Welcome BBQ 2016

Some of the incoming students of Willowbank’s 10th class – the Class of 2019! On campus for the welcome barbecue on September 8th.


 

September News

Students return to Campus as we celebrate 10 years of the Heritage Conservation Program at Willowbank!


Willowbank Welcomes Students for the 2016-17 School year
Welcomes 10 year anniversary class

Willowbank was pleased to welcome our tenth year of incoming students in this year’s class, just as we received the news of the extension of the Royal Patronage of His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales.

The class of 2019 comes to us with a wide diversity of experience and backgrounds but the common desire to learn about why our historic places matter and how to conserve them in a sustainable fashion. This month the students began classes in cultural landscape theory, archaeology, carpentry and drystone walling among a full slate.

We also welcomed home our class of 2018, who have already begun their Conservation Management Plans. This year the class has split into two groups. One group will study the Seneca-Cazenovia district in South Buffalo. The other has taken on the study of Grimsby Beach.

The class of 2017 returned for their three week September stint before they head out for their third year internships/projects in October. The class has found interesting internships across Canada and internationally. We have a student who has already made their way to Paris to intern at the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, another is headed to India in October to do an intensive research project comparing architectural styles and rituals of different cultural groups, and we have a student interning at a timber framing company in Nova Scotia and another at a masonry company in Ottawa. Closer to home we have a student undertaking a report for a structure in Beamsville, two working for the Ontario Heritage Trust and one at Niagara Parks. We wish them all the best of luck and look forward to seeing them again at the end of March.


LG lunch 2016

The Lieutenant Governor and guests in the Bright Parlour after lunch on the porch at the Willowbank Estate House. The Lieutenant Governor brought her guests, members of the Toronto Diplomatic Corps, to Niagara for the Ontario Wine Awards.

Lieutenant Governor & Toronto Diplomatic Corps visit Campus for Wine Awards

On September 7th, Willowbank was pleased to host the Lieutenant Governor and her guests as they toured Niagara on the occasion of the 2016 Ontario Wine Awards, which encourage Ontario viticulture and wine making. Willowbank’s Executive Director led a tour of the estate for distinguished guests from the Toronto diplomatic corps, representing 13 countries from South America, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa. Guests then retired to the porch for a delicious locally sourced luncheon provided by Niagara College.


Stonesthrow Stone Festival
This Weekend!

If you haven’t made your plans to come to this weekend’s Stonesthrow Stone Festival you’ll be missing out! This Friday afternoon Willowbank will welcome Dominion Carver Phil White for the opening lecture at our Lower Campus at 5 Walnut Street. Friday evening, come and enjoy live music with the Hammer Brothers for an old-school gym dance.

We are still accepting registration for short courses on Saturday and Sunday – so come and try your hand at drystone walling, blacksmithing or stone carving! Or you can register for our short course on historic mortars which will include a lime burn.

If you want to just come and enjoy the campus there will be live music from 12pm-8pm on Saturday afternoon at the Willowbank Estate House, you can enjoy local beer and wine and have lunch while listening to local talent. After lunch you can visit our lower campus, where an artisan market will run from 12pm-4pm, featuring local artisans wares as well as an acoustic stage.

Please go to our website stonesthrow.willowbank.ca for more details on vendors, musician lists and short course registration.


Infrastructure Upgrades Update
Electrical Site Services installed

The next phase of site servicing has been undertaken with the installation of a new transformer which will increase the electrical supply for the upper campus. Feeding both the barn workshop and the estate house – this work is integral to the sustainablity and accessibilty of the Upper Campus. October will see the interior infrastructure upgrades begin in earnest.


Celebrate our 10 year anniversary with a Willowbank T-Shirt!

In celebration of our 10 year anniversary we’ve printed a new t-shirt. Sizes M-XXL are still available for $20 + shipping. Give us a call at 905-262-1239 to get yours today. With fall around the corner, Willowbank hoodies and toques are also available!

2016 T-shirts


Upcoming Events

Willowbank presents: Stonesthrow Stone Festival 2016. Join us for short courses, live music and an artisan market on the weekend of September 30th-October 2nd. Find out more at stonesthrow.willowbank.ca
Community Garden Closing with the Indigenous Community and SOADI – October 7th, 10am-2pm.
Interested in helping out? Call Shelley Glica at 905-262-1239 ext. 24 to book your training and become a Willowbank Volunteer today!
October 19th-22nd – National Trust for Canada’s Heritage Rising Annual Heritage Conference – talks at the event will be given by Willowbank staff and a tour of the grounds is scheduled for registrants – register at nationaltrustconference.ca