Membership
An Unplugged Life

what others are saying
4671+ Accomplished Woodworking Students since '08

My ten weeks with the UW Artisan Program have been an extremely enjoyable and enriching experience; definitely one of the very best of my life and one that I will treasure forever.

I am usually a self-learner, but what a difference this course made for me! I would never have thought we would be able to produce pieces of such quality and complexity in such a short 10 weeks, but Tom masterfully broke everything down into small parts and under his supervision and encouragement they made us believe we could do it…and we did it.

I really loved the people at the school; the students’ wildly different backgrounds and common passion for woodworking resulted in a wonderfully fun, creative and supportive team dynamics; the teachers’ generosity, experience, and enthusiasm skillfully lead us through a thorough, fully hands-on, tour of all important aspects and techniques of traditional woodworking and left us confident we can tackle any project we may choose to do next.

Filippo Tampieri (Montreal, Canada)

Resident Student, Artisan Program
A great place to learn about woodworking without power tools. Tom and his whole team are very skilled and excellent teachers. It’s a laid back environment with lovely people who can make anyone feel at home regardless of your experience.

Alison Waddell
I attended the Joinery workshop this weekend and had a great experience. As a teacher I can also say it was excellent educationally speaking. A relaxed, positive atmosphere in a clean, bright workspace. Clear knowledgeable instruction with ample support along the way. I walked out with a product I was proud of, despite being exhausted from the previous work week. It would be hard for me to say how it could be better. Also great customer service when I had a rescheduling issue for a previously booked bootcamp. The same spirit of community that is a hallmark of Cape Breton lives at the Unplugged Workshop. Thanks to all the staff.

David Field

Resident Student
Amazing Woodshop with great teachers with Tom and Dave. Unreal atmosphere. I took three short day time classes : Intros to hand planes, hand tools and will be finishing last one on hand cut dovetails! Great experience for a tadpole newbie to hands tools for myself

Mike Greene

Resident Student
Following him since the beginning or close to, have both of his book, a bunch of his music, took a course from him, sat with him!! A great guy, an awesome instructor, a beautiful human, wish we lived closer!! Long life to The Unplugged Woodshop!!

David Gendron

Resident Student

FAQs

Where is the Unplugged Woodshop located and how do I get there?

The Unplugged Woodshop is located at 1028 Gerrard Street East in Leslieville, a cool neighbourhood in downtown Toronto, Canada.

Public Transportation:
There are numerous public transit options to get you to the school. The Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) is a great and affordable option for most at only $3.25 for a one-way trip. The Gerrard streetcar stops right outside our door and there’s a bus stop at Jones avenue and Gerrard street, a 30 second walk from the school. You can also take a yellow cab or Uber for direct drop-off.

Driving:
Getting to the school by car is very easy. From the 401 its a quick drive south on the Don Valley Parkway (DVP), if you are coming from the Gardner Expressway (QEW) or Lakeshore Boulevard simply take Carlaw Avenue north to Gerrard street East.

Biking:
Biking in Toronto is very easy with many dedicated bike lanes all over the city and direct to UW on Dundas Street. We also have the Bike Share Toronto system if you don’t have access to a bike.
What are your hours?

Weekend classes run on Saturday’s from 10am to 4pm, our evening classes are from 6pm to 9pm and our full time classes are from 9am to 4pm.
Can I visit the school?

Yes. We’re currently by appointment only but feel free to reach out if you’d like to come by to see what we’re all about. We’re happy to give you a tour and see the space where we work.
How do I register for a class?

All of our class registration is online. Navigate through the website to find the classes and dates that suit your needs. Once you find your specific classes or courses, registration is made online with credit card or PayPal. If you’re not able to register online, you can reach out to the school to make arrangements to come for in person payment options.
What is your class cancellation policy?

Weekend and evening classes are non-refundable 48 hours prior to the beginning of class while our full time, 10 week courses are non-refundable 30 days prior to the start date.
Regarding the Artisan, Maker and Designer Programs, is the listed price for one or all three semesters?

All of our 10 week programs are priced at $7995. + tax
The price for all three terms would be $7995. x 3 = $23985.00 + tax
What is the best way to pay for the full time, 10 week courses?

Students can pay online using E-transfers, PayPal or you can pay with credit card or cash when you come to the school. If you need to pay in instalments, we’re happy to discuss options. Reach out before class begins and we can discuss details.
What do students generally do for lunch?

Full time students usually bring a lunch and can either stay at the school to eat or visit a nearby park or green space for a few minutes away from the shop. Being on Gerrard street East in Leslieville, we’re surrounded by MANY fabulous restaurants and food options. Vietnamese, Mexican, Chinese and Cuban options are literally steps from our location. Of course there’s also many pubs and fast food options nearby as well.
Do you have a waiting list for sold out classes?

Yes. If a class you’re interested in is sold out, simply drop us an email and we’ll be happy to put you on our waiting list. You’ll be notified when the next space becomes available. Many of our classes are extremely popular and fill up fast. We encourage you to register as soon as you can when our new semesters become available.
Do I have to bring my own tools and materials?

No. We provide all of the tools and materials you’ll need for each of our classes and courses. That said, some of our long term students prefer to use their own tools and we certainly don’t mind if you bring them along.
Does the class price include room and board?

Unfortunately no. We do not offer accommodations but are more than happy to answer any questions you have about finding accommodations, proximity to the school, travel, neighbourhoods, etc…Whatever we can do to help you with your visit to Toronto we’re happy to do so. Reach out with any questions, comments or concerns.
Do you accept International students?

Yes indeed! In fact almost all of our long term courses have had International students. From Italy, England, Hong Kong, New Zealand and the USA to name a few. We suggest that all International students visit the www.Canada.ca website to find out details about visiting and studying in Canada for extended periods of time.
Do I need any prior experience to attend classes and courses?

No. We don’t require students to have prior experience. We welcome new students and beginners to our school all of the time. We enjoy seeing the evolution of students as they learn and practice the art of building furniture and cabinets using only hand tools.
What are the class sizes?

We currently keep all of our classes small with a maximum of 6 students. That allows for additional work space and more importantly, gives you valuable one on one time with your Instructor.
What is the average age and professions of your students?

We’ve welcomed men and women from all walks of life, from 18 to 80 years old and everything in between. Each week we seem to have engineers and architects, artists and professionals attending our classes. We get a lot of professionals who work online and are in need of a break away from their screens as well as young people just getting started in their careers. Having a wide range of diverse people at the school makes for a well balanced atmosphere.