'The joy of this art': Balloon dragon invades St. Albert mall
Just in time for Halloween, a new display inside St. Albert Centre mall is sure to make shoppers stop and stare.
That's because it's not every October you see more than 3,000 balloons depicting a brave knight fighting off a fire breathing dragon for a chest of treasure.
"For me that is the joy of this art, is to make people happy. And it's amazing what a balloon will do for people. It's associated with fun and excitement and youth and festivities," said Glen LaValley, also known as The Balloon Guy.
LaValley said it's all the work of a banker turned balloon maker.
"I design something I think will appeal to my client and I get their feedback and once I have it nailed down then I work on the details on how to construct. Then I build my team based on the talents I require for the work," LaValley explained.
LaValley can do all the usual balloons like birthday party animals. But his passion is the grand balloon display using multiple techniques and dozens of vibrant colours and shapes that fit into one another to make unique scenes.
The Dragon Dungeon will be on display until Nov. 1 or until the balloons deflate or pop.
But that likely won’t happen because this balloon artist double stuffs each balloon to increase strength and longevity.
"By putting one balloon inside the other, as you can see, it's very stiff and solid. it's harder to work with but your product will last longer," LaValley said.
Shoppers are invited to stop by, take a selfie with the knight and or dragon, and upload for a chance to win a gift card.
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Alison MacKinnon
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.