A snow sculpture in the northeastern New Brunswick community of Neguac is getting a lot of attention.
Sculptor Jean Marc-Brideau created a 16x16x14 foot purple elephant in front of the community’s Visitor Information Centre.
It was inspired by the song L’Éléphant de Neguac written and performed by Francophone country artist Mark Leblanc, who is known as Marc à Paul à Jos.
“I’ve gone to see it because I only live around 15 minutes from it right now. I brought my little boy there and he was quite interested in it,” Leblanc says.
“The response is very positive. It’s quite the phenomenon and lots of people are stopping there to take pictures.”
Leblanc was born in Clare, N.S., but now lives in Miramichi, N.B.
“It is quite interesting to see a song I wrote come to life, become reality,” Leblanc adds.
The song was written in 2019 and then recorded, but Leblanc didn’t create a video until last November.
It was released in December, and Leblanc says that’s when the Village of Neguac and Brideau came up with the idea for the sculpture.
“The community is really quite proud. A local restaurant even changed the name of their beaver tails to elephant ears,” he says.
Leblanc will perform his song in Neguac on Saturday, Feb. 11, during a ceremony at 11 a.m. with the elephant.