Stone Carving in Haliburton

The school is located just outside the village of Haliburton, so it’s an easy commute of twenty minutes.

The school offers more than a hundred courses during the summer. Options include blacksmithing, ceramics, drawing and painting, fibre arts, glassblowing, jewellery, music, and many more.

Haliburton is well known for its active arts scene. The Sculpture Forest is a must-see for all visitors, and the long running Autumn Studio Tour is always very popular. Two Estonian artists associated with the area are Arne Roosman, who exhibits in nearby Bancroft, and Kai-Liis Mcinnis, who has previously been a watercolour instructor at the school.

Surrounded by so much art and these Estonian connections, I felt I was destined to take a course. My sister was a gifted watercolour and pastel artist, but I felt like I could never approach her level. I did take a wood carving course thirty-five years ago in Toronto, so stone carving seemed like the right fit.

I didn’t do much research into the course details. I knew it would run Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.. I also knew that PPE—such as ear protection, goggles, a mask with a special filter, long-sleeved clothing, head covering, and closed toe shoes—were mandatory. When we pulled into the parking lot on Monday morning, I saw a large canopy set up with work tables and all kinds of tools, including pneumatic power tools. This particular week came with a heat warning. Temperature highs for Monday to Wednesday were in the mid thirties and higher with the humidex. As my wife headed into her air-conditioned classroom, I contemplated my recent decisions for retirement activities. I had just returned from a sailing trip to Sable Island, which involved a considerable amount of seasickness. Now, radio forecasts warned of heat stroke, with advice to stay indoors and keep well-hydrated.