By all accounts the 25th Prairie Canada Carving Championship held March 26 & 27 at Canad Inns Polo Park, Winnipeg was a re-sounding success. Probably our best ever. The Prairie Canada Carvers’ Association executive launched a number of bold initiatives to celebrate its 25th anniversary, foremost among them the production of a 53 page commemorative carving pattern book thanks largely to the efforts of Tom Park and the release of a new line of merchandise thanks to the work of Lynda Baxter. Bonnie Trodden coordinated an outstanding lineup of carving workshops and seminars. Prabir Mitra assembled a power point presentation of 25 years of show images for banquet attendees. As usual the entire executive did an outstanding job in hosting the com-petition and a hearty congratulations goes out to Lynda Baxter, Doug Danell, Dave Koss, John Frye, Prabir Mitra, Jean Mousseau, Shawn Nicol, Tom Park, Mike Pilon, Bonnie Trod-den, Karen Warren, Al Whitfield and Don Young. And kudos to the scores of volunteers who made the show possible. The show attracted 310 pieces from 106 carvers from United states and Canada. Popular amongst carvers for the second consecutive year was the series of 45 minute carving clinics organized by Don Young and offered free of charge on the Sunday. Sessions covered mam-mal anatomy by Byron Crabb and his companion Raven, a history of prairie duck decoys by Ray England, Plexiglas eye construction by Gordon Kanne and bark house carving by Shawn Nicol. All events were well attended and greatly appreciated. Every successful show needs its sponsors and we are grateful for the record number of individuals and organizations who contributed to our success (see list). Several retailers sold their wares at the competition – thanks goes out to Canadian Woodworker, Copperfield Books, Jennifer LaBella, Bill Palmer, Tunney Hovorka and Artists Emporium. Les Gens de Bois Woodcarving Club, Adanac Carvers Association, the Oak Hammock Marsh Carvers Guild and the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization added to the ambiance of the show as did Ernie Beauchesne with his exhibit of west coast decoys complements of the Pacific Brant Carving and Art Show. The 2011 carving exhibit featured the intarsia of Wes Tully and scroll saw/intarsia of Don Nicol. A special thanks is extended to the judges: Byron Crabb, Ron Davidson, Ray England, Pat Godin, Teom Lim, Jean Minaudier, Arthur Owen, Peter Sawatzky, Shawn Sinclair, Robert Taylor, Reuben Unger and Larry Vanderhyde. Pat Godin, Byron Crabb and Teom Lim brought a much appreciated educational touch to the show with their seminars and workshops. The awards banquet was another huge success and culminated in the awarding of the coveted Carver’s Award of Excellence to Pat Godin of Paris Ontario. Teom Lim capped the award’s evening with a thought– provoking presentation on marrying science and art in approaching the design and execution of carvings. See you in 2012 Ted Muir, President PCCA

25th Anniversary Show a Huge Success

Prairie Canada News

May, 2011

Prairie Canada Carvers’ Association Inc: www.prairiecanadacarvers.com

Razertip Industries Inc Purchase Award by Bob Lavender of Saskatoon

2011/12 Raffle Carving

Pat Godin-2011 Carver’s Award of Excellence Recipient

The Prairie Canada Carvers’ Association presented Pat Godin of Paris, Ontario with the Carver’s Award of Excellence for excellence and achievement in promoting and engendering the art of carving in North America. The award was presented to Pat at the Associa-tion’s 25th awards banquet. The one-of a kind bronze sculpture award was crafted by acclaimed wildlife artist Peter Sawatzky of Glenboro, Manitoba. Pat is unquestionably one of the world’s premier bird carvers, carving in-structors and lecturers. Prompted by a fascination with the natural world, Pat carved his first bird in 1967. Mostly self taught, Pat continued carving in the early 70’s for his own pleasure, but it was his formal training as a waterfowl biologist that infused in his art a biological, anatomical and ecologically correctness that characterizes all of his work to this day. In 1976 Pat earned a “Best in World” award for his innovative pair of common goldeneyes, the first of eleven such awards to be garnered from the Ward World Championship Wildfowl Carving Competition held in Ocean City, Maryland. Since that first award, Pat has accomplished an unprecedented achievement by winning “Best in World” in four of the five World Championship categories. He has tallied numerous “Best of Show” awards at major North America carving competitions. While the Godin name is synonymous with excellence in waterfowl carvings, Pat began winning awards, starting in 1999, for his grouse carvings. He is now carv-ing, in miniature, a series of all species of North American grouse in court-ing displays. His carvings can be found in the Ward Museum of Wildfowl Art in Salisbury, Maryland and in many private collections throughout the world. His pieces have been on display at the prestigious “Birds in Art” Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin and the Smithsonian Institution in Washington. Pat is also an outstanding writer and lecturer. Over the past 30 years he has offered nu-merous seminars and workshops at various carving venues throughout the continent. He also produced a collection of four pattern books on diving, dabbling and sea ducks which are recognized as the definitive waterfowl references for carving and painting. In 1994 Pat was inducted into the prestigious Waterfowl Festival Hall of Fame in Easton Maryland. He was also honoured by his home town of Brantford, Ontario with an induction in the Walk of Fame in December 2001, joining notable inductees including Wayne Gretzky and Alexander Graham Bell. Pat lives in Paris, Ontario with his wife Jessica and their three children.

2012 PCCA Competition Dates The 2011 competition will be held at Canad Inns Polo Park March 31 & April 1, 2012. 2012 Purchase awards confirmed to date (see 2011 rules book for guidelines): Morgan Whiteway BOSS– Northern pintail drake ($800) Jim Richardson antique duck decoy ($500) Al Whitefield best junior working shorebird ($200) Ted Muir shorebird– American woodcock ($300) Richard Whittom duck head ($200) New: Razertip Industries sculpture ($500) The 2012 purchase award will be of a wildlife sculpture of any North American species in wood, bone, stone or antler. It can be stylized or realistic, but must not exceed maximum dimensions of 16 inches. It can be suitable for display on a mantel or wall mount. It will be selected by the Prairie Canada executive based on its ability to generate revenue as a 2013 raffle carving. The carving can be entered in other regular categories. Also new for 2012: Antique shorebird and turned wood-details to be included in Rules book to be distributed by October 1, 2012

Pat Godin receives award from Peter Sawatzky

Masai– 3rd BoS Open by Emil Starsiak

Bird Carvers– Best of Show Open 1st - Lana Cowell, Saskatoon– Blackburnian warbler 2nd Harvey Welch, Saskatoon– Whooping cranes 3rd -Lee Garbel, Williston, ND– Canvasback hen Intermediate 1st - Austin Eade,Craik, SK- Great horned owl 2nd –Robert Mueller, Lakeville, MN- Marbled godwit 3rd –Austin Eade– Ring-necked duck drake Novice- 1st Ernie Fehr, Saskatoon– Black-capped chickadee 2nd– Deann Holmes, Seddons Corner, MB- Northern saw-whet owl 3rd-Cliff Zarecki, Lac du Bonnet, MB- Mallard drake

Traditional Carvers- Best of Show Open 1st - Carl Robblee, Swan River, MB– Rainbow trout 2nd– Tory Neald, Regina -Family tree-diamond willow 3rd– Emil Starsiak, Winnipeg– Masai Intermediate 1st- Doris Sheldon, Qu’appelle, SK- Dragon house & faces 2nd– Helmut Kuklik, St Laurent, MB– Old Texaco station 3rd– Brian Dueck– Saskatoon– Soapstone trout Novice 1st-Dennis Bobbie, Winnipeg– Hunter with seal 2nd–Dennis Bobbie- Musk ox 3d-Darrell Kowel, Riverton, MB-Soapstone bust Cocktail Best of Show: Bob Lavender, Saskatoon– Common goldeneye

Purchase Awards Razertip Industries– Bob Lavender, Saskatoon– Blue jay Morgan Whiteway BOSS– Bob Lavender– Blue-winged teal drake Richard Whittom Duck Head– Ray Minaudier, St. Claude, MB– Mallard hen Jim Richardson Antique Decoy– Ernest Fox, Poplar Point, MB– Black duck hen Al Whitfield Best Junior Working Shorebird– Ben Stempler, Winnipeg– Piping plover Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre– Ray Minaudier- Black & surf scoters Ted Muir Shorebird– Bob Lavender– Wilson’s Phalarope People’s Choice Award-sponsored by Les Gens de Bois Woodcarving Carving Club- Gordon Kanne, Selkirk, MB—Red-sided garter snake mating ball Carver’s Choice Award– sponsored by Adanac Carvers Association – Tom Park, Winnipeg - Northern gannets

2011 Winners Circle– Best of Show & Purchase Awards

Blackburnian warbler 1st BoS Open by Lana Cowell

Inuit hunter 1st BoS Novice by Dennis Bobbie

Gordon Kanne receives People’s Choice Award from Laurie Prokopanko. Gordon won the same award in 2008.

Tom Park receives the Carver’s Choice Award from Fred Tho-mas. Tom won the People’s Choice Award in 2006

May, 2011 Lynda Baxter Doug Danell Dave Koss John Frye Prabir Mitra Jean Mousseau Ted Muir Shawn Nicol Tom Park Mike Pilon Bonnie Trodden Karen Warren Al Whitfield Don Young

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Collector’s Pattern Book Available

Auction Contributors Raise Much Needed Income

The live cocktail carving auction on Sunday afternoon raised $2,472 for PCCA coffers. A hearty thanks goes out to cocktail donators Iris Bidinosti, Doug Carson, Byron Crabb, Lana Cowell, Lee Garbel, Gordon Kanne, Bob Lavender, Jean Minaudier, Tory Neald, Bill Nitzsche, Tom Park, Carl Robblee, John Shalagan, Wes Tully, Harvey Welch, Jack Yellowlees and Don Young. The same can be said for the two open carv-ing auctions which raised a total of $1,241. 100% donations came from Mariette Buydens, Ron Davidson, Pat Godin, John Kuhn, Teom Lim, Ted Muir, Bill Palmer, Tom Park, Jack Yellowlees and Allan Whit-field. 50/50 donations originated from Mariette Buydens, Ray Minaudier and Don Phalen. Thanks to all.

The annual carving raffle raised a whopping $7,831. Dave Koss and his volunteers—in particular Al Whit-field and Prabir Mitra– did an outstanding job selling tickets at Lee Valley tools, the Winnipeg Boat Show and the Winnipeg RV Show. The 2012 Razertip Industries raffle carving is a live-sized blue jay carved by Bob Lavender of Saskatoon. A special note of gratitude goes out to John Wardrope of Acryl Design for the donation of a carving case. The sale of goodly numbers of raffle tickets is essential for the contin-ued success of the carving competition– we need every carver who participates in the show to sell at least one book of tickets. If you have not sold tickets in the past this is the time to step to the plate. No raffle carving income no show-it’s that simple. Books will be ready for distribution this September.

Upcoming Carving Shows/Schools

June 4 -5 Pacific Brant Carving and Art show: Victoria, BC www.thebrant.ca

June 24-26 Whapeton Carving Weekend, ND Gary Paulsen (701) 232-2196

August 6-7 International Woodcarvers Festival lake Bronson State Park, MN Tammy.blawat@borderstatebank.com

September 18-24 Shuswap School of Carving & Arts, Sorrento , BC, info@sorento-centre.bc.ca

October 21-23 Reflections of Nature, Saskatoon info@saskwildlifeart.com

As part of its 25th anniversary celebrations Prairie Canada produced a commemora-tive carving pattern book featuring the work of notable show participants. The 11 by 17 inch coil bound book features 34 traditional and bird carving patterns and instruc-tions. It sells for $25 through Tom Park at tpark@mts.net (204)- 269-4290. Please note that canvasback patterns contributed by Dr. Frank Bald-win are his original designs and not Heron Lake Horse Head Canvasback patterns. Kudos to pattern contributors: Doug Carson, Byron Crabb, Bob Lavender, David Koss, Ted Muir, Shawn Nicol, Larry Vanderhyde, Ron Davidson, Harvey Welch, Bill Palmer, Jean Mous-seau, Lee Garbel, Don Young, Jean Minaudier, Dr. Frank Baldwin, Tunney Hovorka, Al Whitfield and Tom Park. Thanks also to book sponsors– Canadian Woodworker, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Lee Valley Tools, Manitoba Arts Council, Stuart Olson Dominion and Wildfowl Carving Magazine. Raffle Drum Unveiled The much-anticipated Prairie Canada raffle drum was unveiled at the competition, showcasing the panel artistry of Elisa Buenaventura, Ida Mackenzie, Tom Park, David Koss, Bill Palmer, Pierre Deschennes, Jean Mousseau, Rick Brereton and Al LeClair. Accolades go out to Al LeClair for coordinating drum production along with Stephen Fedun (assembly) and Ron Sarrasin (cover). Job well done.

George Hayes of Winni-peg won Stumpy– ticket sold by Dave Koss.

2011 PCCA Sponsors and Partners

A special note of gratitude is extended to the 2011 slate of sponsors and partners. We couldn't have a show without your generous contributions and support.

Gold ($1000 plus)

Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre Purchase Award Manitoba Arts Council

Silver ($500 to $999) Canadian Woodworker Ducks Unlimited Canada Jim Richardson Antique Duck Decoy Purchase Award Lee Valley Tools Morgan Whiteway BOSS Purchase Award Razertip Industries Inc. Purchase Award Stuart Olson Dominion Construction Ltd Wildfowl Carving Magazine

Bronze ($200 to $499)

Adanac Carving Club-Carver’s Choice Award Al Whitefield Working Shorebird Purchase Awards– Novice and Junior Artists Emporium Cabela’s Canad Inns Polo Park Dremel Tools Foredom Electric Co. Les Gens de Bois-People’s Choice Award Manitoba Wildlife Federation Oak Hammock Marsh Carving Guild Preferred Perch Ted Muir Purchase Award Professional Grinding Richard Whittom Duck Head Purchase Award Star Building Materials

Newsletter Mailing Fee Introduced Last newsletter to be mailed free of charge

Prairie Canada has instituted a fee to recover the cost of distributing newsletters and rules forms through the mail. In 2010/11 the printing and distribution of these items cost upwards of $800 and given the in-creased cost of hosting a competition, Prairie Canada is asking its members who rely solely on the mail for PCCA materials to forward an annual fee of $10 to PCCA to cover our costs. If members have recently ob-tained e-mail service they are encouraged to forward their electronic address to jeanm@mymts.net. Otherwise the new $10 fee should be sent to Jean Mous-seau at 22 Wiltshire Bay, Winnipeg, R2J 2L5. Make the cheque payable to Prairie Canada Carvers Association (no cash please). Fees should be submitted before September 2011 to assist with compilation of a database..

Ben Stempler won the Al Whitfield Junior Shorebird Purchase Award for his piping plover .

Diamond willow family tree- 2nd BoS Open by Tory Neald

Mallard hen head– Richard Whittom Purchase Award by Ray Minaudier