Ellen is currently a student at Willowbank and, through her education at the School, she hopes to create programs for the preservation of traditional crafts in Canada. She has a master’s in Art History from the University of Toronto and studied Visual Culture, Medieval Studies, Fine Arts Studio, and Church Music and Worship at the University of Waterloo in her undergraduate degree. Inspired by object reconstruction, Ellen’s research is centred on the cultural landscapes of craft, the relationship between tangible architecture/landscapes and the intangible craft traditions that are imbued within them. To explore this relationship, she practices many crafts: carpentry, woodturning, stained glass, locksmithing, hardware restoration, bookbinding, knitting, and carving, among others.

Ellen is the student representative on the Willowbank board, the co-chair of the Woolwich Heritage Committee, a board member of the SSAC (Society for the Study of Architecture in Canada), and a member of the National Trust conference organizing committees (both local and national). She hosts community-oriented craft workshops, has published several articles, and frequently presents at conferences in Canada and abroad. Ellen was awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Youth Achievement in 2025 for her work in craft preservation. She is currently creating a list of endangered crafts in Canada, with the aim of building a network for traditional apprenticeships.

Motivation:
One of the foundational principles of Willowbank is that there is no difference between working with your head and working with your hands. This is, in my opinion, the beauty of the School. It bridges a gap that other academic institutions are unable to navigate. Joining the Willowbank board was the best way that I could contribute to learning, preserving, and sharing the unique tradition of the School.

Vision:
By working with the board, I hope to contribute to Willowbank’s long-term sustainability, balancing business and pedagogy for the benefit of the students. I am working to build relationships with other heritage organizations, and would like to increase Willowbank’s international presence as the leading heritage school in North America.

Advice:
In a world increasingly preoccupied by technology, for better or worse, Willowbank represents a space where pleasure is found in the details of the everyday; dovetail joints on a bookshelf, flecks of lime in mortar, or light catching the ripples in antique glass. As friends of Willowbank, I encourage you to look for these details, to enjoy and share the beauty that many overlook.