Building on the Past

In this episode, I speak with Shawn Thomson a heritage carpenter and long-time instructor at the Heritage Institute in Perth Ontario. Shawn has a successful career that covers historic building repair, heritage restoration, and more than 15 years of teaching. Shawn tells us how he left cubicle life behind, found the Heritage Carpentry program, and never looked back.Shawn shares his perspectives on the paths that bring people into heritage trades, the opportunities for careers in restoration work, and what it means to be a heritage carpenter. We discuss Perth as a living classroom and the role the town’s historical architecture and fabric contributes to students’ learning and post-secondary learning.Throughout the episode Shawn outlines his approach to teaching, his hopes for his students and the skills required to be successful in Heritage Carpentry and Heritage Trades.If you have questions about the Heritage Carpentry and Joinery Program you can contact the Heritage Institute by e-mail at Perth@algonquincollege.com Feedback to Building on the PastIf you have questions or comments about the podcast or have suggestions for future episodes you can contact me at BuildingOnThePastPod@gmail.comI’d love to hear from you.

This episodes guest is Jack Hollinger, Program Coordinator and Instructor at the Heritage Institute in Perth, Ontario, Canada.We discuss pathways into the Heritage Carpentry Program, the importance of being in the moment and using all of your senses when working, and whether you need to have extensive woodworking experience to succeed (you don't!).If you have questions for Jack about the Heritage Carpentry Program you can contact him by E-mail at perth@algonquincollege.com