Monday September 6th 2010 DSWAC members rebuilt section of wall at Kingsmere Estate.

 DSWAC members pose during the second day of 'demonstration walling' near Ottawa.

Onlookers marvel as a big stone is placed on the dry stone wall we are repairing at Kingsmere Estate in the Gatineau Hills this weekend. We are here on Labour day Monmday finishing this small section of repair for the NCC so members of public can enjoy seeing how it's done.

Members of the DSWAC are repairing walls at Kingsmere Estate this weekend as part of a traditional stone walling demonstration during the special NCC Labour Day weekend event  near Ottawa, the nations capital. Come out and visit us Monday if you are in the area.

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Each year on the Thanksgiving Weekend a special festival takes place in Canada where dry stone walling is celebrated.

 
Professional and amateur wallers alike, along with many supporters of the craft, come together from all over the world and participate in demonstrating and promoting the art of dry stone walling. We do this not just because building dry stone walls is so engaging, but also to take the opportunity to enjoy one another's company again and to catch up each year with all that has been happening in the world of 'Walls Without Mortar'. Last year, we had nearly 800 people come to our Dry Stone Wall Festival in Grand Valley Ontario. There were children's activities, guest speakers, presentations, tool displays, great food, music, workshops and a 3 day demonstration involving wallers  from all over the world building together.  

This year we are doing it again in Rockport Ontario at Landon Bay Centre.

While attendance is free and visitors are welcome to come and watch, this is mostly about participation. We are going to be building a bridge as well as two other challenging dry laid structures, a coned fireplace and an arch. 

If you are just starting to get interested in this craft,  come and watch and see how it's done.

If you are a waller in Canada and haven't received an official email notice about 'Rocktoberfest 2010' from us yet, inviting you to come and build with us, please consider yourself invited. 

Even if you don't know how to build a wall we invite you to come and learn how, by taking one of our 2 day courses being held that festival weekend. The price of these workshops includes 2 special lunches, snacks, printed material and two days of hands-on instruction taught by mastercraftsmen Norman Haddow, Michael Weitzner and Patrick MacAfee, all stone experts and internationally accredited instructors.

Please note: Many our daily posts of photos of walls are not archived. (Some are posted subsequently in the DSWAC members section) Please come back each day to see new examples of 'walls without mortar' in Canada