Bonhomme speaks!

Carnaval icon works cheap, loves
everything and doesn’t complain,
exclusive interview reveals

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Bonhomme Carnaval

Age: 56

Occupation: PR Snowman

Bio: This media-savvy Quebec City snowperson says he loves children as much or more than Michael Jackson ever did because “it was children who created me from snow back in the 1950s, which is why to this day I will always love the children so much.” Realizing he was at risk of melting away every year, it wasn’t long after his birth that Bonhomme recognized he’d better start making himself useful in order to survive, so “I created this huge carnival that I could be the face of, a wonderful carnival that would take place every winter, which is how I became known as Bonhomme Carnaval.” Although he speaks French, English, some Spanish and Chinese, Bonhomme says his first language “is the language of love” and that he can’t ever imagine a day where he wouldn’t be doing “this wonderful job, which is making people happy. Bonhomme will be doing this forever.”

Does he sometimes feel self-conscious about not having genitals? “Well, I’m a Bonhomme, so of course I’m a man. If you’ve ever made a snowman, you’d realize that it only takes a couple snowballs, a big nose and some buttons to create one, and that’s all that created me. As for ever having my own children, it doesn’t matter, because all the children who come to Carnaval are my children.”

Do Carnaval organizers pay him poor wages because they realize there aren’t many employment opportunities out there for snowmen? “Oh no, I’m the one who started the Carnaval, I’m an entrepreneur, not an employee. And I get paid in smiles, smiles and all the love I create around me. Bonhomme doesn’t need money, just love.”

So what, exactly, does he do in this most wonderful of jobs? “During Carnaval, I’m very, very busy. My most important job is to see people and always be on site so people can see me. I also have to oversee the work that my employees, my partners, are doing. Mostly my job at the Carnaval itself is to have fun. It’s during the rest of the year when I work the hardest, travelling the world promoting Carnaval and organizing things like the big show we’re having this year on January 29 with DJ Champion. The Carnaval goes from January 29 until February 14, with more than 300 activities taking place over these 17 days, so I’ll be a very busy Bonhomme this year indeed. If you want to see a list of all 300 activities, go to my brand new website at carnaval.qc.ca.”

Isn’t melting a concern of his over the warmer months? “It’s a concern, yes, but for example, when I went to Mexico last year, I travelled in the cargo compartment of the plane, and whenever I arrive in a place, I’m kept in a refrigerated truck, so it’s not really a problem.”

Does he have any girlfriends? Or is he afraid if he met someone special and his heart began to melt that the rest of him might follow suit? “I’ve no particular attachment to any one person, everyone at the Carnaval is my special love.”

Musical preferences: “I love everything.”

Last book read: Le Village secret de Bonhomme Carnaval, by Nadège Cochard and Mathieu Plante.

Words of wisdom: “Joyeux Carnaval!”

Comments: dimwit@hdot.net