Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park Zoo Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden Grand Opening!

It official. The opening of the Assiniboine Park Zoo Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden will be officially open to the public on Saturday June 24th!

The media grand opening took place yesterday morning with benefactor Shirley Richardson engaging the audience with her history to the Assiniboine Park Conservancy and how the Butterfly Exhibit came to fruition.

The Richardson family has long supported the conservancy in the past and continues to do so for many years to come.

Reclaimed Fir Timber supports.

2000sdft open air green house quonset. Home to a few lucky hundred butterflies!

Gift shop clad in reclaimed Spruce panels

Monarch Butterfly

The Exhibit will be home to 500 Monarch and Painted butterflies for the summer and will become neighbours to another 200 Black Swallow Tails and Red Admirals in the next couple of weeks. The future intention for the zoo is to bring in tropical butterfly that are larger and more vibrant in colors.

The vestibules are air-locked and serve as the entry and exit portals to the main greenhouses. The vestibules were clad in reclaimed Spruce with reclaimed Fir used for much of the framing and supports.  The Assiniboine Park has really been at the forefront of environmental sustainability on current and future projects.

Reclaimed Cedar Poles

Entrance vestibule.

The Butterfly Garden Grand Opening was a huge success and will most certainly be one of the Winnipeg's Zoo key attractions!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Tags: Assiniboine Park Zoo Shirley Richardson Butterfly Exhibit, Reclaimed Fir Beams, Reclaimed Spruce Panels, Reclaimed Wood Vestibule, Lala Gnar Gnar Photography, Monarch Butterfly, Painted Butterfly, Butterflies,

A Butterfly in its Cocoon - Butterfly Exhibit Construction Nears Completion!

Here's kind of a two part post about the newly unveiled Assiniboine Park Shirley Richardson Butterfly Garden. It was only a week ago that I took these photos. I couldn't post them up for obvious reasons but this is what the Butterfly Garden looked like during construction.

We were excited to be a part of the upscale project! As you can see below the garden's main features two 2000sqft quonsets under construction which will be enclosed to hold the butterflies.

Like a butterfly getting ready to leave its cocoon, we were under the gun with the nearing grand opening deadline!

Reclaimed Fir Timber with reclaimed Spruce panelling.

The entry and exit vestibules were constructed mostly of reclaimed Fir and Spruce wood! Good sensible sustainable thinking on behalf of the Assiniboine Park Zoo!

On top of the "to be" merchandise vestibule.

Part 2 to follow in the next post...

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Tags: Assiboine Park Zoo Shirley Richardson Butterfly Exhibit, Reclaimed Fir Beams, Reclaimed Spruce Panels, Reclaimed Wood Vestibule, Monarch Butterfly, Painted Butterfly, Butterflies

The End Grain: What do snakes and reclaimed wood have in common?

The End Grain: What do snakes and reclaimed wood have in common?: "Algonquin Coffee Table Snake Island Furniture has nothing to do with real snakes other than having the word in their name. This young To..."

What do snakes and reclaimed wood have in common?

Algonquin Coffee Table

Snake Island Furniture has nothing to do with real snakes other than having the word in their name. This young Toronto company utilizes dead-fall from the city churning out beautiful distinct furniture and home furnishings out of reclaimed blight-stricken Butternuts, majestic Black Walnuts, burly Cherry's, and Russian olive.

Wyandot Media Centre

Snake Island Furniture is unique with its clean modern line melding it with a retro feel.

Chippewa End Table

No new wood is cut and for every piece they sell they will plant a tree! Great sustainable thinking!
For more information on Snake Island Furniture, click here, SNL

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Wood Anchor seeking fulltime permanent bookkeeper.

Hello friends! Just posting a new job listing for your viewing. If you or you know anyone who may be a candidate for this position, feel free to inquire about it by emailing us.

For Immediate Hire

Position: Bookkeeper

Wood Anchor, a fast paced and dynamic Winnipeg-based wood repurposing company, is seeking a fulltime permanent bookkeeper with 1-3 years of experience.

Responsibilities will include: maintaining general ledgers and financial statements, preparing bank reconciliations, invoicing accounts receivable, processing accounts payable, providing inventory support, preparing and processing time/attendance and employee payroll and performing other clerical and administrative functions as needed.

Please note that the office location does not have bus service.

Experience with Simply Accounting and Microsoft Office required. Post secondary certificate or diploma in accounting preferred. Salary to be negotiated. Start date ASAP. Resumes should be forwarded by email only to info@woodanchor.com .

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

The Heli-arc stairs that made the Top 10 Winnipeg Dream Homes!

A friend of mine messaged me a link to this years Top 10 Winnipeg Dream Homes the other day. He noted that the "Number 1" home was the 7.5 million dollar home that Wood Anchor worked on. Not in its entirety mind you but on one of its central focal points. That focal point was the stately heli-arc staircase designed and built suited for any emperor!

Click here to see the Top 10 Winnipeg Dream Homes

This Staircase was created from American White Oak trees that were planted in the sixteenth century. Nearly 250 years later, it’s been said that they were cut down, and hand hewn into an Amish barn by early nineteenth century craftsmen.

At the beginning of the twenty-first century the barn was dismantled and the timbers were shipped to Winnipeg where they were lovingly shaped into the work of art here today.

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Time to take care of your grass organically!

Anyone with a yard filled with grass is challenged each and every spring with the daunting task of trying to start off with healthy beautiful grass. I know this from experience. In the past, my grass has been more like a field of dandelions rather than canvas of lush green grass. Does this sound like your situation?

We all know that there are products that can be extremely effective in combating the dandelion and other weeds but many of the products out there are harmful to the environment. Most people wouldn't think so and some don't even care. Well, for the uneducated and the unconcerned, look no further!

Manitoba Eco-Network, in conjunction with Campaign for Pesticide Reduction, and Chemical Sensitivities Manitoba, have created an Organic Lawn Care educational project, in order to provide information on the benefits of Organic Lawn Care. Their mission is to provide education for learning how to have beautiful lawns and green spaces while being mindful of our environment.

Many of their Organic Lawncare workshops, tips and clinics can be seen on the ME-N website (and are free!)

Organic Lawn Care Education

Read more about: Click on the above link to sign up!

Free Workshops

Lawn Library

Organic Lawn Care Tips

Mower Sharpening Clinics

Resources

Book Reviews

In The News

Enjoy your green space and happy mowing!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse - Ray

Pine in Progress!

My beloved shop crew is just finishing up a beautiful reclaimed Pine timber table set to leave tomorrow.



Reclaimed Pine has been tough to come by lately so this table be definitely be one of a kind!

One leg...

Now two...

Table top needing legs!

This one is going to be left O' Natural finished with OSMO.
Check back tomorrow for a few finished shots!

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray

Canadian Environmental Week? What's that?

Did you know Canadian Environmental Week is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year? This years CEW will run from June 5th - 11th. In 1970 Tom Goode, a Member of Parliament from British Columbia, introduced a bill designated  "Canadian National Pollution Awareness Week". Piggy backing on the strength of  Prime Minister John Diefenbaker's "Environment Week", the bill was passed by the House due to the considerable amount of support from the public and all political parties. To draw attention to all aspects of a healthy environment, the name "Canadian National Environment Week" was chosen.

Here's what you can expect!


International Day for Biological Diversity (May 22)

The United Nations proclaimed May 22 to be The International Day for Biological Diversity to increase understanding and awareness of biodiversity issues.

World Environment Day (June 5)

Canadian Environment Week is held during the first week of June to coincide with World Environment Day (June 5). This special day was designated by the United Nations in 1972 to stimulate action on the environment and empower people from every corner of the globe to become active agents of sustainable and equitable development.

Clean Air Day (June 8) raises awareness and encourages action on clean air and climate change issues. Canadians can show their commitment by participating in activities that contribute to cleaner air, healthier communities and a better quality of life for all.

The transportation sector is a major contributor of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. For Clean Air Day, why not renew or begin a commitment to sustainable transportation?  When you use public transit, cycle, walk and rollerblade, you can reduce your personal emissions, save money used on fuel, contribute to your personal health and much more.

Before you leave home on Clean Air Day and every other day, monitor your local air quality with the Air Quality Health index (AQHI)!

Learn about how Environment Canada is a world leader in clean air science research. This important work is part of our mission to better understand air pollution, its levels, causes and sources, to keep Canadians informed about the air we breathe every day.

Oceans Day (June 8) is a time to remember the critical role of oceans worldwide.  This international celebration has grown from a ripple into a tidal wave of awareness about the importance of our oceans.

Rivers to Oceans Week (June 8 - 13) is an opportunity to work together to create an understanding of Canada's watersheds, our connection to fresh- and salt-water environments and what everyone can do to protect and keep watersheds healthy for people and wildlife.

The Commuter Challenge (June 5 - 11) is a nation-wide event that promotes friendly competition among organizations and cities to see who can get the highest percentage of employees out of single occupancy vehicles and into healthier and cleaner modes of commuting such as walking, cycling, transit, carpooling, vanpooling and teleworking.

Info from Environment Canada

For more information on Government of Canada environmental initiatives, visit ecoACTION website at: www.ecoaction.gc.ca

Rethink. Reclaim. Reuse. - Ray