Lakefield Polar Fest Ice Sculpting Competition

Lakefield Polar Fest Ice Sculpting Competition

What an incredible event! Held on February 2, 2019, this event had seasoned Sculptors coming from as far away as Poland. So who are some of these artists and Chefs?

Chef Fred Marquina

Chef Fred Marquina was born and raised in Paete, Lagunam, in the Philippines. He started mostly wood carving at a very early age. He has been working in the hotel industry since his teens, carving fruits, butter, chocolate and ice. He competed internationally, earning medals and awards and was on the Pride of Philippines Ice Carving team. In 2003, Fred worked in a five star hotel in Bermuda where his culinary and ice sculpting skills have been a definite asset. He was the Grand Prize winner of the 2008 Bermuda Gourmet Getaway Ice Sculpting Competition. He was also one of the nominees in Best Chef category at the BEL- CO VIP Excellence Award, the highest award-giving body in Bermuda’s Ministry of Tourism. Now residing in Canada, he launched his career as a professional ice carver in the winter of 2011, representing Canada around the world in ice carving competitions.

Chef Steve Benns

Chef Steve Benns Realizing at a young age that cooking was his passion, Steve attended George Brown College and Ryerson Polytechnic University. Steve started teaching at Fleming College in 2000. He challenges students to put the most into their career goals. Chef Steve volunteers as a Technical Chair with the Skills Canada Organization on a regional, provincial and national level to promote culinary competitions for high school and post-secondary students. In his spare time Steve enjoys ice carving and enters various competitions across Ontario. He lives in Cavan with his wife and their children.

Ken Ardnt

Ken Ardnt started wood carving in the 1970s. These were sold at local craft shows and privately commissioned clients. During the 90’s Ken lived in Toronto and was a regular at the annual ice sculpting competition held at City Hall in Nathan Phillips Square, often receiving 1st, 2nd and 3rd place honors. Ken went on to join ice carving competitions like Niagara on the Lake’s Ice Wine Festival, The Bloor-Yorkville Icefest and Ottawa’s International Ice Carving Competition “Winterlude”. Ardnt carved at the Peterborough Snow Festival creating a likeness of the clock tower which led to his becoming a regular carver at the Lakefield Annual Polar Fest Ice Sculpting Competition. To this day Ken Ardnt enjoys the fellowship of the carving community and receiving top place honors.

Levi Caya

Levi Caya, a professional woodcarver from Apsley, owns and operates Out of His Mind.

Chef Philippe Saraiva

Chef Philippe Saraiva is Professor Culinary and Hospitality programs, Conestoga College, and has been teaching culinary Arts since 1999. He started Ice carving after taking a seminar with Steve Brice and Aaron Costic, two of the best ice carvers in North America back in 2009, and been taking part in festivals around Ontario since. Toronto Ice Fest 10 times and Winterloo Waterloo 6 times. He sees ice carving as a fun Hobby that he highlights with hisstudents when they need carvings for events at the college. He loves the comradery among the carvers. In addition, Chef Philippe says it is a great challenge to work with this ephemera medium.

David Tettman

David Tettman was introduced to ice carving back in 1998 by a master carver and found it fun, creative and challenging. His artistic background with his sign business made it a natural fit to express himself and develop his ice carving skills. He’s participated in many community events throughout Ontario and has won several awards. His family prefers to support him in this hobby from the warmth and comfort from home and hopes to see him in the evening news as they don’t enjoy the winter elements as David does.

Nandasiri Polwatta Gedarage

Nandasiri Polwatta Gedarage is an artist like no other, with many years of skills, talent, and experience in hand he has mastered ice sculpting, fruit carving, painting, and digital art. Polwatta Gedarage came to Canada with 30 years of experience in Sri Lanka working under his own company Rusiru Arts and Advertising services Pvt; which focused on advertising through radio, TV, and press.

Chef Brian Henry

Chef Brian Henry is an artist in his own right. Sculpting for over 20 years, Brian uses his craft to sculpt in ice, butter and chocolate. Brian is an integral part of this competition, bringing sculptors and ice together in this beautiful event.

Chef David Hawey

Rob Brooks

Chef Michael Tuinstra