Aitkens Pewter Blog

December New products

2011-12-05T07:30:00.001-08:00

Aitkens Pewter helps treasure hunters come to the city to Geocache

2011-10-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Fredericton will host both local and visiting geocachers Saturday for the launch of the Fredericton Geocaching Tour.

Daryl Cooper of the Fredericton Region Geocachers will be trying to find 30 hidden locations around the city as part of a geocaching event this weekend. A winner will receive this trackable geo-coin in a Saturday evening event co-hosted by the city. The unique coin was designed with the Fredericton brand and made by Aitkens Pewter.

The tour is the first bilingual geocaching initiative in the province and is a co-operative effort between Fredericton's recreation and tourism divisions, and the Fredericton Region Geocachers.

Mayor Brad Woodside has proclaimed Saturday as Geocaching Day in the capital city.

Geocaching is an outdoor treasure-hunting game. Players try to locate hidden containers (called caches) with the help of a GPS device. They then share their experiences online.

There will be 30 caches hidden around the city, focused on three themes: nature, heritage and culture.

"Geocaching encourages people to be physically active outdoors," said Coun. Stephen Chase. "Geocaching continues to be a growing trend, with an estimated 5,000-10,000 cachers in the Maritime provinces."

"We see this partnership with the Fredericton Region Geocachers as a great opportunity to increase awareness of many of Fredericton's assets to this market," said Stacey Russell of Fredericton Tourism. "Not only do Frederictonians enjoy caching, but many cachers will include this as part of their activities while on vacation in the city."

Saturday's geocaching event, which is a full day of activities, is already drawing attention from many Maritime and New England geocachers who plan to make the trip. There are also groups from northern New Brunswick coming to the capital, who are particularly drawn to the fact it's a bilingual challenge.

The Fredericton Geocaching Tour is open to everyone. It begins with breakfast at the Snooty Fox followed by a day of geocaching, then a casual awards ceremony at the Odell Park lodge from 6:30-8 p.m. Awards will be presented to geocachers who are able to find 10 and 20 caches, with a special edition, locally crafted pewter geo-coin for those who find all 30.

For more information, visit www.tourismfredericton.ca/geocaching.

August 2011 New products

2011-08-16T11:01:00.001-07:00

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July 2011 New products-Happy Canada Day!

2011-06-28T08:48:00.001-07:00

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June 2011 New Products-Happy Father's day

2011-06-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Check out these great gift ideas for DAD!!!

Aitkens Pewter - April/May New products

2011-05-05T09:12:00.000-07:00

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Aitkens Pewter - Cultural Capital fish wall plaque video

2011-04-11T10:53:00.000-07:00

In 2009 the city of Fredericton, New Brunswick (Canada) was designated a Cultural Capital of Canada by the Department of Canadian Heritage. To commemorate this designation Aitkens Pewter was commissioned to create a piece for the City Hall.

Click here to check out the video!

March 2011 New products

2011-03-10T07:53:00.000-08:00

Click here for more Celtic gift ideas

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February 2011 New products

2011-02-10T09:58:00.000-08:00

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"City company made medals for winners" - Daily Gleaner article

2011-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

By HEATHER MCLAUGHLIN
mclaughlin.heather@dailygleaner.com

Fifty-one-year-old Keith Fagan has a distinct advantage over his Special Olympian competitors - he's had an up-close glimpse of the gold.

Aitkens Pewter made the medals for the upcoming Special Olympics Provincial Winter Games. Above, at the Aitkens Pewter plant, showing off the gold, silver and bronze medals, are, from left: Marty Forsythe, chairman of the Special Olympics games; Keith Fagan, Special Olympian in floor hockey; and Martin Aitken, owner of Aitkens Pewter.

The floor hockey competitor doesn't hesitate to state his ambition to wear one of the pewter-based, gold-coated, green-enamelled medallions up for grabs at the upcoming New Brunswick Special Olympics.

"I hope to win," he said, as he eyed the finished medallion cast at the industrial park workshop of Aitkens Pewter of Fredericton. "I hope I get that gold. I'm going to give it my whatever."

A defenceman on his 16-member Fredericton-area team, Fagan will be joined by 215 other Special Olympians from New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

He's been practising every Monday and is running, jogging and doing pushups weekly to be ready. He said he's going to bring an entourage of supporters to cheer him on when he faces his opponents.

Business owner Martin Aitken designed and had his staff cast the medals for the event, and he hasn't stinted on design or finish in creating his gift for the athletes.

Aitken designed the medals for the 1988 Olympic Winter Games in Calgary, and his wares have been given as gifts to visiting royalty.

"One of the things that struck me about the (Special Olympics) Winter Games here in Brunswick is that it more truly follows the true sense of the Olympics - volunteers getting together, athletes simply doing their best with what's available," Aitken said. "We want to design something that was truly unique for the games ... I hope when an athlete leaves with one of our awards that they'll feel that they are leaving with something that is Olympic class, not something that's purchased out of a catalogue."

The 300 bronze, silver and gold medals his company has produced incorporate the logo of the games and the green shading reflects the signature colour of the event.

Marty Forsythe, chairman of the New Brunswick Special Olympics, said figure skating, speed skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, floor hockey and curling make up the event. Individual and pairs events are included in the games, which open Thursday with competitions on Feb. 4-6. Closing ceremonies are Sunday.

New Brunswick last hosted the games in 2003 with the assistance of Canadian Forces Base Gagetown. Athletes this year will again be housed and fed on base and athletes will have the use of the military's arena, curling rink and gym.

"Each year we have games that go to the nationals that go to the worlds," Forsythe said.

Rosalind Fagan, volunteer co-ordinator for the event, said almost 100 volunteers help host the event, from military personnel to Oromocto High School students to University of New Brunswick nurses.

"Oromocto has just taken it right on and been wonderful and the base as well," Fagan said.

The event is a huge deal for the competitors because it allows them to qualify for national and world competition.

The games are hosted through a combination of fundraising, donations of goods and services and sponsorships. Those gifts and the $68,000 in cash it takes to run the event would probably push the total cost of hosting Olympians to $200,000, said Forsythe.

December 2010 New Products

2010-12-09T05:26:00.000-08:00

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'Tis the Season to Save the Legion

2010-11-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

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DOING WHAT THEY CAN: Maxine MacConnell’s 120 World Issues class at Oromocto High School have started a fundraising project to support the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 93’s rebuilding efforts. They’re selling pewter ornaments and holding raffles, all in support of the local veterans. The first installment of their donation, hopefully $1,000, will be presented at Remembrance Day ceremonies at the school on Nov. 10.

World Issues students helping out in Oromocto
Tis the season to help the legion.Entitled just that, Oromocto High teacher Maxine MacConnell’s 120 World Issues class is embarking on a special fundraiser for something close to everyone’s hearts.

The Oromocto High School teacher suggested that, as they were studying world villages, why not do something for their own village, in particularly the Oromocto Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 93.

The students all wholeheartedly agreed and a two pronged fundraising campaign is now underway. All proceeds will be given to the Oromocto legion for their rebuilding fund.

Melissa Ward, of Gagetown, and Bailee Macpherson think the idea of raising money for the legion is one the whole school and entire community should get involved in.

They both decided to take the World Issues because it would be interesting to learn more about what’s going on in the world and are now getting an extra lesson in what’s going on right here at home.

“We don’t see some of the stuff that’s happening Asia, some of the stuff in Africa,” Ward said. “We talked about global villages and Miss. MacConnell said it’s great to look at the global aspect but sometimes you have to look at the local aspects.” So they decided to collect Canadian Tire money, purchase gift cards with it and sell tickets on the gift cards.

After one week of fundraising, they’re halfway to their $1,000 by Remembrance Day goal. They want to present a cheque to the legion members who will be participating in their Nov. 10 Remembrance Day service at the school and keep the campaign going until Christmas.

“I’m not from Oromocto but I know my family is in the military and [I] see the whole aspect of the legion being taken away and how much it affects the community and how it affects the military community,” Ward said.

She had spent a lot of time there during Christmas parties, anniversary parties and other celebrations; it’s sad and the legion facility is missed. “I was in cadets and we would go there and see where our group’s affiliation was from and what they did and now you can’t,” Ward said. Macpherson said she was hoping to learn more of what was going on in the world around her but this project has taught her so much more.

“I think it’s a good fundraiser and I also think that the community will get really involved with it because it is such a ‘community’ town,” she said. “Most of the fundraisers hat have been happening around the school have been for third world countries that are still developing but we chose to do something local because it is something in all of our hearts.”

“My dad is in the military and he’s a huge part of my life so it was a disaster to see him really upset about what happened and that just motivated me even more to do something,” she said.

They’re excited to see the results of their effort. “I just can’t wait to see everybody’s faces when it’s finally rebuilt,” Macpherson said.

MacConnell said her students have embraced this project and are putting 100 per cent effort into their cause.

“I’m really proud of them,” she said. “They have taken one small idea that I had, brainstormed, and they came up with so many ideas that I was just overwhelmed.”

They condensed those ideas, decided on what they could do to include the school and the community and have run with it.

“Aitkens Pewter has come on board to make the ornaments,” MacConnell said. “For them to help us out in that way is tremendous. They came to us. The owner emailed me and said ‘I want to get involved’.

”The ornaments will be $10 each and $5 of every sale will go to the legion rebuilding fund. The other $5 will going towards the cost of the ornaments.

“The design is something they can use again but we’re the first to use this design; they created it especially for us,” MacConnell said. A donation box is also located at the Bargain! Shop in the Oromocto mall and the amount raised there will be added to the Remembrance Day cheque.

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November 2010 New Products

2010-11-03T04:57:00.000-07:00

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October 2010 New Products

2010-09-28T06:38:00.001-07:00

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June 2010 New Products

2010-06-08T07:35:00.000-07:00

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Telegraph Journal Article - Celebrating history and green space

2010-05-13T05:35:00.000-07:00

Mike Doyle holds up the medals for Run Through History: A Celebration of Green Space. Each year in the three-year event, participants will receive a different medal that can be linked together.

Published Saturday May 8th, 2010

SAINT JOHN - Area runners can connect city landmarks to their achievements with the upcoming Run Through History event.

The showcase event, presented by Brunswick Pipeline, kicks off on July 10 and takes participants through some of the city's greenest and most historical landmarks. This year's theme is A Celebration of Green Space and takes runners through Rockwood Park, as well as other "green" areas throughout the city.

The medals awarded to participants is one of the unique aspects of the Run Through History, which takes place every summer for the next three years. Each year, every participant will be awarded a different medal. The pewter medals fit together like puzzle pieces, but can be displayed individually as well.

The medals for 2010 are engraved with a picture of King's Square, while in 2011 they depict the Reversing Falls, and in 2012, the pavilion at Lily Lake.

Mike Doyle, the event's creator, designed the medals and said he was completely awed when he saw them for the first time Monday.

"You're going to be kicking your butt if you miss next year and come back the last year. (The medals) all fit together and they look great," Doyle said.

The medals were created by Aitkens Pewter, a New Brunswick company.

"We're trying to keep everything local and very green," Doyle said, adding that he was impressed with the work the company does.

Similar medals were given out from 2004 to 2006 in the Run Through History's first event, the Tri-Fort Run.

Doyle said people came from across the country to run each year in the Tri-Fort Run and complete their medal collection.

"People actually came back (to run the event) because they wanted the medals. Last time we had the medals we had people from out West that came back every year so they could have the whole medal," Doyle said. "They flew back every year to do it.”

The event runs over the course of two days and takes runners as far as the city's west side. Saturday's event will include an afternoon of activities like rock climbing and geo caching at Rockwood Park and a Recycling Challenge Cup boat race sponsored by the Fundy Region Solid Waste Commission. In this event, teams will race across Lily Lake in boats made entirely out of recycled materials in an effort to promote green living and recycling.

The races take place on Sunday, July 11. A Stride for Success relay will take place that morning, with team proceeds supporting Portage Atlantic's Recovery Trail. The substance-abuse rehabilitation centre hopes to enhance a 3.8-kilometre path to provide a safe and peaceful place for client exercise.

The shortest run takes place entirely within Rockwood Park and covers a distance of four km. The second longest run, about 14.5 km, will take runners through most areas in the city core, including uptown and the south and north ends, eventually returning to Lily Lake. The longest run is about 26 km and takes participants on a running tour of Saint John's marine attractions, including the Reversing Falls, and gives runners a view of Partridge Island.

The events are capped for participants, but the event organizer said he is not releasing the maximum number of spots available in hopes it will encourage people to apply early for spots. Doyle said he expects over 800 people to apply.

For more information, or to register for the event, visit www.celebrationofgreenspace.com.

Aitken Pewter, a Saint John company, made the medals for the race event.

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Also included in this issue of the Telegraph Journal was an ad for Export Achievement Awards which we provide the trophies for each year;

May 2010 New Products & tax free promotion

2010-05-04T09:07:00.000-07:00

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April 2010 New Products

2010-04-06T07:46:00.001-07:00

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March 2010 New Products

2010-03-09T07:23:00.000-08:00

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February 2010 New products & Groundhog week promotion

2010-01-30T05:11:00.000-08:00

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Telegraph Journal article : "Ornaments bring back Empty Stocking Fund children"

2009-11-05T09:29:00.000-08:00

SAINT JOHN - The first-ever limited edition Empty Stocking Fund pewter ornament goes on sale Friday at 8:30 a.m. and, already, phones have been ringing off the hook with people looking to buy.

Gary Dean, a long-time Empty Stocking Fund volunteer, was the first person to secure one of the new ornaments.

"We have had about a dozen people in to try to purchase them early and about 40 calls," home delivery sales and marketing manager Sheri Moore said.

"We are really expecting a crowd on Friday to buy."

A maximum of 2,000 ornaments will be sold at $10 each, HST included, and the mold will then be broken. Each ornament comes packaged with the heartwarming story of how the Empty Stocking Fund was born. Only cash will be accepted and all proceeds will go to the Empty Stocking Fund.

It was the late artist Jim Stackhouse who put faces to the Empty Stocking Fund children who, for years, represented the plight of Saint John's poor at Christmas and reflect what reporter Harry (Dutch) Ervine saw on his way back to the newsroom nearly 100 years ago.

This year, Moore decided it was time for the children to secure their rightful place in Saint John history and she proposed the idea of capturing them in a pewter ornament.

"I have been watching the Empty Stocking Fund ever since I can remember," Moore said.

"It was our family tradition growing up. My mother had to watch it for the full eight hours every year. It was when we started our Christmas cookies. Even if we were performing on the show, Mom would make arrangements to get us there so she could stay home and watch. When I got older and started working here, I got involved behind the scenes and have been attached to it ever since."

The ornament depicts two waif-life children gazing at toys in a store window and is from a drawing by Stackhouse, who drew the powerful illustration in black ink and wash in the 1960s, actually modelling it after his own two children. He said at the time that his son, Hank, used to wear an aviator cap, which he changed into a boy's cap with flaps, and his daughter, Greer, was the face of the little girl.

The children are dressed in thread-bare clothing and stand together in front of a brightly-lighted window. Pierre-Luc Arseneau, the Aitkens Pewter artist who cast the ornament, said it took pretty much a whole day to get the design perfect.

"I re-drew it and traced over it on the computer," he said. "I applied a three-D rendering program that allows me to take drawings and apply a virtual relief of it. I, virtually, sculpt the piece from my drawings."

It then takes a second full day to mill. Pewter is at least 95 per cent tin with small parts of antimony and copper, making it an extremely versatile metal that improves with age. It doesn't rust, tarnish or affect the taste of food or drink, and requires little maintenance.

Former Telegraph-Journal employee Gary Dean - who ran the Empty Stocking Fund campaign for 44 years and was known as Mr. Empty Stocking Fund - is thrilled with the ornament and was the first in line to buy, even before they went on sale.

"I think it's great," he said.

"It's the old-style logo with the two children. It's really good to see that back again."

The original Empty Stocking Fund logo has always been close to Moore's heart, too.

"It symbolizes what I remember of the Empty Stocking Fund: children helping children.

"While researching different New Brunswick companies to come up with our Christmas subscription packages this year, I stumbled upon the Aitkens site and thought immediately about how we could fundraise for the Empty Stocking fund with a limited-edition pewter ornament.

"I remembered the Uptown Saint John pewter campaign 15 years ago and standing in line myself to get the old General Hospital ornament," Moore said.

"The number of children needing help increases every year and with the economy the way it's been all year, I worried that the Empty Stocking Fund might suffer and was looking for a way to help.

"We have already had numerous phone calls and customers at our counter inquiring on the ornaments since the announcement ads started running on Monday."

Auditions for the Empty Stocking Fund will be held on Saturday, with the 73rd annual broadcast set for Nov. 21.

Aitkens Pewter - September 2009 New products

2009-09-01T09:11:00.001-07:00

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Aitkens Pewter - July 2009 New products

2009-06-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

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AitkensPewter creates special keepsake - Gazette article

2009-06-19T11:10:00.000-07:00

Aitkens Pewter - June 2009 New Product

2009-06-15T12:35:00.001-07:00