Events

 

 

 

 

Upcoming Events

Our next meeting is Saturday May 9th at Mick Smith’s shop in Fergus, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

6723 Jones Baseline Fergus N1M2W4

https://maps.app.goo.gl/bZJmjBVxpH9YTWZv5

What: The knife making workshop will be on making a knife out of a farriers rasp, led by Dan Linkenheld. Various sizes will be demonstrated.

Please bring your mobile forges, safety glasses and a lunch.  Hope to see you there. All members are free to attend and spectate but there will be a $50 charge if you intend to participate in the workshop.

Bring cash, cheque or e-transfer to treasurer@ontarioblacksmiths.ca with “May 2026 workshop” in the comments section if you wish to participate.

Thanks to a recent donation of tools by Clay Brown we will also be hosting a silent auction. Details here on the FB page:

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BDMSbsUMv/

 

Demonstration, Hammer Ins and Workshops.

Our monthly meetings take on a few forms.  We have meetings held at members’ shops where they will demonstrate a new skill or technique.

We also have “Hammer Ins”, usually held at a heritage village.  At these meetings you are welcome to bring your forge and anvil and set up for the day. Forge what you like – learn and share with the group.

Occassionally we will bring in a well known smith from further afield to do a speical demonstration for our group or run a workshop.

Our Events are Listed Below

Click the + Toggle to Expand the Box

Mick Smith, Fergus. Knife Making Workshop. May 2026

When: May 9th, 10 am to 4 pm

Where: Mick Smith’s Shop

6723 Jones Baseline Fergus N1M2W4

What: The knife making workshop will be on making a knife out of a farriers rasp, led by Dan Linkenheld. Various sizes will be demonstrated.

Please bring your mobile forges, safety glasses and a lunch.  Hope to see you there. All members are free to attend and spectate but there will be a $50 charge if you intend to participate in the workshop. Bring cash, cheque or e-transfer to treasurer@ontarioblacksmiths.ca with “May 2026 workshop” in the comments section.

Hammer-Ins. Country Heritage Park. Ongoing.

Country Heritage Park Blacksmiths Drop-ins 2026 Schedule Organized by: Halton Forges Collective

Location: 8560 Tremaine Rd, Milton, ON

Follow Halton Forges Collective on Facebook for last minute updates and changes. The Halton Forges Collective is a great way to get experience and access to tools and expertise while networking with your fellow blacksmiths.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1722932884539453

All events run from 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

2026 dates are posted! Please check the FB group prior to attending in case of last minute changes.
Hamilton Steam & Technology Museum. June 2026

When: June 13, 10 am to 4 pm

Where: Hamilton Steam & Technology Museum

900 Woodward Ave, Hamilton, ON L8H 7N2

What: Hammer-in in conjunction with the Canadian Society of Contemporary Iron Arts, who will be conducting an iron-casting event. The CSCIA’s furnace takes a long time to come up to heat and pours are conducted with a substantial safety buffer in place. OABA members demonstrate alternative methods of forming iron that can be observed up close while the foundry comes up to heat.

Attendees can also purchase a scratch-block from the CSCIA to make an open top iron-mould from which will be poured on-site.

Stephen Wallace is the primary contact for this event if you are bringing your portable forge. He is reachable at honest_rascal@yahoo.com

Glengarry Pioneer Museum, Dunvegan. June 2026

When: June 20/21st, 2026

Where: Glengarry Pioneer Museum

1645 County Rd 30, Dunvegan, ON K0C 1J0

What: A weekend of blacksmith demonstrations and workshops! This will be the tenth year at Dunvegan and to mark the occasion and express appreciation to the museum for their efforts the focus will be on making items for the museum; both blacksmithing tools and everyday goods.

Forged In Canada, Pembroke. July 2026

When: July 18, 2026

Where: Forged In Canada

1043 Pembroke St E, Pembroke, ON K8A 6Z3

What: Demonstration with workshop to follow. This will be owner Lanny Hill’s first time hosting; his facility is capable of accomodating up to 50 guests with 12 forging. This is an excellent opportunity for our more northern members who find distance prohibitive for most meetings.

https://www.forgedincanada.ca/

Canadian IRON Symposium smelting workshop Hastings ON. Sept 4-7 (Labour Day Weekend)

When: Sept 4-7 2026

Where: Sanctuary Armoury, 1504 Cameron Line, Hastings, Ontario

https://maps.app.goo.gl/Y61rc1t99ocNin3ZA

What: A practical workshop style event where teams will build and smelt various iron ores in short-stack furnaces. It’s probably fair to say that fewer than one in a thousand people are blacksmiths and that fewer than one in a thousand blacksmiths have made their own iron, so this event represents a rare opportunity. More details here: https://warehamforgeblog.blogspot.com/2026/03/canadian-iron-symposium.html

Contact Darrell Markewitz directly at info@warehamforge.ca

This is not “the” OABA meeting for the month of September but a separate opportunity being organized by Darrell.

Event cost : $ 310 CDN per working participant

This covers ore, furnace materials and the 50 kg charcoal per team.

All a the basic tools needed for the build and smelt will be provided.

Registration limited to 20 individuals

There is no prerequisite for smelting or metal working experience !

Paid Registration Deadline is August 1, 2026

Hammer-In. Blyth Steam Show. September 2026

When: Sept 11, 12, 13 2026

Where: Blyth Ontario on the grounds of the Huron pioneer threshers and hobby Assoc.
https://blythsteamshow.com/ for more info about the main event.
RSVP to Kara Hendriks, 519-525-3244 (call or text) or hendrikskara@gmail.com
Bring your own forge and set up (rsvp for space) or bring a few tools, your safety gear and hammer-in.
Blacksmithing starts Friday with demonstrations for schools kids and continues Saturday and Sunday with a hammer-in and demos for the general public. Depending on numbers a group project may be included. Set up/ drop off on Thursday.
On the show grounds there tons of other events and activities to see and enjoy. If you are interested in on-site camping reach out ASAP.
Sharpe's Creek Forge, Goderich. Jim Wallace. April 2026

When: April 11th, 10 am to 4 pm

Where: 36404 Huron Rd, Goderich, ON

What: TBD

Sparks Will Fly Forge, Port Perry. Mark Puigmarti. March 2026

When: March 21st, 10 am to 4 pm

Where: 402 Reach St, Port Perry, ON L9L 1X1

What: TBD

Newman Forge and Pattern. February 2026
When: February 14, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: 178 Princess St #180, Hamilton, ON
What: Discussion on pattern-making for castings and industrial forging of tongs and/or hardie tools
Hammer-In. O'Hara Mill. July

When: Sunday July 13th

Where: The O’Hara Mill Homestead and Conservation Area is located at 638 Mill Rd. Madoc

1049 Kirkwall Rd, Rockton

What:  Sunday the 13th of July is the Heritage Day event at O’Hara Mill Homestead Conservation Area.  OABA has been invited to have a Hammer-In as part of the event.

The O’Hara’s event calendar weblink:  https://www.oharamill.ca/events-calendar
The O’Hara Mill Homestead and Conservation Area is located at 638 Mill Rd. Madoc, ON K0K 2K0.  This is West-Northwest of the Town of Madoc and the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway (No. 7) and Provincial Hwy 62. ( https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5d2648c8cc41170001e6c337/1563899089007-ILL7E42DLXE932BL01G9/O%27Hara+Mill+Homestead+and+Conservation+Area+Map?format=500w ).
At the gate let the traffic guide know you’re there for the blacksmiths group. I will arrive about 8:00 AM (positive thinking here) to begin setting up. I will have at least one sun shelter, 10 ft. by 20 ft. Another may be available.  Also, I can act as a point of contact for questions about the site. Sales are allowed. Please be aware that there is no potable water available on site. Nor electricity in the Blacksmith Shop. Some food is available on site, but if something more substantial or particular is desired it’s less then 10 minutes to Madoc for food and drink (or the hardware store.)
Hours for opening to the general Public are 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Hammer-In. Westfield Pioneer Village. July

When: Sunday July 6th

Where: Westfield Pioneer Village

1049 Kirkwall Rd, Rockton

What: Hammer-in

Have your forges set-up by 11am and removed after 4pm.
At the entry gate tell them you are an OABA member.
CanIronXIV. Manitoba. August

When: August 7th – 10th

Where: The Manitoba Agricultural Museum

Provincial Trunk Hwy 34, Austin, MB

What:  Hosted this year by the Manitobe Blacksmith Guild

Since 1997, CanIRON has been the premier biennial blacksmithing gathering, aimed at fostering friendship, collaboration, and skills development. The initial purpose of the event was for the betterment of all who attend, to exchange thoughts, ideas, procedures, technology, etc. and then take the knowledge back to their home blacksmith groups and share.

*** John Newman is making Tool Boxes to go to CanIRON.  If you have tools to donate to help fill these boxes please reach out to president@ontarioblacksmiths.ca.  This is part of how OABA will contribute to this year’s CanIron event. Thank you.***

Hammer-In. Blyth. September

When: Sept 5,6,7 

Where: Blyth Ontario on the grounds of the Huron pioneer threshers and hobby Assoc.
https://blythsteamshow.com/ for more info about the main event.
RSVP to Kara Hendriks, 519-525-3244 (call or text) or hendrikskara@gmail.com
Bring your own forge and set up (rsvp for space) or bring a few tools, your safety gear and hammer-in.
Blacksmithing starts Friday with demonstrations for schools kids. And continues Saturday and Sunday with a hammer-in and demos for the general public. Depending on numbers a group project may be included. Set up/ drop off on Thursday.
On the show grounds there tons of other events and activities to see and enjoy. If you are interested in on-site camping reach out ASAP.
Sebastian Drygas. Delta Forge. September
When: September 13th, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Old Stone Mill National Historic Site
44 King St, Delta, ON
What: We are excited to have the September OABA meeting return to Delta. Sebastian Drygas will be demonstrating copper raising, and discussing his time spent studying blacksmithing abroad, in Germany. Sebastian has been our most recipient of the OABA scholarship.
Ryan Belanger. AGM. Ancaster. October
When: October 18th, 10 am to 4 pm
Where: Bob and Shirley Young’s
285 Brant Cty Rd 22, Ancaster, On L9G 3L1
What: Ryan Belanger, an accomplished blacksmith with recent focus on the ABANA curriculum will be demonstrating.
This is the Annual General Meeting.  Come out and participate in the future of our organization.
As of this date the people who have put their names forward for the election are:
President:  Mick Smith
1st Vice-President:  Nominations needed
2nd Vice-President:   Bob Young  (one yr remaining in term)
Secretary:  Robert Wagner
Newsletter Editor:  Nominations needed
Treasurer:  Franklin Kains is remaining
Sandra Dunn. Forging Competition. Kitchener. November
When: November 22 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Where: Two Smiths,  8 Grand Ave Kitchener On
What: The format of the meeting will be a forging challenge in which contestants will try to replicate an object they can only explore by feel. Bring your safety glasses and items/cash for Iron in the Hat. There will also be a special item raffle for a book, “Ironwork” and t-shirts and pins available for sale.

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