Carving a Canadian legacy in wood
The Buckhorn Woodcarvers meet at the Buckhorn Community Centre every Thursday at 1 p.m. but you find evidence of them all over the area. From Belleville to Bobcaygeon to Toronto you can find their fine examples of carving. Check out this story from the Ontario Science Centre.
The tree that inspired the song The Maple Leaf Forever was downed by a severe wind storm on July 19, 2013. What to do with this inspirational tree? The City of Toronto decided to commemorate the tree and its place in history by utilizing every piece of it. The Ontario Wood Carvers Association stepped forward to meet the challenge. They were given a section of the tree. They invited various clubs and woodcarvers to participate. Woodcarver Bob Gill, a member of the Buckhorn Woodcarvers, accepted the challenge.
The seven foot long section was brought to the Toronto Science Centre. It was debarked. A computer design was established. The 35 leaves were relief carved. The trunk was decorated. Then the wood artists came in to carve their leaf. Gill’s first assignment was to carve two early-history lumberjacks who were resting on a stump of a large tree they had just cut down. Bob’s concern…”My main concern was having to carve two faces … Oh Boy!”
At times three carvers could be standing on the floor or scaffolding working on their carving providing space was available. It took Gill and his wife, Barbara, five trips to the science centre and approximately 45 hours and it was completed. Then he carved a second leaf depicting Toronto City Hall. And when the carving was over Bob took three more days and did the antiquing of the entire piece.
The Maple Leaf Forever Tree was unveiled on Wednesday, July 19 at the Ontario Science Centre where it can be found on permanent display illustrating the history of Toronto and significant events from Ontario’s history.
Small round parts from the limbs of the tree were also sent to various clubs. Gill and woodcarver, Russell Rood, carved a jumping deer (Buck) and the description “Buckhorn Carvers 2015” which was to be displayed in a heritage display at the Pickering City Hall.
Buckhorn Hydro
Peterborough Utilities Inc. (PUI) is proposing the development of the Buckhorn Hydro Project between Buckhorn Lake and Lower Buckhorn Lake in Buckhorn. Peterborough Utilities Buckhorn Hydro LP (PUBH) is a limited partnership with PUI and the Curve Lake Economic Development Corporation.
PUBH has been awarded a contract from the Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO). The proposed project involves the installation of a waterpower facility with a name plate capacity of approximately 2.5 megawatts adjacent to the existing Buckhorn Dam.
On Feb. 27 from 5 to 8 pm in the East Banquet Room at the BCC members of the project team will be on hand to answer questions. The public is invited to attend the meeting on a drop-in basis to learn more about the proposed undertaking and to provide comments.
Information and updates can also be viewed on the project website: http://www.pui.ca/ Generation/Peterborough_ Utilities_ Buck horn_ Hydro. h tm.
Calendar
Pancake Dinner: Tuesday from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. St. Matthew – St. Aidan Anglican Church, 1937 Lakehurst Road. On the Menu: Pancakes, Sausages, Beans, Dessert, Tea and Coffee. Adults $8.00, Youth 6 to 12 - $5.00, Under 5 – Free
Heritage Day: At the BCC, Feb.17. Check out BCC website for details.