July 23, 2026 • Volume 40, No. 8
Next edition August 6
L’édition de cette semaine à l’intérieur...
Orléans carver produces art with a chainsaw
Chainsaw woodcarver Gaetan Bernier poses with one of his creations outside of his Chateauneuf home. STAFF PHOTO
By Fred Sherwin The Orléans Star Some artists use paint brushes and a pallet, while others may use pencils or even pastels. Still others create their art with a camera, or using pieces of stained glass. Orléans resident Gaetan Bernier creates his art with a chainsaw, or at least that’s how he starts. Bernier is a wood carver. He began wood-working over 40 years ago, making pieces of furniture. Then, just over 20 years ago, he took a course on carving wood reliefs that was taught by accomplished woodcarver André Brault at the Orléans Visual Arts Centre. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Bernier was binge watching YouTube videos when he came across a video on carving animals from a single section of tree trunk using a chainsaw. “I saw the video and I thought, ‘I can do that’. I had skills with a chainsaw and there is always lots of free wood around, ” recalls Bernier. His specialty is bears, but he’s also carved
a couple of eagles. Bernier describes the first few pieces he made as “very modest” in terms of both their scale and in detail. He mostly works in pine and starts by first deciding what he wants to carve and how big it will be. He then goes out and starts foraging for fallen trees that are the proper size for each project. Once he has the wood, he projects a picture, or drawing on to it and makes a rough chalk outline. After he draws the outline, he slowly begins to cut away the excess wood to create a rough form of whatever animal he is carving. Once he’s happy with the form, he starts doing the more detailed work with a Dremel rotary tool and hand chisels. It can take upwards of 30-40 hours to complete each carving. Although Bernier is retired, he does a few renovation jobs on the side and carves whenever he has some free time. Over the past four years he’s made 15 or 18 carvings, or there abouts, must of which CONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Caravela Restaurante will be closed from Aug. 3 to Sept. 26 to give our staff a well-deserved break. We look forward to welcoming our customers back in September.
www.caravelarestaurante.ca
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3712 Innes Rd., Orléans
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613-424-9200