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Colgan: Beyond its fortified walls, lay the cobblestone streets of old Quebec City historic capital of Quebec Province in French speaking Canada. High above, sit the turrets of the Hotel Frontenac the most famous symbol of this citys enduring nature.
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Colgan: Yet, another architectural wonder is making Quebec famous and this one is as fleeting as the seasons. An entire hotel made of ice and snow.
Jacques: Now were in the art gallery this is first year of introducing paint and ice and these pieces have been especially created for this exhibit.
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Colgan: The brainchild of hotelier Jacques Desbois, the idea came from Sweden but the design and the art is home grown. This is his fourth hotel no two are the same and the first was built on hope more than know-how.
Jacques: When we had our first great opening ceremony, I was taking my face like this (pinching) to make sure I was not dreaming.
Colgan: Pinching yourself?
Jacques: Pinching yeah.
Colgan: Theres little the craftsmen here cant do with ice. Like every hotel, theres always a need for clean glasses. They simply make new ones.
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Colgan: Twelve thousand tons of snow and 400 tons of ice its an engineering marvel.
Architect, Denis Cantin says the hotel is a work of art he has to improve on each year.
Denis: The biggest challenge is to be different -- to make it better.
Thats really the biggest challenge because we have patrons who come back year after year theyre not new clients. The challenge is that the hotel mustnt be the same. It has to be really different, more and more beautiful.
Jacques: I think also myself, that, winter, ice, snow, theres a feeling of eternity in this element.
Music
Colgan: For the few months it exists, the ice hotel draws visitors like moths to a flame. Some come to drink, others to stay a night they certainly dont come for skimpy dressed barmaids.
Others come for what would have to be the ultimate white wedding.
Scott: I chose the ice hotel because I wanted to do something very special for Josee, something memorable that we wouldnt forget.
Colgan: It was here a year ago, Scott Robertson proposed to his girlfriend Josee and tonight is the eve of their wedding in the ice chapel.
Josee: Then the music stopped and he got on one knee and I was just like, Oh my god, I just thought, hes doing it! So thats when he proposed to me - tears, tears and then we rolled on the ground and we had lots of fun. It was an amazing experience that Ill never, never forget.
Music
Colgan: Next morning, Scott Robinson is enjoying his last day of bachelorhood with friends.
While the blushing bride is in the throes of her bridal make-over.
Colgan: Feeling nervous?
Josee: Not yet. My girlfriends gone to get my lunch, maybe I should eat now before I get nervous.
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Colgan: But before she leaves, her fiancé has sent an audio recording to smudge her mascara.
Scott recording: I love you so much and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Enjoy your day with your friends and Ill see you down the aisle. I love you.
Colgan: As keen as he is, this is one groom whos going to get cold feet.
Minister: It is now my privilege to announce you husband and wife.
Colgan: In a chapel that will soon be nothing but a memory, they promise eternity.
Music
Colgan: As the weather grows warmer, the end draws closer - when winter is over, the hard work simply disappears.
Jacques: For me, I always take a few minutes, a few moments to remind myself that finally a few number of people in the world will have seen this ice hotel and now its going back to the lake and this one is over good luck for the next one.
Reporter: Jill Colgan
Camera: Dan Sweetapple
Editor: Garth Thomas
Colgan: Beyond its fortified walls, lay the cobblestone streets of old Quebec City historic capital of Quebec Province in French speaking Canada. High above, sit the turrets of the Hotel Frontenac the most famous symbol of this citys enduring nature.
Music
Colgan: Yet, another architectural wonder is making Quebec famous and this one is as fleeting as the seasons. An entire hotel made of ice and snow.
Jacques: Now were in the art gallery this is first year of introducing paint and ice and these pieces have been especially created for this exhibit.
Music
Colgan: The brainchild of hotelier Jacques Desbois, the idea came from Sweden but the design and the art is home grown. This is his fourth hotel no two are the same and the first was built on hope more than know-how.
Jacques: When we had our first great opening ceremony, I was taking my face like this (pinching) to make sure I was not dreaming.
Colgan: Pinching yourself?
Jacques: Pinching yeah.
Colgan: Theres little the craftsmen here cant do with ice. Like every hotel, theres always a need for clean glasses. They simply make new ones.
Music
Colgan: Twelve thousand tons of snow and 400 tons of ice its an engineering marvel.
Architect, Denis Cantin says the hotel is a work of art he has to improve on each year.
Denis: The biggest challenge is to be different -- to make it better.
Thats really the biggest challenge because we have patrons who come back year after year theyre not new clients. The challenge is that the hotel mustnt be the same. It has to be really different, more and more beautiful.
Jacques: I think also myself, that, winter, ice, snow, theres a feeling of eternity in this element.
Music
Colgan: For the few months it exists, the ice hotel draws visitors like moths to a flame. Some come to drink, others to stay a night they certainly dont come for skimpy dressed barmaids.
Others come for what would have to be the ultimate white wedding.
Scott: I chose the ice hotel because I wanted to do something very special for Josee, something memorable that we wouldnt forget.
Colgan: It was here a year ago, Scott Robertson proposed to his girlfriend Josee and tonight is the eve of their wedding in the ice chapel.
Josee: Then the music stopped and he got on one knee and I was just like, Oh my god, I just thought, hes doing it! So thats when he proposed to me - tears, tears and then we rolled on the ground and we had lots of fun. It was an amazing experience that Ill never, never forget.
Music
Colgan: Next morning, Scott Robinson is enjoying his last day of bachelorhood with friends.
While the blushing bride is in the throes of her bridal make-over.
Colgan: Feeling nervous?
Josee: Not yet. My girlfriends gone to get my lunch, maybe I should eat now before I get nervous.
Music
Colgan: But before she leaves, her fiancé has sent an audio recording to smudge her mascara.
Scott recording: I love you so much and cannot wait to spend the rest of my life with you. Enjoy your day with your friends and Ill see you down the aisle. I love you.
Colgan: As keen as he is, this is one groom whos going to get cold feet.
Minister: It is now my privilege to announce you husband and wife.
Colgan: In a chapel that will soon be nothing but a memory, they promise eternity.
Music
Colgan: As the weather grows warmer, the end draws closer - when winter is over, the hard work simply disappears.
Jacques: For me, I always take a few minutes, a few moments to remind myself that finally a few number of people in the world will have seen this ice hotel and now its going back to the lake and this one is over good luck for the next one.
Reporter: Jill Colgan
Camera: Dan Sweetapple
Editor: Garth Thomas