Author: Rochelle C. Pangilinan

In 2014, stone cutters and carvers in Ontario went to work at restoring a section of the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. Not everyone in this trade gets to work on such important projects, but becoming a stone cutter and carver can be a good choice for people who like to work with their hands and often be creative.

Stone cutters and carvers work mainly on buildings with marble, stone, brick, and other hard surfaces. Sometimes, people in this field might design the patterns themselves, or they might follow a preset pattern to make flowers, pictures, and more. Some designs are very simple, but others can be complicated.

Often, people in this field first draw the outlines of a design on the stone or other materials, and the stone cutters and carvers use power tools to shape the stone or other materials to make it look beautiful and interesting. Cutters use sandblasters for larger surfaces, but tools like that are not always useful. In some cases, like at the Parliament Buildings, stone cutters and carvers use hand tools for very delicate work. They also need to be able to work with mortar and other materials that join stones and bricks together.

People who work as stone cutters and carvers generally need a high school education, and no certification is required in Canada. Many employers require people to have two years of experience. Many people learn the work on the job. Another way to learn about this trade is to take courses at Algonquin College in Ottawa, the only place in Canada that offers courses in the field.

The trade of stone cutting and carving started to die out soon after the Parliament Buildings were first built in the 1860s. However, the number of jobs are beginning to increase again. These days, job prospects are not as good as they once were, but opportunities are available, especially in larger cities. Because it is a rare skill these days, you might not have as much competition for jobs as in other trades.

People in this field need to be strong enough to lift heavy slabs of stone if necessary. They need to stand, bend, and kneel down to do their work. These tradespeople should also be able to listen to instructions and carry them out. Good reading skills are also important since stone cutters and carvers need to be able to follow directions and to keep records of what they have done. Patience and an ability to work on very delicate tasks can help people in this field. Dealing with dust and dirt is part of the job.

Like many trades, the job of stone cutter and carver can be a fairly solitary job, but it also requires skills in working with people. In small businesses, these tradespeople have to be able to deal with customers and be able to deal with invoices, ordering supplies, and other tasks for keeping the business going.

Specializing in a particular design or kind of carving can help. For example, working with tombstones can be a good option for people who are interested in steady employment. A career in stone cutting and carving can be a good choice for people who enjoy creating beautiful designs that last for years.

Bibliography:

Career Planner. “Stone Cutter and Carver.” https://job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/Stone-Cutters-and-Carvers.cfm.

Owl Guru. “Manufacturing Stone Cutters and Carvers.” https://www.owlguru.com/career/stone-cutters-and-carvers-manufacturing/job-description/.

Payne, Elizabeth. “Carved in Stone: How the Restoration of the West Block is Helping to Revive an Ancient Trade in Canada.” https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/carved-in-stone-how-restoration-of-the-west-block-is-helping-revive-an-ancient-trade-in-canada.

Payscale Canada. “Stone Mason Salary.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Stonemason/Hourly_Rate.

If you ride or walk down city streets often enough, you’re likely to see people looking through yellow machines that look a bit like cameras. These people are surveyors, who help determine property boundaries, elevations, and other features important to builders and others who need the information.

Surveyors gather information about the land to help deal with questions that people might have about land ownership or its suitability for building. To do this, they take measurements using special instruments and then put the information onto maps and sketches and report on what they have found. They calculate height, depth, and whatever people need to know. Having good mathematical skills is important for this job.

Being a good organizer is important in this career when surveyors plan and direct projects. Often, surveyors work for the government to check property lines and to solve problems that people might have. Suppose that two neighbours had a question about where one person’s property ended and the other began. A surveyor could find the answer. If government officials need information on an area intended for a park or other public area, the work of a surveyor can help them find what they want. Knowing what different clients need can help surveyors find jobs.

Working as a surveyor involves some outdoor work but also office work to record the information and make calculations. Generally, the work is not physically difficult, but it can be tiring to stand for long periods of time or to sit at a desk for hours. Surveyors often have to work with other people, but they should also be able to work alone. Sometimes surveyors have to work long hours, but at other times, they can count on fairly regular hours.

Requirements for surveyors vary from one employer to another, but in general people need either a four-year bachelor’s degree from a university or a two-year diploma in geomatics from a community college. In most areas of Canada, land surveyors need a license from the Association of Canadian Land Surveyors. Local employers might also have special requirements, and it is a good idea to talk with people who can give good advice on what courses to take.

If this job sounds interesting, you can already begin to prepare for work in this field. Mathematics and computer courses are useful to take in high school, and skills in measuring and calculating are also good for preparing people for work as surveyors. Sometimes, surveyors advise other people on legal issues related to property. In that case, some knowledge of the law is useful.

Salaries for surveyors vary in different parts of Canada, with the highest wages currently in Calgary and the lowest in Ontario. The most common wages for land surveyors are between $50,000 and $75,000, but most surveyors in Canada earn between $26,000 and $66,000. For experienced surveyors, salaries can rise as high as $114,000 per year.

If you are a careful and precise worker and would like to help governments and others keep accurate records, the job of surveyor might be right for you.

Bibliography:

Academic Invest. “How to Become a Land Surveyor.” https://www.academicinvest.com/engineering-careers/environmental-engineering-careers/how-to-become-a-land-surveyor

Career Planner. “Land Surveyor.” https://dot-job-descriptions.careerplanner.com/LAND-SURVEYOR.cfm.

Careers in Construction. “Surveyor.” http://www.careersinconstruction.ca/en/career/surveyor.

Living in Canada. “Land Surveyor Salary Canada.” https://www.livingin-canada.com/salaries-for-land-surveyors-canada.html.

Payscale Canada. “Professional Land Surveyor.” https://www.payscale.com/research/CA/Job=Professional_Land_Surveyor/Salary

You might not like the idea of sitting in a cubicle from nine to five, typing away at investment reports or calling back a list of customers to ask them if they’re ‘happy with their service’ (ugh). How great would it be if you could be your own boss? It would probably be fantastic, you might think. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows and it requires a lot of hard work – especially if you want to start this business at a young age. It’s not impossible though, you can definitely do it if you use the right tools and plan the right way. It all starts with a good idea.

Do your research and Draft a Business Plan

The business plan is arguably the most important part of beginning your business. This plan will draft what your business is, the product or service it offers, and how you plan to grow your business. It also looks at an analysis of the market you’re working in (whether it’s a baking company, a computer repair service, etc.), funding plans, and financial projections. This is why you need to do a lot of research while drafting your plan, create a focus for the plan and for your business. Investors are going to ask about your business plan, so you’ll want to make this your strong first step forward that documents every aspect of your business with great detail. Try to anticipate pitfalls and investor questions and include the solutions and answers into your plan. Since your customer base may change over the next five years, ten years, etc., your business plan should be adaptable and try to anticipate these possible changes.

Secure Funding for your Business

Now that you have your business plan in place, you need to get a couple sources of funding to get it off of the ground. Upfront costs of starting a business can be pretty steep, depending what market you’re trying to break into. Luckily, you have quite a few options in the start-up-loving world of business. You can persuade investors to purchase a stake in your company or fund your startup costs (if investors see that you have a solid business plan with a thought-out exit strategy, then they will be more likely to invest in your business). You can also rely on a small business loan which is offered across Canada. These are funds you will have to pay back, however, so it’s not a good idea to think of it as ‘free money’. If you have a good idea that would be of interest to the general public, crowd-funding may be a good option to help get your business off of the ground.

Get All of the Necessary Paperwork

Depending on which kind of business you’re looking to break into, you will need certain licenses and permits. Do research in your respective industry and make sure that you’re operating legally and have all of the paperwork necessary. Register your small business within the province you plan to operate in and make sure that everything checks out.

Promote your business

We live in a time where connecting with your customer base has never been easier. Establish a client base and then keep growing with promotion, promotion, promotion. This means getting a logo together, advertising in different content streams, etc. Make sure that your business is reaching out to the right people and that you’re getting your name out there.

After you complete these steps, the rest is trial and error. Operate leanly on a modest budget and assess what your client base will be. Once you get going, begin expanding your business and trying different things to stay relevant.