Tourism P.E.I. has launched a brand-new "literary trail" featuring custom, handcrafted wooden benches inspired by Carley Fortune’s bestselling romance novel, This Summer Will Be Different. The project launch coincides perfectly with Netflix crews currently filming the book's highly anticipated series adaptation right here on the Island. The unique cedar benches were designed by Mel Burke of Black Cat Woodcraft to mimic the natural curves of local sand dunes and ocean waves. B

Tourism P.E.I. has officially partnered with #1 New York Times bestselling Canadian author Carley Fortune to launch an immersive "literary trail" across the Island. The project features a series of locally handcrafted benches placed at iconic locations showcased in her hit romance novel, This Summer Will Be Different. The project brings the book's setting to life just as its 10-episode series adaptation begins production for Netflix. Designed by artisan Mel Burke of Black Cat

Always happy to share the story behind Black Cat, Mel had the opportunity to be the member highlight for the month of August. Check out PEIBWA’s Q&A with Mel Burke of Black Cat Woodcraft. PEIBWA: What is the inspiration behind your business? Mel: When I hit my mid thirties, my life looked nothing like I’d expected–and I’m so grateful! I'd worn a chef coat, a lab coat, and trading it all in for steel toes was the culmination of all the skills I'd learned along the way. I'm ins

Returning to Holland College this week to speak with the Heritage Retrofit Carpentry class was a powerful reminder of how far Black Cat Woodcraft has come in a very short time. Standing in the wood shop at the Centre for Applied Science and Technology, I found myself reflecting on the reality of building a business from the ground up. When you’re in the daily grind of sawdust and spreadsheets, it’s easy to feel like you’re just barely keeping up with the chaos. It is rare to

One of the most rewarding parts of being a woman in trades is doing work to promote, encourage, and create a welcoming community that invites more gender diversity into the industry. This past December, I had the privilege of speaking at a Trade HERizons panel organized by Women's Network PEI. The event brought together folks interested in pursuing new careers in the trades, and I was honoured to share my journey as both a carpenter and entrepreneur. We talked about the chall

We’re thrilled to share some exciting news from Black Cat Woodcraft! This week, Mel had the honour of accepting Fusion Charlottetown’s Environmental Impact Award on behalf of our team – a recognition that means the world to us as relative newcomers to PEI’s heritage restoration scene. When we started this journey, we knew we wanted to do things differently. Heritage restoration is about more than just preserving old buildings; it’s about honouring the craftsmanship of those w

This past November, Mel had the privilege of presenting at the Resilient Homes Seminar, hosted by the City of Charlottetown at the Learning Library. It was an opportunity to share insights from the climate resilience research she’s been conducting in partnership with Holland College – work that sits at the heart of what we do at Black Cat Woodcraft. Climate change isn’t just about rising temperatures; it’s about the extreme weather events that are increasingly affecting our I