It was a record year for the 2026 New Brunswick Woodcarving Competition and Sale in Saint Andrews, N.B. The annual event, now in its 20th year, featured a record 277 different carvings entered in the competition by a new benchmark of 95 different carvers. The carvers entering their creations hailed from all three maritime provinces, Ontario, Quebec, as well as a number of folks from the northeastern United States. The carvings were separated into different categories. That includes various types of birds, whales, and even a real-life looking lobster carved by a 95-year-old from Nova Scotia. The competition aspect featured all different levels of carving skills from those who had only been woodworking for a few months, while others displayed years of mastery in their creations. “I like to think it’s the second largest show of its kind in Canada,” believes Gord Willett, who is a volunteer at the show and board member with the New Brunswick Woodcarving Association. “We have some big money on the table and purchase awards and ribbons and whatnot. I’m happy to say we’ve grown the show.” Willett says in some categories the top carving creation earned a cash prize as high as $1,500. He says in years past, the total earnings up for grabs was as high as $13,000. As for the art of woodcarving itself, Willett says it comes in many forms. Some examples are chainsaw carvers, relief carvings, and wood burners. He says the annual show has something that will catch the eye of anyone, even if they aren’t a woodworker. “I’m living a dream and I don’t know how many people can say that,” Willett says. “I can easily say that it’s something I do every day, I’m passionate about it, I’m never tired of it, and when you create something from a block of wood and make it look real or as real as you can it’s just so satisfying.” One creative carving that had everyone stopping for a closer look was a hand-carved giraffe table created by Moncton’s Alice Caissie, who has been carving for 12 years. Caissie created the table in honour of her mother who passed away at the age of 101. It took 10 years for her to complete the masterpiece. “Oh my gosh, mom up there, I’m sure you’re so proud,” says Caissie, who only finished the table a week before the event. “I encourage everyone to look into crafts as it helps you stay healthy,” Caissie continues. “I look at myself at 77, I have no aches and pains when I get up in the morning, and no aches and pains when I go to bed at night, and all because I stay active and my mindset is something, you know, going on, creating every day.” The sentiment is shared by new carver Trudy Gallagher, who just got into the art three months ago after being introduced to the craft by a friend. “I’m having a lot of fun,” Gallagher grins. “It’s really meditative, and it can be really hard sometimes when you realize that one side is not as even as the other side. But I’ve always loved the smell of wood, and I think just sitting there and carving is very meditative.” As a new carver, she says the annual show is an inspiration and looks forward to entering her own wooden wonders in the future. “I sort of made a bit of a bucket list for myself, and I said that I was going to try new things this year,” Gallagher says. “This is a new thing that’s going to stick.” The show continues Sunday, where chainsaw carvers are expected to perform live demonstrations., as well as more workshops to introduce kids to the art form. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
