About Us
The Story of 52 Skills
I’ve been making things for as long as I can remember. My mum had a way of reinventing everything—turning old pieces new, finding fresh ideas for random objects, and showing me how creativity could transform the ordinary into something special. My dad? He taught me how to work with my hands, from home renovation projects to the intricate woodwork of his intarsia pieces. Creating wasn’t just something we did— it was how we spent time together. How we experimented, problem-solved, brought ideas to life, and very often, made something from nothing.
Fast forward to now: new country, new chapter. After working in shelters and two decades of teaching English and communication skills to students and professionals, I wanted a change—something hands-on, something exciting, something to do with my hobby of collecting hobbies. I wanted to take everything I love about learning and turn it into an experience that’s fun, welcoming, and full of possibility. That’s how 52 Skills was born.
I believe learning a new skill isn’t about being perfect—it’s about the spark, that rush of “Wait… I actually made this?” It’s about feeling inspired, accomplished, and maybe even walking away with a new friend.
52 Skills isn’t just about crafts. It’s about confidence, community, and creativity. It’s vibrant, fun, and always welcoming. And whether it’s your first workshop or your fiftieth, I’m here to cheer you on. So come hang out, get messy, and surprise yourself—you might just love what you create.
(This photo is from a hotel in Barcelona that used to be where Picasso lived and did some of his work. Kind of exciting doing my work where he did his.)
What's in a name?
The 52 is in honour of my father’s number as 1st Captain of the volunteer fire department in Kingston, Nova Scotia, Canada. He passed at 53 in 2018 due to a secondary cancer after developing Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma as a result of his exposure to depleted uranium during his work for NATO in Sarajevo, Bosnia during the war. His story (Steve Dornan) can be found in two award-winning documentaries, A Fragile Peace, and, Broken Soldiers, as well as numerous articles.
But what's this 52 Queen Street I see around?
Ah, the sign with a story. Queen Street is a reference to this sign, that has been in every house I lived in with my parents, and even longer where my mother has lived, and now it's in my house. To me, it represents my mum and is one of my prized possessions. Not quite a family secret, but I'll keep the origins a mystery for now.
But why are there two business names? 52 Skills makes more sense for teaching skill classes, but I just love the sound of 52 Queen Street. So, I made it my broad business name, for events, for my products, and other creative endeavors.