Island School of Building Arts

Wow! Just finished up the hammer Bents course this past November. I have no idea how anyone can teach this stuff but James and Brad are really good teachers. They both have a different style which is refreshing and helpful in the learning process. A combination of in class time and hands on seemed to work well for most! Pat makes the best veggie lasagna and pizza! She was also really helpful with reaching out to contacts for me in the US. And Gabriola is probably one of the most beautiful places you could stay at!
Thank you so much you all and I look forward to taking these new skills to my new job!

My expectations were exceeded during the timber frame hammer bents course. James and Pat run a tight ship at ISBA. The instruction was concise and on point, the blend of theory to hands-on work was balanced and well thought out. The shop facilities and tools were outstanding. Living on campus in log and timber buildings created a perfect immersive environment in which to learn as much as possible over the course of the month. The student accommodation and common areas are in need of TLC, but the course material, instructor, facilities and support staff all met and exceeded my expectations. I would recommend this course to anyone interested in big wood construction. As for all this noise about racism and antisemitism; there were many different races and ethnicities in my class and there was no difference in treatment that I observed. A great experience overall.

I attended ISBA for 3 months during the fall of 2015. It is an inspiring environment where one is surrounded by liked-minded individuals in pursuit of mastering a craft. The administrators and the craftsman teaching the desired courses are among the most passionate and engaged professionals I have come across in education. The experience is all the more enhanced by the whimsical beauty of the school’s natural surroundings. I strongly recommend this program to anyone serious about learning a trade.

Truly unique educational program, the most excellent learning experience of my life. Individuals of all abilities and backgrounds share space to study timber framing arts together. The teacher respectfully meets you where your skills actually are, providing very personalized instruction. I have studied there twice and always feel welcome to the challenge of building amongst mostly professionals and almost all men. I have myself gone from beginner to confident enough to build my own home! Do it. :-)

I just finished the 4-week hammer bents course and it was such an incredible learning experience! Thirteen of us from all corners of the world and varied levels of carpentry came together to create such a beautiful structure. There were a number of challenges that surfaced and James handled the situations with grace and patience. James and Pat have created a very inspiring environment for learning the trade. Thank you for investing so much love and energy into the project. The Island School of Building Arts on Gabriola Island is a wonderful place!