New! Brook Trout Purchase Award

BID Canada Inc., a NB company located in Woodstock is offering a $500 purchase award for a full body 19” Brook Trout. This award is inspired by an actual catch by a BID executive. With the spring fishing season upon us, we hope some of you will be inspired to create a brook trout for the folks at BID.

Theme Competitions- 2025

In 2025 there will be 2 theme competitions. All entries will be judged in their regular level and category before being judged as a theme carving.

2025 General Theme:

Next year’s general theme will be Pairs. The Pairs theme must be represented in a single piece. All categories of carving are welcome for this competition.

2025 Bird Theme:

Any Puffin.  Puffin(s) under any carving category will be eligible.

2025 Purchase Awards

The list of 2025 purchase awards now includes:

  • $1500 purchase award for a decorative 50% scale Bald Eagle offered by JD Irving Ltd.
  • $1500 purchase award for 3 Red Knots feeding offered by JD Irving Ltd. This award is inspired by the migratory presence of Red Knots at the JDI coastal park in Bouctouche – La dune de Bouctouche  https://www.jdirving.com/en/sustainability/parks/irving-eco-centre/
  • $500 purchase award for a 19″ full bodied Brook Trout by BID Canada. This award is inspired by an actual catch by a BID executive. With the spring fishing season upon us, we hope some of you will be inspired to create a brook trout for the folks at BID.
  • $300 purchase award for a Saw whet Owl theme offered by the NBWA (future raffle carving)
  • $300 purchase award for a Santa offered by Picket Fence Motel, approximately 8″ in height

All carvers are eligible to enter carvings for consideration in purchase award competitions. For all entries in purchase award competitions there is an additional registration charge of $5 for Novice and Intermediate entries and $10 for Advanced and Masters entries. This charge is not reflected on the registration page, but will be added during on-site registration.

It should be noted that while companies/individuals have offered purchase awards, they are not obligated to purchase a carving if they feel that there is no carving that meets their expectation. This is rare, but is always a possibility.

2024 Purchase Award Winners

Thank you to all sponsors of the 2023 purchase award competitions. They are exciting part of the Competition, drawing carvers from near and far.

The JD Irving Ltd award for a Harlequin duck was won by Dave Ricci, Nova Scotia

The JD Irving Ltd award for a Woodpecker in Flight was won by Timothy Griffin, Maine/New Brunswick

The Cooke Aquaculture award for a Black Labrador Retriever was won by Ted Boothroyd, New Brunswick

The Picket Fence Motel award for a Santa Claus (8″ tall) was won by Ted Boothroyd, New Brunswick

Corporate Patron – JDI Ltd

The New Brunswick Woodcarvers Association (NBWA)  is pleased to announce that JD Irving Ltd has agreed to extend their support for our annual NB Woodcarving Competition and Sale for an additional 3 years taking us to 2026. They will provide us with $5000 in each of the 6 years. $3000 will go to 1 or 2 annual purchase awards. The remaining $2000 each year will be used as the NBWA Board decides to enhance the annual Competition.

In addition JDI will be providing Basswood logs to us for 3 years so that each registered carver at our shows will receive a free piece of basswood to take home.


We are most appreciative of this continued support from JDI for our annual Competition and Sale.