Prairie Canada News Carving Championship a Resounding Success. May, Prairie Canada Carvers Association:

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Morris Webb
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1 2010 Carving Championship a Resounding Success The adage that you only get better with age certainly applied to the 24th annual Prairie Canada Carving Championship held March 21 & 28, 2010 at Canad Inns Polo Park, Winnipeg. The show attracted 332 pieces from 106 carvers from United states and Canada. The new venue at Canad Inns was well received by the carving community and the visiting public. Foremost among the improvements were the room configuration, room lighting and prompt restaurant service. Popular amongst carvers and visitors this year was the series of carving clinics offered free of charge on the Sunday. A number of accomplished carvers mentioned that they had absorbed more in those 45 minutes of intensive instruction that they had in many a carving course. This speaks volumes for the quality of instruction offered by Tom Park on habitat design, Larry Vanderhyde on duck anatomy important to judges, Bob Lavender on airbrush painting, Shawn Nicol on carving golf balls, Cam Merkle on feather burning pens and Ian Reid on human face anatomy. Carvers were also pleased with the improved registration system that eliminated line-ups. Thanks again for those of you who registered in advance. A special note of gratitude goes out to the 22 carvers who contributed pieces to the Sunday auction and by doing so raised $3,917 to help cover show expenses. The same can be said for the many carvers who sold $7641 worth of raffle tickets for Prairie Canada. Of course every successful show needs its sponsors/partners and we are grateful for the 22 individuals and organizations who helped make your show a success (see enclosure). I would encourage you to make a point of thanking them for their endorsement and where possible supporting their businesses. Several retailers sold their wares at the competition thanks goes out to Canadian Woodworker, Bob Taylor, Copperfield Books, Jennifer LaBella and Artists Emporium. Les Gens de Bois Woodcarving Club, Adanac Carvers Association, the Oak Hammock Marsh Carvers Guild and the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization captured the interest of show goers throughout the weekend, adding to the ambiance of the show. The 2010 special carving exhibit featured decorative and working fish carvings from the collections of Ray England, Jean Mousseau and Carl Robblee. A special thanks is extended to the judges: Ron Davidson, Bob Danell, Ray England, Del Herbert, Jean Minaudier, Randy Mooi, Carole Peters, Carl Robblee, Peter Sawatzky, Shawn Sinclair, Robert Taylor and Larry Vanderhyde. Jean Minaudier, Del Herbert and Carole Peters offered carving workshops as part of the competition- all of which were well received. The awards banquet was another huge success and culminated in the awarding of the coveted Carver s Award of Excellence to Cam Merkle of Razertip Industries, Martinsville, Saskatchewan. Del Herbert capped the awards evening with a presentation on how to carve for competitions. Accolades are also extended to Manitoba Pork Council, Bob Taylor, Artists Emporium, Canadian Woodworker, Copperfield Books, Tom Park and Sally and David Nye ( for the donation of banquet raffle prizes. I cannot heap enough praise upon the PCCA board of directors for its steadfast dedication in advancing the interests of the carving community. The 2010 board consists of Doug Danell, Georges Druwe, John Frye, Dave Koss, Prabir Mitra, Jean Mousseau, Ted Muir, Shawn Nicol, Tom Park, Laurie Prokopanko, Bonnie Trodden, Al Whitfield and Don Young. George and Laurie now find themselves stepping down due to family and carving club commitments. Their stint with PCCA is appreciated. Once again scores of volunteers stepped forward to help with the running of the show thank you. See you in Happy carving. Ted Muir, Chairman, PCCA Prairie Canada News May, 2010 Razertip Industries Inc. Purchase Award by Dave Koss PCCA Raffle Carving Prairie Canada Carvers Association:

2 Carver s Award of Excellence Recipient The Prairie Canada Carvers Association presented Cam Merkle of Martinsville, Saskatchewan with the Carver s Award of Excellence for excellence and achievement in promoting and engendering the art of carving in North America. The awards were presented at the Association s 24th annual banquet In Winnipeg, March 26, The coveted, one of kind, bronze award was crafted by wildlife artist Peter Sawatzky of Glenboro, Manitoba. Cam Merkle s service to the North American carving community is exemplary and worthy of recognition, said Ted Muir, President of the Prairie Canada Carvers Association. Cam Merkle started Razertip Industries in his home in1984 with the manufacturing of specialty wood burning units. He quickly captured a niche market for quality burners and grew his business to include a raft of carving and artists mail order supplies which are now shipped around the world. In 1999 the business moved to a new building in Martinsville that features a design and production area, business office and classrooms. A new addition to be completed in May will include an expanded showroom and a gallery for showcasing customer s artwork. Cam Merkle Woodcarving is ever expanding and developing new products such as a dust collector system marketed as Razaire 530. The business currently employs nine people Cam Merkle receiving award from Peter Sawatzky Cam has been a staunch supporter of carving competitions. He sponsors over 50 events across the continent and teaches and judges at competitions as time permits. While developing his business he taught classes at Wood n Works in Saskatoon, in Hinton-Alberta, Red Deer College- Alberta, the Shuswap School of Woodworking in Sorrento British Columbia and the Saskatchewan River Valley Art School. He founded the Saskatchewan Wildlife Art Association Inc. in 1986 and was a founding committee member of Saskatoon Reflections of Nature- western Canada s largest wildlife art show and competition. Cam currently sits as an executive member on the Saskatchewan River Valley Art School which was founded in Cam is an accomplished entrepreneur, carving tool inventor and bird carver. He is the only Saskatchewan carver to place at the World Division of the Ward World Championships, capturing a second in the world decorative miniatures in His legacy to the carving community has been described by a group of his peers as immeasurable. Cam lives in Martinsville with his wife Lori on 80 acres that they have designated as protected wildlife habitat through the Saskatchewan Watershed Authority. Award Nomination Information Members of the carving community are encouraged to nominate an individual or organization for recognition under the Carver s Award of Excellence program. Submissions should be sent in writing to John Frye at 139 Lodge Avenue, Winnipeg, R3J 0R6. John can also be reached at (204) or jfrye@cc.umanitoba.ca. Full details of the awards program can be obtained from the Association s website. Awards for 2011 must be submitted before January 1, Competition Dates: The 2011 competition which will be held at Canad Inns Polo Park March 26 to 27. This date marks the 25th year of hosting an annual carving competition and a number of anniversary activities are being developed for this historic event. Full details will be outlined in the October 2010 newsletter. Purchase awards: For those wishing to get a head start on purchase award pieces here is a list of 2011 awards confirmed to date: Morgan Whiteway BOSS Award ($800) Blue-winged teal drake. Razertip Industries Raffle Carving Award ($500)- life-sized blue jay. Richard Whittom Duck Head Award $200. Al Whitfield Best Junior and Novice Working Shorebird $150 each. Jim Richardson Antique Duck Decoy Award $500. Carvers should consult with the 2011 rules form to ensure compliance with any minor changes. The 2011 rules form will be posted on the website in late September Page 2 Bill Nitzsche People s Choice Award Prairie Canada News

3 Upcoming Shows & Workshops 2010 May 15 & 16 Oak Hammock Marsh Carving Guild Decoy Carving Competition: Ross Gage or May 20 to 25 Saskatchewan River Valley Art School: (306) or or June 25 to 27 Wahpeton Carving Weekend, ND: Gary Paulsen (701) August 7 & 8 Lake Bronson International Woodcarvers Festival & a workshop carving a black bear with Rick Brereton (August 5 & 6) MN: Cammie Taylor at (218) ; gcaf@wiktel.com August 26 National Caricature Carving Competition Converse, IL: Tom Brown, suziq2848@sbcglobal.net September 19 to September 25 Shuswap School of Woodcarving School, BC: info@sorrento-centre.bc.ca September 25 & 26 Chinook Wildlife Carving Competition & Show Calgary: Wade Pollock-wadepollock@shaw.ca or October 22 to 24 Reflections of Nature Wildlife Art Competition, Show and Sale, Saskatoon: or Audrey at (306) Winners Circle Best of Show & Purchase Awards Bird Carvers Best of Show Open 1st - Lana Cowell, Saskatoon- White-throated sparrow 2nd Harvey Welch, Saskatoon- Harlequin drake 3rd -Lana Cowell, Saskatoon- Eastern bluebirds Intermediate 1st - Lloyd Laing, Saint Claude, MB- Black duck 2nd -Sandy Whittom, Balmoral, MB-Ring-necked duck 3rd -Al Whitfield, Winnipeg Snow goose Novice- 1st Robert Mueller, Lakeville, MN American avocet 2nd- Georgina Totten, Keewatin, ON-Scarlet tanager 3rd-Gary Burns, Bragg Creek, AB-Wood duck head Traditional Carvers- Best of Show Open 1st - Bill Nitzsche, Winnipeg Bald eagle 2nd- Bert Bodnaruk, Winnipeg-Juggling clown 3rd- Rick Brereton, Lac du Bonnet, MB Green man Intermediate 1st- Denise LaRue, Winnipeg-Cougar & cub 2nd Helmut Kuklik, St Laurent, MB Forgotten memories 3rd Denise LaRue Winnipeg Grizzly bear Novice 1st-Horst Erb, Winnipeg Relief hummingbirds 2nd Iris Bidinosti, Selkirk, MB Bark carving 3d-Len Heibert, Winnipeg-Wood spirits bird house John Cruickshank presents the Les Gens de Bois People s Choice Award to Bill Nitzsche. Cocktail Best of Show: Harvey Welch, Saskatoon- Western tanager Purchase Awards Razertip Industries Dave Koss, Winnipeg Wood duck drake Fred Thomas presents the Adanac Carvers Morgan Whiteway BOSS Bob Lavender, Saskatoon Harlequin duck hen Association Carver s Choice Award to Jaci Richard Whittom Duck Head Frank MacFarlane, Winnipeg Redhead drake Jacobson.. Jim Richardson Antique Decoy Al Whitfield, Winnipeg Black duck Al Whitfield Best Junior Working Shorebird Darrell Kowal, Winnipeg-Black-necked stilt Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre-Bob Lavender, Saskatoon Scoter & long-tailed duck hunting rig People s Choice Award-sponsored by Les Gens de Bois Woodcarving Carving Club: Bill Nitzsche, Winnipeg Bald eagle Carver s Choice Award sponsored by Adanac Carvers Association Jaci Jacobson, Winnipeg - Great horned owl Page 3

B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S Prairie May, Canada 2010 Carvers Association

Muir Shawn Nicol Tom Park Laurie Prokopanko Al Whitfield Bonnie Trodden Don

of raffle ticket sale is the economic lifeblood of the competition,

The live auction on the Sunday afternoon raised $ 3,917 for PCCA coffers.

Ron Davidson, Ross Gage, Lee Garbel, Bob Lavender, Glen Maber, Cam Merkle,

Kowalchuk of Country Auctions (204) 269-6650.

raffle carving to winning ticket-holder Kevin Guthrie of Winnipeg.

4 B O A R D O F D I R E C T O R S Prairie May, Canada 2010 Carvers Association Doug Danell Georges Druwe Dave Koss John Frye Prabir Mitra Jean Mousseau Ted Muir Shawn Nicol Tom Park Laurie Prokopanko Al Whitfield Bonnie Trodden Don Young Auction & Raffle Keep Show Afloat Income from the live auction and sale of raffle ticket sale is the economic lifeblood of the competition, accounting for 77% of income. The live auction on the Sunday afternoon raised $ 3,917 for PCCA coffers. A hearty thanks goes out to cocktail contributors Lana Cowell, Brian Dueck, Ron Davidson, Ross Gage, Lee Garbel, Bob Lavender, Glen Maber, Cam Merkle, Tory Neald, Bill Nitzsche, Bill Palmer, Tom Park, John Shalagan, Wes Tully, Harvey Welch, and Jack Yellowlees. We are also appreciative of the pieces donated to the auction or entered in the 50/50 sale. Thanks goes out to Mariette Buyden, Del Herbert, Ray Minaudier, Roger Palser, Don Phalen and Frank McFarlane. As usual we appreciate the volunteer time donated by our auctioneer Jack Kowalchuk of Country Auctions (204) Tory Neald, Regina Heads up Dave Koss presents the 2010 Razertip Industries raffle carving to winning ticket-holder Kevin Guthrie of Winnipeg. The raffle brought in $ 7,641. A hearty thanks is extended to Dave and all of the volunteers who went above and beyond the call of duty in selling tickets this year. The 2011 raffle piece is a wood duck drake crafted by Dave. Your help in selling these tickets is paramount to the continued success of the competition. The 2010 Competition in a Snapshot

5 2010 PCCA Sponsors & Partners Gold Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre Sponsor of OHM Purchase Award; Canada s leading wetland education centre Open year round (204) Silver Jim Richardson Sponsor of Antique Duck Decoy Purchase Award Morgan Whiteway Sponsor of Best of Show Slick (BOSS) Purchase Award Sponsor of Raffle Purchase Award Carving (306) Bronze Adanac Carving Club Sponsor of Carver s Choice Award Keith Gordon (204) Canad Inns Polo Park 1405 St. Mathews Ave St James Street (204)

6 1054 Portage Avenue (204) ker.com 300 Ellice Avenue (204) Dominion Construction 1574 Erin Street (204) Ellice Avenue (204) Les Gens de Bois Wood Carving Club Sponsor of People s Choice Award Laurie Prokopanko Stevenson Road (204) A Dugald Road (204) grinding.ca 64 Keith Road (204) Richard Whittom Sponsor of Duck Head Purchase Award Al Whitfield Sponsor of Junior and Novice Working Shorebird Purchase Awards

The Oak Hammock Marsh Carving Guild

The Oak Hammock Marsh Carving Guild will be hosting it s Fourteenth Annual Decoy Competition on September 16 & 17, 2017. This event will take place at the Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Center and will