HGH Granite has collaborated with the Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton for many years, supplying granite for various memorial projects. These include two Mother and Children sculptures, for the Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Cemetery in Stoney Creek, ON, and the Holy Family cemetery in Milton, ON; alongside the St Michael sculpture, also commissioned for the Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Cemetery in Ontario. So when we were asked to help with the creation of a similarly distinguished monument for the Holy Cross Cemetery in Paris, Ontario – a Holy Redeemer sculpture – we were h ..read more

Whether you’re a landscape architect, municipality representative, or involved in urban design, understanding the differences between cobbles, setts and pavers is super-handy for selecting the right aesthetic for your project. In this blog, we explore the physical differences and ideal use cases for each. The Difference Between Cobbles, Setts, and Pavers What are cobbles? The word “cobble” comes from the word “cob,” which means a rounded lump. So, a cobble is a rounded piece of stone, and it can be made from granite, limestone, sandstone or basalt. Granite cobbles are particularly popular i ..read more

When it comes to creating a landmark or sculpture, the choice of material is as important as the design and theme of the piece; integral, not just to how good it looks, but to its general quality and lifespan. Among the many material options open to sculptors, artists, architects and memorial makers, granite stands tall. We may be slightly biassed – who, us? – but granite has so much going for it and offers loads of brilliant benefits that make it the go-to choice for many. In this blog post, we’re going to take a look at the variety of material options open to artists, architects and memoria ..read more

At HGH Granite, we believe in the power of art and craftsmanship to celebrate and honour the rich tapestry of cultures that shape our communities here in Canada. And as we mark the beginning of Black History Month, we’re looking back at our contribution to the Voices of Freedom monument, an experiential art installation in Niagara-on-the-Falls, Canada, which stands as a powerful testament to the resilience and contributions of Black Canadians. The historical context of the Voices of Freedom installation The installation is nestled in a small area of parkland in the heart of Niagara-on-the-Lake ..read more

Turning Fieldstones into Masterpieces From creating striking landmarks that capture the essence of a location, to constructing memorials that blend solemnity with natural beauty, the use of natural elements such as boulders and fieldstones has gained significant popularity. Valued not only for their aesthetic appeal, rustic charm and enduring strength, fieldstones have the power to transform spaces with their functional benefits too. In this blog, we’re answering all your questions about fieldstones and showcasing how this versatile medium can be used to elevate landmarks, memorials, and archi ..read more

Mother & Children Cemetery Memorial Q&A Our work on these granite Mother & Children grass markers was recently unveiled at Our Lady of the Angels Cemetery in Stoney Creek (right), and the Holy Family Cemetery in Milton (left) – of the Catholic Cemeteries of the Diocese of Hamilton, Ontario. We’re proud of how these memorials turned out. The brief was to create sculptures for the children’s areas of the cemeteries that would bring solace and comfort to loved ones. As you can imagine, this was something that touched us and resonated with us, deeply. We are asked a lot of questions ab ..read more

Sometimes during conversations with unsuspecting friends, family members,  or brand new clients, we’ll drop in a term such as ‘nosings’ or ‘lithichrome’ or ‘porosity’ – only to be greeted by stony silence (pun intended) or an amused ‘Huh?’ It got us thinking, why don’t we create an A-Z glossary of our most-used granite terms that we can share with you? So that’s what we did. Please note, however, this list is by no means exhaustive. So, consider this your part one.  Ready to learn more? Let’s go!  Your Complete A-Z of Granite Terms A: Abrasive This relates to the sandblasting pr ..read more

HGH is currently in the midst of an exciting collaboration with The Catholic Cemeteries of Hamilton (Ontario) to deliver a series of sculptures for their cemeteries. Having worked with the Diocese previously, we were thrilled to get the call regarding this new project. For us, it’s a wonderful opportunity to blend our granite sourcing expertise with our passion for creating life-like statuary. This blog details the process of making the St. Michael sculpture, pictured, which was installed in August 2023 at the Our Lady of the Angel’s Catholic Cemetery in Stoney Creek, ON. Part 1. The brief It ..read more

Whether you’re a landscape architect, memorial artist, or a monument company working granite, you choose it because of its timeless beauty and durability of granite pieces. We get that completely. From awe-inspiring monuments to meaningful, elegant headstones and resilient public ‘carpets’ – see the ‘granite carpet’ at the Four Seasons’ Hotel, Toronto, below – granite adds gravitas to any project. To preserve the longevity and lustre of such creations, however, requires regular maintenance and timely repairs. So, what does that look like? In this blog, we’re delving into the world of granite c ..read more

What do the Great Pyramid of Giza, the Aberdeen Pavilion in Ottawa, Canada, the Taj Mahal, Stonehenge and the Statue of Liberty have in common? Aside from being iconic international landmarks that is. If you hadn’t already guessed, then let us shed some light: granite has played a key role in the construction of each and every one of them. In this blog, we’ll take a look at these historic monuments, delve into how granite was used in each application – and discuss the ways memorial makers, urban artists and landscape architects can use the tricks of the past to create stunning long-lasting lan ..read more