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Snow sculptures smashed

Vandals destroyed or partially damaged eight snow sculptures this weekend at Shipyards Park. Whitehorse RCMP Const. Dean Hoogland said a concerned citizen called 911.
smashedsculptures

Vandals destroyed or partially damaged eight snow sculptures this weekend at Shipyards Park.

Whitehorse RCMP Const. Dean Hoogland said a concerned citizen called 911 Sunday at about 12:35 a.m. The caller reported seeing two males destroying sculptures in the park.

When officers attended they found two teens among the sculptures.

A 15-year-old and a 16-year-old have been charged with mischief.

Their names are not being released because of their age.

Teams from around the world completed the sculptures as part of the International Snow Carving Competition that took place during this year’s Rendezvous festivities.

“It’s so disappointing to have such beautiful pieces of public art destroyed by vandalism,” said Linda Rapp, the city’s director of community and recreation services.

Because of the recent cold spell, the sculptures could have stayed standing for a longer than usual, said Rapp.

Multiple awards were handed out this year. The Alaskan creation, a cabin with a bear, won the judges’ choice and visitors’ choice award. It survived the onslaught.

A large screw-like sculpture from Switzerland, which won the carvers’ choice award, was not so lucky. It was one of the sculptures damaged.

Also destroyed was a sculpture featuring the characters from the TV show South Park riding on a polar bear.

In the end, all that remained was Kenny’s head.

Contact Ashley Joannou at ashleyj@yukon-news.com