Local chainsaw carver turns ancient Elm trunk into beautiful new greeting at Morden Park's south entrance

Local chainsaw carver, Barry Dueck, has spent the past week doing what he loves and that is, taking something that would normally be discarded and turning it into something beautiful. 

Using a series of chainsaws of various sizes, Dueck is etching an Elm leaf on either side of the trunk, as well as the words Morden Park

If you've passed the south entrance to Morden Park in the last five or so days, you've likely seen Dueck chipping away at the 16-foot trunk that remains of the aging Elm tree that was cut down last week due to safety concerns. He is creating a new centerpiece that will greet visitors to the park.

"It's a beautiful Elm tree and we're really lucky that we can save it," he said when we caught up with him at the work site. 

Using a series of chainsaws of various sizes, Dueck is etching an Elm leaf on either side of the trunk, as well as the words Morden Park which will be carved vertically at both the entrance and the exit sides.

"I have several saws that I've accumulated over the years," he added. "Just different sizes with different sized tips, like Dime tips to Toonie size tips. The largest I have is a four-foot bar with a 31-20 saw."

 
In fact, Dueck is no stranger to Morden as a participant in past Arbor Days and running workshops on chainsaw carving. 

"Just to show what can be done rather than, like I say, having to discard something and it becomes firewood. We can make something beautiful out of it instead," he said. "I think it's fantastic, especially with an Elm tree because we're losing them to the disease (Dutch Elm Disease) and we're going to get something that's going to be standing here for years to come."

With files from Robyn Wiebe