The Fire and Ice Festival on Bank Street had more ice than fire on Feb. 8, with temperatures dropping to -25 C. The start to the day was a little slow, with people trickling in and out throughout the afternoon.

For the first time, the Fire and Ice Festival partnered with Capital Pride and built a synthetic ice rink on Bank Street. [Photo © Marshall Healey]
Gathered together in an inflatable igloo, a family takes shelter from the cold in the middle of Bank Street. [Photo © Marshall Healey]
A woman laces up her skates to be the first skater of the day. [Photo © Olivia Hnatyshyn]
Testing the synthetic ice-rink, the woman steps onto the “ice,” having the full space to herself. [Photo © Olivia Hnatyshyn]
Sunny Cambow, also known as DJ The Kid Gorgeous, provides the music for the event, despite the loss of feeling in his exposed fingers from the cold. [Photo © Olivia Hnatyshyn]
Zoë runs across the rink with the other children, dancing to the booming music that echoes through the festival. [Photo © Olivia Hnatyshyn]
A festival attendee works on making a marshmellow s’more. [Photo © Marshall Healey]

The festival was a partnership between the Bank Street BIA and the Youth Services Bureau of Ottawa. Youth Services offered free hot chocolates and s’mores, but were also accepting donations towards their shelters.

Indigenous throat singers Samantha Metcalfe and Cailyn Degrandpre, both 15, performed in the frigid temperatures on Feb. 8. [Photo © Marshall Healey]
Metcalfe, left, and Degrandpre have been throat singing for almost 10 years. [Photo © Marshall Healey]

Samantha Metcalfe and Cailyn Degrandpre say they hope their throat singing helps to bring back Indigenous culture. “Throat singing was banned during residential school days, so through us singing now, we can help bring our culture back and strong with our leaders,” said Metcalfe.

The two made a splash when they performed at the swearing in of federal cabinet ministers after the 2015 general election.

A crowd gathers around the throat singers, listening to the unique talent of the young women. [Photo © Olivia Hnatyshyn]

The festival featured more events, including a deep therapy silent disco, Drag Queens on Ice, Pride Family skate and parade and glow yoga.

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