A melting pot of craftspeople come to the North

'Dad' Michaud displays some of his fine woodworking. The entire Michaud family take-part in this family tradition of wooden board games, toys, clocks and cutting boards.


Whether looking for a special gift, shopping for something unique for yourself, or just taking in eye-candy the craft show at the Fur Harvesters Auction Inc. on Bond Street off Gormanville Road offers a little bit of everything for everyone.

From baby clothes to hot chocolate, woodwork, pottery, BBQ sauces, mustards, paintings, and a near never-ending list of crafts each passionate work is created by hand through perseverance and hard work.

Wolfgang and Margaret Poerner of Canadian Events Management- Quality Shows of The North have worked diligently for the past six months to make this event possible.

The event started on Friday November 2 and runs until Sunday November 4.

“This event is strongly juried to ensure high quality standards. Not only is the event strongly juried we also like to keep it fresh and fun… we have 25-30% new vendors this year,” Wolfgang Poerner said.

Poerner said vendors are selected from all around Ontario to create a melting pot of opportunity and ingenuity.

“This beats going to Wal-Mart by a long shot,” Peorner said.

“Each vendor works hard to bring forward a great product and we (Wolfgang and Margaret) do our best to provide for and support them by bringing all these wonderful crafts people together in one place, making it very accessible to Northerners.”

In terms of new vendors Michaud- Fine Woodworking display an amazing line of traditional wooden board games and memory books crafted from the best available exotic and domestic hardwoods.

Michaud Fine Woodworking is a family affair. Mom, dad, and their three boys all take part in the business of creating these fine heirloom pieces.

It is four dollars to enter the craft show.

“Four dollars is a small price to pay to take part in an innovative and interesting event. The money covers some overhead finances but it is ultimately in place to support all the hardworking craftspeople who prepare months in advance to ensure an interactive and entertaining event,” Wolfgang said.