Elite Soapstone Stoves by Tulikivi

These stoves bristle with efficiency — they are soapstone stoves from the Finish company Tulikivi. They use radiant heat to warm up your house, which is a highly desirable type of heat — it’s even and non-drying. It passes through the air in the room, and warms all of the solid surfaces in the room that it “shines” on. Soapstone is used to build these stoves because holds heat very well, and releases it gradually. Unlike wood-burning stoves, the Tulikivi is not finicky. Any seasoned wood will burn well. In Finland these fireplaces are burned with soft woods like pine and birch.

The stoves are also very effective at burning wood. Because the fire burns so hot, the wood is totally vaporized. There are no ash, creosote, smoke, or charcoal byproducts left behind, only mineral content from the wood. The fumes emitted by the Tulikivi fireplaces are below the requirements of the German DIN 18891 norm (also Washington state and Colorado state), but the efficiency level is higher than stipulated. The nitrogen content of wood is approx. 0.05%. The smoke gases therefore only contain tiny quantities of nitrogen oxide. The sulfur content of wood is also minimal.

In terms of price, you’re looking at a range of $4000 to $15000. Distributors can be found on the Tulikivi web site.

Masonry – Heritage & Traditional at Algonquin College, Perth

What exactly is the Heritage Masonry program all about?

This is a diploma program offered over a 45 week period. Students will demonstrate knowledge, through in-shop projects as they master the requisite trowel skills. Typical projects include items such as: brick veneer, reinforced masonry, stone walling, stone carving, fireplace construction, cladding and man made stone applications.

The program also focuses on the principles of architectural conservation, the history of building technology, drafting and recording, the Ontario Building Code, structural analysis of masonry, mathematics, and communication skills.

Is the program all “hands-on”?

Despite this common misconception for trades training courses, this program has a balance of theory and practical courses. Lectures, note-taking, math, communications skills, drafting, research and report writing, and oral presentations comprise a significant part of the program. The “hands-on” activities are designed to provide students with an opportunity to put the “theory” into practice. Successful students spend as much time on their practical projects as completing assignments for their theory-based courses.

‘Friends of the Tay’ Announce 2008 Environmental Awards

To Rideau Canal, ‘Art of Being Green’ and Rideau Valley Field Naturalists

With their choice of recipients for their annual environmental awards this year, the ‘Friends of the Tay Watershed’ have recognized three very successful and popular initiatives in this region. At their annual ‘Watershed Discovery Evening’ in Perth on November 4, the ‘Friends’ presented awards to Parks Canada’s Rideau Canal Office, to the ‘Art of Being Green Festival’ in Lanark, and to the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists.

In his opening comments to the award ceremony, Board member David Crowley noted that this is the seventh year that the association awards have been presented. Their objective is to recognize organisations or individuals, and their activities, that provide significant benefit to the Tay watershed and the environment. The awards are for “Contribution to the Tay Watershed”, “Contribution to the General Environment”, and “Contribution to Water Resources, at the Provincial, National or International Levels”.

The award for “Contribution to the Tay Watershed” went this year to the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists for their many activities in promoting awareness and understanding of nature and the environment in the Rideau watershed, including the Tay. In particular, their initiative in developing the butterfly garden at the Perth Wildlife Reserve has made a unique contribution to local awareness of the need to provide such habitat and protection.

The award for “Contribution to Water Resources, at the Provincial, National or International Levels” recognizes the contribution of the Rideau Canal Office of Parks Canada to the natural and historic protection of our area water resources through a number of initiatives, including achieving World Heritage designation, by UNESCO, of the Rideau system. The international recognition and prestige developed from this designation has provided a foundation on which regional governments, companies and non-profit organizations alike may build increased environmental, economic, and social benefit. This award also recognizes the exemplary leadership displayed by the Canal Office in the development of the Rideau Corridor concept, their cooperation with and support of communities along the corridor, and in their wake reduction, waterway protection, and education programs. The foregoing is particularly appropriate considering the upcoming Tay Canal 175th Anniversary in 2009.

This year’s award for “Contribution to the General Environment” went to the very successful ‘Art of Being Green’ (AOBG) festival in Lanark, for its substantial contribution in popularizing the environment message and carrying it to a wide geographic area. More than 7,200 people from far and near found their way to the fifth annual AOBG festival this past summer. AOBG has been recognized by Festivals & Events Ontario as one of the 100 best festivals in Ontario out of more than 3,000 festivals of all types. Participating exhibitors have enthusiastically endorsed the festival as one of the very best environmental festivals around and an excellent venue for spreading the environmental message.

The ‘Friends of the Tay Watershed’ Environmental Awards are presented annually to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to the Tay watershed and/or to the environment.

The Friends of the Tay Watershed is a registered charitable organization that involves landowners, communities, government agencies, business and other interested parties in programs aimed at preserving and improving the health of the Tay River watershed. The Association carries out activities to maintain wildlife habitat, recreation, water quality, water quantity and related resources in the Watershed.

Released by The Friends of the Tay Watershed Association
For information: (613) 264 0094 or info@tayriver.org