Cardboard costumes: A Montrealer's 20-year tradition
Many Montrealers are running to big box stores for Halloween costumes this weekend, but one man is taking 'big box' to a whole other level.
Trevor Kjorlien is making his 20th costume out of recycled cardboard.
"Inside of every cardboard box is a Halloween costume trying to get out," said Kjorlien.
In 2002, the then-teenager didn't have a costume to wear, but he did have an old computer box.
"I was really into Rubik's Cubes at that time, so I had the box and thought, 'that will be easy, just paint that,'" he told CTV News.
The following year, he made a Listerine bottle. Two Halloweens eventually became three, then four.
"Rubik's Cube, Listerine bottle, iPod, TicTac(s), Canada Post mailbox..." listed Kjorlien, a space educator by day and amateur costumer by night.
To date, he's crafted twenty jumbo versions of everyday objects made entirely of cardboard boxes put out for recycling in his neighbourhood.
Over time, Kjorlien started to follow some rigid rules to narrow down his options.
"They can fit in your hand, you know you've seen them before, they have brand recognition," he said, adding, "that just came out over time, it wasn't like an intentional decision."
It's a tradition among his family and friends to guess what the object is ahead of its reveal, but this year CTV News got a sneak peek -- watch the full video above for the surprise.
Kjorlien's process starts by ensuring the dimensions are exact. Then he traces the outline and gets painting.
Along the way, he pays attention to every tiny detail.
"The thing that people really enjoy is the like, 'oh my god, look at the detail of it,' and when they get close to it, they go, 'wow, you put that part in, you even put the trademark symbol.'"
That's why this year, he plans to include a meticulous ingredient list. He expects it will take him 3-4 hours to complete the one panel alone.
Kjorlien estimates he spends 40 to 50 hours creating his costume.
After roughly 1,000 total hours spent with cardboard boxes, his favourite has a special slice in his heart.
"The one that stands out, I think just cause the painting effect worked so well is the cheese grater," he said.
The cheese grater and all his other originals are safely secured in storage.
While he says he still enjoys it, lately, Kjorlien wonders how he'll keep thinking out of the box --until inspiration strikes him, just days before Halloween, in the frozen foods aisle.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian former Olympic snowboarder wanted in Ontario double homicide: DOJ
A Canadian former Olympic snowboarder who is suspected of being the leader of a transnational drug trafficking group that operated in four countries is wanted for allegedly orchestrating the murder of an 'innocent' couple in Ontario in 2023, authorities say.
Ontario school board trustees under fire for $100K religious art purchase on Italy trip
Trustees with an Ontario school board are responding to criticism over a $45,000 trip to Italy, where they purchased more than $100,000 worth of religious statues.
A photographer snorkeled for hours to take this picture
Shane Gross, a Canadian marine conservation photojournalist, has won the title of Wildlife Photographer of the Year.
Tobacco giants would pay out $32.5 billion to provinces, smokers in proposed deal
Three tobacco giants are proposing to pay close to $25 billion to provinces and territories and more than $4 billion to some 100,000 Quebec smokers and their loved ones as part of a corporate restructuring process triggered by a long-running legal battle.
More Trudeau cabinet ministers not running for re-election, sources say shuffle expected soon
Federal cabinet ministers Filomena Tassi, Carla Qualtrough and Dan Vandal announced Thursday they will not run for re-election. Senior government sources tell CTV News at least one other, Marie-Claude Bibeau, doesn't plan to run again, setting the stage for Justin Trudeau to shuffle his cabinet in the coming weeks.
Robert Pickton's handwritten book seized after his death in hopes of uncovering new evidence
A handwritten book was seized from B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton's prison cell following his death earlier this year, raising hopes of uncovering new evidence in a series of unprosecuted murders.
Former members of One Direction say they're 'completely devastated' by Liam Payne's death
The former members of English boy band One Direction reacted publicly to the sudden death of their bandmate, Liam Payne, for the first time on Thursday, saying in a joint statement that they're 'completely devastated.'
Israel says it has killed top Hamas leader Yayha Sinwar in Gaza
Israeli forces in Gaza killed top Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar, a chief architect of last year's attack on Israel that sparked the war, the military said Thursday. Troops appeared to have run across him unknowingly in a battle, only to discover afterwards that a body in the rubble was Israel's most wanted man.
Indian government employee charged in foiled murder-for-hire plot in New York City
The U.S. Justice Department announced criminal charges Thursday against an Indian government employee in connection with a foiled plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader living in New York City.