2023 Service Awards

Geoffrey Cross

Geoffrey grew up in Leyland England. His family survived the war by hiding beneath the stairs during the blitz. He and his family came to Canada in 1965. 

Approximately 20 years ago Geoffrey chatted with someone about carving. After their conversation, he became "hooked" on the hobby. He looked for a carving club close to home and landed in Les Gens de Bois. His first bird won him first place and since then he's carved birds, characters, animals and figurines winning many prizes along the way. He's also well known for making violins and yes, they are playable.

Geoffrey is the kind of person you could go to for advice, always willing to share his knowledge.

Over the years Geoffrey’s eyes began to fail. So, while he's not carving anymore, that doesn't stop him from helping. By trade, Geoffrey is a machinist, an expert in his trade.

When the carvers were having a difficult time cutting the golf balls, Geoff with his machinist know-how created a golf ball cutter which was much appreciated. Recently he's created a machine to sharpen V-Tools and gauges and is coming to the club to teach our carvers how to use it.

Once a carver always a carver, and the love never goes away. Thank-you Geoff. 

 

Gwen Coates

Gwen started carving in January 2004 with her brother Grant McNeil. They took two courses at Canadian Woodworking with Peter Peersman. They found immediate enjoyment in this new hobby. Gwen joined the ADANAC Carvers. She has been a dedicated member and carver with the ADANAC organization for over fifteen years.

Gwen first started carving caricatures and quickly proceeded to do beautiful chip carving projects, amazing detail wood spirits, very realistic whimsical houses, and detailed woodburning sceneries. Her most pleasing accomplishment is her floral relief carving where she won a major prize at the PCCC show in 2022. Gwen is very artistic and shares her expertise with any new or regular Carver.

After only a few years as a member of ADANAC Gwen was elected to their executive committee. Within a few years, the committee and the members recognized her organizational skills and she was elected president in 2011. She has held that position for the last 12 years.

Gwen regularly carves with the ADANAC group at St. Norbert Collegiate on Monday evenings and also makes an effort to visit St. James Collegiate ADANAC group on Tuesdays.  Gwen was also always willing to assist when ADANAC offered sandpaper carving classes to elementary school students. Having been a teacher for 16 years she has been involved with many community projects, and Gwen says that being involved with different groups of people has been a wonderful experience. During the pandemic, she opened her garage and set up tables so a group of carvers in the Morris area could continue to enjoy their hobby. Any other carvers willing to make the trek were also welcome to her home and to join the group. Gwen regularly helps with the Prairie Canada Carving Show.

For all her contributions, Gwen is well deserving of this Community Service Award.  Congratulations!

2023 Award of Excellence: Frank Macfarlane

Frank’s training as a tool and dye maker is evident in his eye for symmetry and precision in his carvings. Frank is an original Oak Hammock Marsh Carving Guild member and has served as its President and Show Chair.   He updates and rewrote the guild's competition rules.

Frank has also been a supporter of the Prairie Canada Carvers Association Annual Show and Competition. Besides his carving entries, Frank has contributed many carvings to the cocktail raffles and his cocktails are sought after by collectors. His achievements as a carver are reflected by the many Best of Show Ribbons and Purchase Awards he has achieved since starting carving. In 2018, he competed at the Canadian Nationals, placing first in the open Decorative Working Decoy class.  He was honoured as a featured carver in Wildfowl Carving Magazine and a featured artist at the North American Duck Symposium.   

Carvers look to Frank to provide advice on carving and painting. Many beginning carvers have commented on his attention and care in guiding them through the carving and painting processes. He is regarded as an expert on waterfowl anatomy and brings his knowledge to all who ask. Experienced waterfowl carvers always seek and appreciate Frank’s critiques of their carvings.

Recently, Frank has co-instructed carving courses at Oak Hammock Marsh. The carvings produced by those who have attended the course clearly illustrate Frank’s instruction capabilities and attention to detail.