A community is built and shaped by the people that live, work and share common interests and goals. On the Great Northern Peninsula we have strong communities and leaders that have big ideas and use innovation to create new jobs, opportunities and experiences.
Glacier Glass, Englee, NL is shining example of a newly founded social enterprise that meets those interests and goals for local residents, the greater region and those visiting to experience and take away a little piece of the rock at the end of the winding Route 433. This initiative is placing Englee on the map as a destination, if you want a unique and authentic rural experience.
Last night, I had the opportunity to participate in a Glass Art Class (3 Hours) hosted by instructor Doris Randell at the Glacier Glass studio. I am a complete novice when it comes to glass art, but I have always been interested in making things by hand, learning the traditional way of doing things but also willing to try a new approach. We opted to make a poinsettia designed dish for the holidays and a set of coasters with our supplied materials. It brought back school year memories of arts and crafts as we took the scissors to cut the pattern to trace on the glass. Next came the fun, but intimidating part of cutting the glass. Like riding a bike, one starts with the training wheels attached and Doris had us scoring the glass with scrap at first as practice to breaking our pieces for the dish. Each piece got easier as we felt more comfortable working with the material and it was quite fun learning how it was made and doing it for yourself. There are many steps beyond the cutting and breaking of glass, there is some shaping with the grinder and some colouring to add detail. Doris is an incredibly talented community developer, crafty and certainly puts off a phenomenal class! Click on the photo gallery below to see a bit more of the process:
I look forward to seeing the end result after the product has been fired up in the kiln!
Local area residents participated in a several week long program and learned this particular craft making incredible product. The concept of training local people to make unique glass art products, has proven its worth that we are open to trying new initiatives in our small communities and that we have hidden talents we may never have had the opportunity to exhibit. Glacier Glass now gives anyone the opportunity to participate in a class, make their own product at a rate of $75.00 a session. If anyone would like to book a session, please contact 1-709-866-2711 for more details or visit Glacier Glass on Facebook.
Also their shop has a number of exquisite pieces for retail if anyone is interested in a special gift. Lots of unique Newfoundland & Labrador items available, holiday and special occasions too!
There are many opportunities to expand to wholesale, expand into various retail outlets, continue training sessions and offer learning vacations to those wishing to come, stay and experience all the Great Northern Peninsula has to offer!
The Great Northern Peninsula is poised for growth because we have exceptional community leaders, ideas and innovation that continue to make big things happen in small communities. Our rural landscape is changing and we are the catalysts changing that landscape!
Live Rural NL –
Christopher Mitchelmore, MHA The Straits-White Bay North @MitchelmoreMHA