Veterans Forge Connections and Healing Through Blacksmith Workshops

A unique initiative is helping veterans and first responders find healing through the art of blacksmithing. Christopher Hennebery, a military veteran himself, founded the Veteran Artists Collective in 2021 as a means for service members to reconnect with their creativity and each other. By offering various workshops, including a popular blacksmithing course, Hennebery aims to provide a therapeutic outlet for those grappling with the mental health impacts of military service.

Hennebery, whose artistic roots stem from a family of artists, understands the importance of creative expression. After years of serving in the military, he rediscovered his passion for art, which he credits with helping him manage stress and anxiety. “For me, art has always been a very personal experience,” Hennebery stated. “I also found it very useful for helping me deal with stress, anxiety, and some of the experiences that you go through in the military.”

The Veteran Artists Collective emerged as a response to the growing focus on mental health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. Hennebery noted that the collective offers immersive experiences that allow veterans to engage in creative processes without the pressure of traditional therapeutic settings. “I created the collective as a way to give my peers, my brothers and sisters in the military, and veterans an opportunity to have an immersive experience,” he explained.

Among the various artistic mediums available, blacksmithing has become particularly popular. Led by full-time blacksmith and navy veteran Will Steed, participants learn to forge their own camp axes, a process that Hennebery describes as transformative. “The idea is that through this creative experience, they’re going to shut off their brain and get into the process,” he said. “Everything else turns off – memories, experiences, stress.”

During the workshops, participants start with a small billet of raw steel and learn to shape, sharpen, and polish it into a functional work of art. Hennebery emphasizes that this tangible creation serves as a reminder of their experience. “In the end, they’ll all walk away with a little talisman,” he added. “Every time they look at that camp axe in the future, they’re going to remember this experience.”

The program has expanded significantly since its inception, now reaching veterans across Canada, including locations in Ontario, the Yukon, and throughout British Columbia. More than 250 members have participated in the workshops, which foster a sense of community and connection.

One participant, army reservist and RCMP officer Bryan Gardner, recently attended his second blacksmithing workshop at the Esquimalt Military Family Resource Centre on the weekend of October 18-19, 2023. Gardner has witnessed the positive impact of these workshops firsthand. “It’s a powerful thing to get the minds of veterans off whatever might be bothering them,” he remarked. “It’s great to produce something that they can look back on and remember their time here, forging friendships and something tangible.”

The environment fostered during these workshops is intentionally stress-free. Gardner highlighted that participants do not need to engage in traditional therapeutic discussions. “There’s no shrink here,” he said. “You don’t have to say anything and that’s the beauty. You can be in your own little bubble and work away.” He noted that while working alongside others, participants often engage in casual conversations, which can lead to deeper connections.

Hennebery remains committed to expanding the collective’s reach and encourages all veterans and first responders to join the workshops, which he claims have received “100 percent positive feedback.” He describes the initiative as evolving from a personal mission into a “labour of love” that benefits not only participants but himself as well. “I do it because I love doing it,” he said. “I get a lot out of it because I get to see my brothers and sisters come out and learn something.”

The Veteran Artists Collective continues to thrive, providing a valuable space where creativity and camaraderie help individuals heal from their past experiences. For more information or to support the collective, interested individuals can visit vetartists.ca.