Dale Derkson took a snapshot of the unnatural phenomenon this week, saying on a Sicamous Facebook page that it spreads “a lot of joy to others.”
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Dale Derkson
February 14, 2021 - 4:29 PM
When temperatures dip low enough for icicles to form, Sicamous motorists are met with a welcome sight.
On a stretch of the Trans Canada Highway, about six kilometres past the mill in Canoe, the ice forming on the rock face is painted with some rainbow hues.
It’s not every year that it happens and as of press deadline it was unclear who exactly was behind the latest colour burst, but the fondness people have for these colourful ice shapes is apparent.
Dale Derkson took a snapshot of the unnatural phenomenon this week, saying on a Sicamous Facebook page that it spreads “a lot of joy to others.”
Others agreed, saying they've been enjoying the sight for decades, and Kimmy Bentley explained later that the sight moved her to tears.
She grew up in Sicamous and her dad, Robert Tully, was among a group who, throughout the ‘80s, was working for the department of highways that were tasked with creating the bright semi-natural display.
“Every year the guys in the department would go out and colour the icicles, with what I’m not sure— probably food colouring,” she said. “I do remember one year my mom going to bake some cookies and needed food colouring for icing and it was all gone because dad had taken it to go paint icicles… She wasn’t impressed.”
Dale Derkson took a snapshot of the unnatural phenomenon this week, saying on a Sicamous Facebook page that it spreads “a lot of joy to others.”
Image Credit: SUBMITTED/Dale Derkson
They would also do it on the highway rock bluffs in mara between Sicamous and Mara and at some point the tradition came to a halt, she said. She moved away before it resumed but simply knowing it had come back was heartening.
“Unfortunately my dad passed away in 2013 at 67,” she said.
“It truly made me cry to hear someone had done this as it just brings back a great memory of my dad. He was always so keen on doing things for others even if it was simple as this .”
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