‘I scream, you scream, for ice cream!’

Alicia Boisson
South Peace News

This summer, residents of High Prairie will be pleased to once again hear the tingle-tingle of little bells, or the toot-toot of little horns. Uncle Mike’s Ice Cream will be making its rounds through the community, quenching the ice cream and Popsicle cravings residents will be getting as the summer heat takes hold on the area. Michael Smith, owner of the ice cream bikes, says he started the business for the sheer enjoyment of seeing the smiles on children’s faces. “I did this for me and the kids. It’s not that I don’t have other things to do but I just thought it would be fun,” says Smith, about his hobby turned business. Smith emphasizes this is a novelty for the kids. “My wife and I can’t have children so I have always been known as Uncle Mike, by all the kids I know through friends and family. That’s how the business received it’s name,” says Smith. “I just want to create memories for the children, and I can’t wait to see their smiles.” In the summer 2006, Smith says the idea came to him during a long smoldering night on shift at Tolko Industries. “One of the people I work with said, ‘I could really use some ice cream right now’ and I thought, ‘Hey there’s a good idea.’” And so, his quest began to find the perfect cooler bike. After talking with a man in British Columbia, Smith was directed to another man in Edmonton, who he later purchased a couple of bikes from. Following his purchase he signed up with Nestle. Once his bikes arrived he took to the streets to sell his refreshing Uncle Mike’s treats. “I’ve received different responses since I started. Some adults walk up to me and are like, ‘What the heck is this’. Kids who have never met me know who I am and can go to get their ice cream; and other adults who know who I am come to talk about their memories about when they were growing up when there was a local Dickie Dee,” explains Smith. Smith took to the streets this year for the first time on June 2, following the route he knows so well. This year he purchased a new bike that has a bigger cooler and will be able to carry more products. “I going to carry Good Humor products as well as Nestle. Every other week people will be able to try something different,” says Smith. “I also am hoping to have another peanut free product, instead of just Freezies, as well as, fat and sugar-free products for those watching the calories.” Smith says another bonus will be his new bells and whistles, literally. “I keep telling people if they are good I will let them squeeze my duck, which is one of my new horns, I will also have an alligator, new hats, and a big sign and the bike cooler is going to be red and blue and white. I am really going to stand out,” says Smith.

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