These stunning handcrafted charcuterie boards aren’t just for serving—they’re a meaningful way to support exceptional healthcare. Created by local woodworker, Tim Holland, each board is made from a mighty Oak tree that fell on QCH grounds during the 2022 Derecho storm.
Each board is handcrafted and one-of-a-kind. Every purchase directly supports Queensway Carleton Hospital’s efforts to provide life-saving care to our community. Whether you’re hosting, gifting, or indulging, these boards are a perfect blend of beauty and purpose. Boards are limited, so act fast!
About the Fallen Oak
Area resident Tim Holland headed to the Queensway Carleton Hospital in June 2022 for the most joyous of occasions, the birth of a child. Little did he know that he would not only leave with a healthy newborn daughter but, eventually, a 150-year-old bur oak tree, as well.
The mighty oak had fallen, one of the unfortunate casualties of the severe derecho storm that swept through Ontario and parts of Quebec a couple weeks earlier.
Holland noticed the tree, still sprawled outside the west entrance of QCH, while strolling around the hospital grounds with his very pregnant wife, Rachel Groskopf. She was trying to move her contractions along in order to be admitted into the hospital’s birth unit.
Holland posed for a photo of himself next to the oak. The picture was snapped by his wife, who, being in the early stages of labour, probably had other things on her mind. But, Holland, who’s a woodworking specialist and owner of TH Custom Woodwork, knew there was treasure in that tree.
“It had been there longer than the hospital,” said Holland. “I was thinking it was too much of an important tree to be sent to a (wood) chipper and destroyed. I was hoping to at least save part of it.”
Some 10 hours later, baby Rowen arrived safely. It wasn’t until the family was back home in rural Ashton that Holland posted the image of himself next to the tree on Instagram, sharing his dream with QCH of salvaging the wood to make single-slab dining tables.
That’s when QCH Foundation came up with an even better idea: have him build charcuterie boards using the wood for community members to purchase in support of the hospital.
Holland agreed without hesitation. “It will go to a good home eventually, and it’s nice to support the Foundation,” said Holland, who has a soft spot for health care workers — his wife works for the Canadian Nurses Association.
The table is also Holland’s way of thanking QCH for its excellent care in the delivery of Rowen and her big sister, Kennedy, who’s two and a half. “The two most important people in my life now, since I’ve started my new chapter as a father, are my two daughters.”
