In a province that is home to some of North America's oldest buildings, Andrew MacAdam's skills in heritage carpentry are a sought-after commodity. He's now sharing those skills with a new generation of carpenters through Nova Scotia Community College's Heritage Carpentry program.
Students in the program master the unique skills required to renovate and preserve historic buildings. Quality and craftsmanship are the cornerstone of the program.
"It's rewarding to see the transformation that takes place in the students from the beginning to the end of the program. It's wonderful to see the skills and the mind set that they develop," he says.
Students in the Heritage Carpentry program develop a new appreciation for the sheer amount of effort
and commitment it took to build a home in the early days. "Years ago, building was usually a family
event," says Andrew. "It's not like the 16 weeks it takes to construct a home today." Knowing the
history behind old buildings teaches his students about what Andrew calls "embodied energy" – the
investment people of the past made in heritage buildings that still exist today.
Andrew's commitment to heritage isn't limited to the classroom. Last year, he and a team of NSCC
volunteers helped out with a number of carpentry projects, some requiring a heritage touch. For
instance, they made repairs and restorations to community centre in Mahone Bay, a former school
building that dates back to 1900.
For Andrew, it's the stories behind the buildings that make his work so interesting. As a child, he
attended the Baptist church in Bridgewater, where he enjoyed hearing older members tell stories
about the construction of the church and how adaptations to the structure reflected changes in the
community.
Stories like these help connect us with our past, says Andrew. He is proud that his students will have a role to play in preserving heritage buildings–and the stories they have to tell–for generations to come.