By Canadian Press

Ahoy there! No wooden decks to swab on Alberta man’s icy sailing ship

Jan 10, 2018 | 2:30 PM

RED DEER, Alta. — An icy sailing ship is docked in the front yard belonging to a central Alberta man.

Donnie White of Red Deer says it took him more than three weeks to build the vessel for his two kids out of 250 blocks of ice weighing 25 kilograms each.

He collected the ice from a nearby pond to construct the ship complete with a sail and a slide.

At night, the ship’s clear ice is illuminated with moving blue lights to mimic the ocean’s waves.

White told CTV Edmonton he used to sculpt ice castles for his children, Minette, 6, and Mateo, 4.

Week in Review

Week in Review: Week of May 4, 2026

23h ago

Notice of unclaimed ashes: Alf Michael James Steen

May 08, 2026

TWO & OUT

PETERS: The world is telling you not to travel. Don't listen.

May 08, 2026

But he decided to try something different this year.

“I just wanted to make winter really magical for my kids,” he said earlier this week.

The neighbours have already started asking him what next year’s ice sculpture will be, but he’s staying mum.

“It’s going to be a surprise. You’re just going to have to wait and find out.

But he added: “The kids are really pushing for a train.”

(CTV Edmonton, The Canadian Press)

The Canadian Press

by Canadian Press

Click here to report an error or typo in this article

Ahoy there! No wooden decks to swab on Alberta man’s icy sailing ship

Our Community