 6 p.m.

High on Ice 2025 is sponsored by Fort St. John Co-op, Home2Suites by Hilton Fort St. John, MNP, Canadian Tire, Urban Systems, McElhanney Engineering, AltaGas, Brandt, Pembina Pipeline, Sureus Pipeline, Safety Boss, Tourmaline Oil, Sound in Town, Freeland Enterprises, Pioneer Santiary Systems, Atco Trailer and Driving Force.