Kenbo

From every post that I have placed on this site, I have enjoyed every response. The responses are fast, informative and from the United States. I think that when it comes to woodworking, it doesn't matter where you are from because every woodworker from every skill level has something to contribute. But I have to wonder, where are all of the Canadians? Am I the only one?

Roy Harding

Nope. I'm right here.

Kenbo

I looked right here and you're not there. Where's right here?

Roy Harding

Good point. I fixed my profile to reflect my location - Terrace, BC

djonesax

I was born in Collingwood, near Wasaga Beach, Ontario. My mother moved us to North Carolina when I was 11 years old. I just got my US citizenship a couple years ago. I'm canadian by blood but American by paper.

joesdad

I'm Canadian by bloodline...that's it. Not that Canadian is a nationality is it? I thought we were all European unless your ancestors were "true" natives, in that case I'd probably be drunk living on a reservation somewhere, sorry that's not very PC, but I'm not exactly in a warm and fuzzy kind of mood today. But yeah, I thought there would be more of you GWNorth guys on here, after all you got a lot of wood up there, so what if it's frozen solid ten months out of the year.

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"Well... it looked good on the drawing" :http://armandj.com

Roy Harding

Not once it's in my shop.

Actually - I find the distinctions between "'merican", and "Canadian, eh" immaterial when it comes to woodworking. We're all folks interested in a specific thing, in this case - woodworking.

While geographic differences give rise to availability of different species of wood, different climactic conditions (my problem here isn't cold so much as humidity), and so on, our respective citizenship doesn't really matter when the wood meets the blade, so to speak.

Having thought about this thread for a bit (on a Sunday morning with my Timmies' in hand) - I'm no longer sure that what our citizenship happens to be is important. I recall reading a few posts from folks in Europe - very informative and illuminating posts.

So yes - I'm Canadian - but more importantly (in the context of woodworking), I have locally available to me pine, spruce, birch, and hemlock. My shop has TWO (count 'em - TWO) dehumidifiers just so I can keep the EMC of my wood to a reasonable level. Many folks here have similar conditions - no matter in what country they happen to reside. Many other folks here have the opposite problem - they live in such arid areas that their wood dries too quickly and checks badly (I'm familiar with it - I used to live on the prairies of Alberta).

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I don't think nationality matters so much here - geography and climatology may be more important.

joesdad

Wow Roy,

Lighten up a bit my friend, my post was a bit of sarcastic humor and I'm pretty sure no matter what flag waves from your barn, we all like to joke around a bit. Yes, this is a woodworker's site, and a damn good one at that, but I feel you decided somehow that one's origin was suddenly something that should be irrelevant in a "Where's the Canadians?" post in the Off-Topic section....

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"Well... it looked good on the drawing" :http://armandj.com

Roy Harding

I'm not the one who started the thread - and you're right - I DID decide that "one's origin was suddenly something that should be irrelevant".

Because it is.

joesdad

Why do I get the feeling you're wearing an ascot...

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"Well... it looked good on the drawing" :http://armandj.com

johnjf0622

OH OH is this thread about to get ugly?

John

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No dear my cable stretcher will NOT work on wood, but go to the store and tell them what YOU did and tell them you need one..... John

Kenbo

Geez, did I start a war? I have to agree, that nationality is not an issue when it comes to working with wood. Everyone, and I mean everyone knows that we Canadians do all of our woodworking from the comfort of our igloos. The wood is frozen most of the time but it has a chance to thaw while we are clubbing baby seals and harpooning whales for their blubber. Once, the wood has thawed, we usually have to light a fire for warmth before we can start cutting, milling, etc. The heat from the fire, damages our ig, hence the need for igloo. (insert moan and rimshot here) But other than that, woodworking here in Canada is pretty much the same as the United States, other than, in Canada, all we make is canoes. So, let's all lighten up, fry some back bacon, play some Stompin Tom Conners, and drink some Molson Canadian until our broken igs no longer matter.
My names Ken, and I AM CANADIAN.
p.s. any other Canadians out there?

Gerry KIERNAN

My name is Gerry, and I am a Canadian. I'm damn proud of it too.

Roy Harding

Nah - you didn't start a war.

I just don't understand what relevance our various nationalities might have (aside from availability of various tools and stock).

I DO wear an ascot occasionally - usually when I'm at an informal gathering whilst wearing my kilt. (And I'm not kidding).

Kenbo

Hey Roy,
There really is no relevance to people's nationality when it comes to working with wood. I was just wondering if there was someone in my area. Nothing more than curiosity.
Ken

Roy Harding

I realize that. And I apologize for coming off the way I appeared to - it wasn't my intention to raise hackles. As I said in my original reply to your original post - I've corrected my profile to reflect my location.

Best of luck to you, eh!

Kenbo

gotta love the "eh". Not to worry, I don't have hackles, but my Canadian dog does.
p.s. when are we going to see the pictures of you in your kilt and ascot?

Roy Harding

Tell you what - I'm having an "open shop" party on 8 November. A little gathering for the neighbours and friends. I'll wear a kilt and ascot then, and make sure to get pictures taken (along with my shop dog - who's hackles would make your knees weak - she's a Mastiff). I'll include the pallet I've committed (in another thread) to making into "something" come the New Year.

We're alright, Kenbo - and I apologize again for coming off the way I did, it wasn't my intention.

Kenbo

No apologies are necessary Roy. Love mastiffs. Big dogs. I have a 1/2 Germand Sheppard and 1/2 Katahula Leopard Dog. About 90 lbs of loyalty. Looking forward to the pictures.
Ken

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clarionflyer

This doesn't count because I'm American. But I pretty much grew up in the "near-north" Ontario (around North Bay). As a matter of fact, building the family cottage instilled a lot of my crazy woodworking inspirations.
Can any kid (20 years ago) have a better time than building a family cottage on a Canadian lake - with a local fishing lodge nearby (full of Canadian girls)?
Nope.