About Boats & Builders
The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador Boats and Builders Project documents the intangible cultural heritage of our tradition-bearers and records their knowledge for future generations. Our researchers travel across the province to collect oral histories and technical data from those who built and used wooden boats. With a team that includes folklorists, naval architects and boat builders, we investigate the traditional design, construction and use of wooden boats in their unique community contexts. This collection continues to grow as we learn from tradition-bearers across Newfoundland and Labrador.
Contributors
Crystal Braye, MA
Raised by expat Newfoundlanders in Brampton, Ontario, Crystal Braye moved to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2010 to complete a masters of arts in folklore at Memorial University. With a background in cultural anthropology from Wilfrid Laurier University and keen interest in the history and heritage of Newfoundland and Labrador, Crystal worked as an intern with the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador to document root cellars before becoming responsible for WBMNL's oral history documentation and field research in 2012.
Jerome Canning, Boat Builder
Jerome first began boatbuilding in Placentia Bay, NL, where he spent his summers fishing with his father and brothers and building boats during the winter. Those early boats were used as part of his family's fishing enterprise or sold to commercial fisher persons. In 1983, Jerome received a Diploma in Small Craft Design from the Department of Naval Architecture at the Marine Institute in St. John's. Since then, Jerome has continued to build wooden boats, some of which have been featured in Newfoundland and Labrador cultural heritage celebrations including a Norse Faering,a French Chaloupe, Grand Bank Dories and a number of Newfoundland Punts. Jerome has worked with the Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador since 2009 as WBMNL's Master Builder and Boatbuilding Instructor.
Jeremy Harnum, BA
Growing up in Winterton, Jeremy’s interest in wooden boats started at a young age. Jeremy started working with the Museum in 2008, while still in high school, and was inspired to shape his career path for work in the heritage sector. Over the years, Jeremy has played many roles with WBMNL including Tour Guide, Programming Assistant, Assistant Curator, and Museum Manager. Since completing his Bachelor of Arts in Folklore at Memorial University, he has joined WBMNL's research team in addition to working as the Museum Manager. Jeremy also enjoys photography and graphic design and is currently working towards completing a certificate in museum studies.
About WBMNL
The Wooden Boat Museum of Newfoundland and Labrador is dedicated to safeguarding the skills and knowledge of wooden boat builders and sharing the stories of their wooden boats.
Through our Boats and Builders Program, we learn from tradition-bearers across the province as we build archival collections and create new museum exhibits. We work with community partners to tell the stories of Newfoundland and Labrador’s wooden boats and share unique regional perspectives. We celebrate wooden boat heritage with boat builders and enthusiasts, and invite them to share their methods and techniques at our annual conferences and in our quarterly newsletters. We strive to inspire others to learn the art of wooden boat building and to bring together generations to pass on these traditions as they have been for generations.
Contact Us
We would love to hear from you! To share your comments, stories, or photos please contact:
Crystal Braye
c/o Wooden Boat Museum NL
P.O. Box 59, Winterton, NL
A0B 3M0
Phone: 709-699-9570
E-mail: folklore.wbmnl@gmail.com