Montrealer celebrating Chinese culture through beautiful snow sculptures

What began in 2020 as a hobby, has turned into an annual occurrence as Kirkland resident, Steven Zhang celebrates his Chinese culture through beautiful snow sculptures in Montreal’s West Island.

“I came from China and I love Chinese culture,” said Zhang. “I want to show Chinese culture to my neighbors.”

Zhang arrived from Beijing in December of 2019.

His profession is to create Chinese Paintings and calligraphy; all about his Chinese culture.

He started building snow sculptures his first winter here — and appreciates how much his neighbours and the community admire them, so he keeps going, even in -20 degrees Celsius.

The masterpieces are just in time for Chinese New Year celebrations.

“I have done the snow sculpture in lower than this temperature,” said Zhang. “I think three years ago the temperature is lower than minus 20 is hotter than today”

“I think it’s okay,” he added. “Today it’s beautiful.”

“My inspiration comes from Chinese culture,” said Zhang. “It comes from the zodiac animal.”

“You know this year is the year of snakes,” he explained. “We call snakes little dragon. So this year I will make a dragon baby.”

“When the winter is coming everybody look after my snow sculpture,” he said. “A lot of my neighbours look after my snow sculptures.”

“So I do it every year.”

Zhang has also built snow sculptures for the Kirkland winter festival in Meades park for the past two years.

“This year you know we have not enough snow,” he said. “We have not enough snow.”

“I have to wait for the snow,” he explained. “Everything depends on the snow.”

“If I have enough snow I will do it for the park.”