Paddle Making
​Workshops

Make your own hand carved Black Cherry paddle

Christmas shopping for a paddle course?  Follow the Shop link.  Scroll to the bottom.  Choose either $203.40 (180.00 course plus HST) or $50 deposit with balance due before the course.

Bruce's years of teaching and canoeing experience, combined with a step-by-step process make for a relaxed, rewarding endeavour.
You choose the paddle size and style a few weeks prior and Bruce prepares the blanks by planing and reducing the bulk of the wood. The workshop consists of layout, rough carving, fine carving and sanding. Tools are provided. Some final sanding may have to be done at home. Instructions are given for applying finish over 10-14 days following workshop.

Workshop Details

Located in Fergus, Ontario
Time: 9AM-5PM
Cost: $180 + tax  ($203.40)
A $50 gift card in our Shop link serves as a course deposit for a date to be chosen later.

WOOD  AND PADDLE DESIGN

Black Cherry is used for the workshop as it has the best properties and is easiest to carve. No shaft laminations are offered as they are too involved. Traditional straight shaft paddles (without Bruce's trademark secondary grip) are carved in the workshop.

PARTICULARS

Class size is 8 and workshops are designed for ages 14+ due to the upper body strength required. Workshops are subject to sufficient registration and a participant loses their deposit if they cancel and we cannot fill their spot. If a workshop is full, enquire anyway and we will add you to a waitlist.
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PRIVATE WORKSHOPS

If you have 8 friends or family members who'd like to do a workshop together, contact Bruce to arrange a private workshop for your group. 

Upcoming Workshops

 Yes!!! We're back!
Please contact us by email to register.​ 

Saturday January 8 (cancelled-ON restrictions)
Sunday January 16 (cancelled-ON restrictions)
Saturday January 30 (cancelled-common sense)
Sunday February 13 (1 opening)
Saturday February 26 (full)
Sunday March 6 (1 single or 1 couple opening)
Saturday March 19 (3 to 5 openings)
Saturday March 26 (4 to 8 openings)
Sunday April 3 (4 to 8 openings)
Saturday April 9 (4 to 8 openings)
Saturday April 23 (4 to 8 openings)
Saturday April 30 (3 to 7 openings)


Because of how contagious the Omicron virus is,  I am reducing the number of participants in the following manner. 
I have one worktable for 4 upstairs and one for 4 downstairs.  The number at each table will depend on the size of the bubbles.
For example, if 3 or 4 peope come together, they will be able to work together on one level.  I  can accommodate singles, groups of 2 to 6.
The numbers in each workshop will vary between 4 to 8 people.

As soon as we can get our hands on rapid antigen test kits, I will recommend that we all do one in the morning of the workshop.
The government is slow in making them available in Ontario, so this action could take a while . Their action in this manner would help businesses greatly.

We adhere to public health advice and currently use the following precautions:
physical distancing, sanitization of all tools, mask wearing required with KN95 preferred, no attendance for anyone with Covid-19 symptoms, recent exposure, or travel outside of Canada within 14 days of workshop without a current test.
I would ask that all participants in the winter workshops be vaccinated to the new standards.  Once spring arrives, I will have a workbench set up outside where I can accommodate those who choose to remain unvaccinated.
*I appreciate your understanding in this manner since I am auto-immune compromised myself.
 Everyone will be well spaced out.

"Do you have a testimonial from someone who's done a workshop? If so, let's put one here.”

- SOMEONE ONCE SAID