Donald Watt
Don Watt attended high school in Prince George, where he specialized in fine arts, and then graduated from the Fine Art faculty at the University of Manitoba. Don came to the Yukon about 1980 to work in the Whitehorse weather office for Environment Canada.1) He had some experience designing and building theatre sets and so he started volunteering as a set designer for the Guild Hall.2)
Watt partnered with Alyx Jones and Nina Sutherland to attend a snow carving competition in Quebec around 1990. They battled warm weather and slush to create their version of a Whitehorse rapid Zodiac ride. Watt competed in Ottawa about 1995 with Trevor Sellars. The next year, the number of hours was increased, and three carvers were allowed. Mike Lane joined the two and they went to Ottawa and Quebec. The team won the nationals that year. Gisli Balzer joined the group around 2000and in that partnership Watt led the discovery phase, Laine led the define phase, and Balzer the detail phase.3)
Watt retired from Aasman Design Inc. in January 2004 to tour the world, carving snow with his teammates. He is known nationally and internationally for his snow sculptures and is locally known for his art and theatre set designs.4) His art is mostly in clay and bronze.