Last week was packed — and I mean packed. We had some incredible milestones and meaningful moments through Unique Soapstone Experiences, and I wanted to take a minute to share and reflect.
First, we found out that we are now officially on the Calgary Board of Education contractor list — a huge step for us, and one I’m really grateful for. This recognition opens the door to working with more students, more educators, and more communities across the city.
Then, as you may have seen from previous posts, we took a trip up to Rycroft, where the landscape was stunning, the experience was powerful, and the response to our workshop was everything we hoped for. I was lucky enough to share that journey with my daughter, who helped drive nearly half the way — a gift in itself, especially with that long trek through Grand Prairie and back.
We followed that up with a weekend of live carving and community engagement at Heritage Park, where we invited families to sit down and get their hands on some soapstone. Just a taste — a single stage of sanding — was enough to get people curious. And here’s the amazing part: while most parents initially said, “Oh no, I’m just here for my kids,” the ones who did sit down? They didn’t want to leave. One dad stayed carving for half an hour after his whole family had left — completely in the zone. That’s what it’s about.
On Monday, I spent the day at the Marigold Library Conference, meeting with librarians, community leaders, and educators to share what we do and why it works — especially in today’s world where connection, creativity, and mindfulness are more needed than ever.
All of this — the travel, the effort, the conversations, the carving — it’s rooted in a purpose bigger than just art.
USE exists to help people reconnect with themselves, no matter their age or experience. Whether it’s a kindergartener discovering their creative spark or a 90-year-old picking up carving tools for the first time, our workshops are about helping people enter a flow state — to forget their self-doubt, to stop worrying what others think, and to just be.
We also give people a taste of meditation — not through theory or social media hype, but through experience. Our longer workshops and retreats dive deeper into this practice, using meditation as a foundation for creativity. (More on that in a future post.)
The truth is, people keep coming back because what we offer isn’t just a class — it’s a space. A place where you can breathe, create, connect with others, and most importantly, reconnect with yourself.
So if you’re feeling the pull, come join us. Bring your curiosity. Bring your family. Bring that part of you that’s ready to try something new — or remember something old.
If you have any questions or want to know when and where the next workshop is, feel free to reach out.
Everything you need, you already have within you.
Hope to see you soon.
Namaste,
Michael
