Crew members from the Saugeen Amphitheatre Restoration Project will be showcasing their drystone work while spreading an important message next week (March 9-12) at Canada Blooms in Toronto.
Richard Nancarrow, Project Manager and Engineer with the Drystone Project says crew members will build a 12ft x 7ft drystone wall for the exhibit. It will feature artistic designs depicting a Thunderbird and an art piece to draw notice to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in Canada.
“There will be gaps in the stonewall and that will indicate the Missing Woman and we will put candles in them.”
Nancarrow says there are ten drystone apprentices now working on the project located at the Saugeen First Nation Amphitheatre.
“What we're trying to finish now is the original footprint of the Amphitheatre and we will have that done by August /September of this year (2020). And then we’re planning to build a building and re-build the gardens,” says Nancarrow.
The Amphitheatre which looks over the Saugeen River is a popular meeting place and hosted many weddings.
In addition the crew is creating a new building.
“Receptions often went to other places in Saugeen Shores,so we’re building this building big enough to host weddings, it will also be a reception centre, interpretation centre and place for local crafters to sell their wears.
This past winter a outdoor skating rink was set up. Nancarrow says it was well used and appeared to be appreciated by the community.
In additional to the rink which kept workers busy some learned from a Master Stone Carver, which will allow local crews to put their own personal touches into stone work.
The Drystone Walling Apprenticeship is monitored out of the UK. It had four stages and many members of the Saugeen First Nation Drystone Project have reached the top step.