Continuing a Tradition
Woodworking runs deep in my family. My maternal grandfather was a woodworker in the truest sense—seemingly able to master any tool and build anything he set his mind to. My paternal grandfather farmed the rugged countryside of eastern Ontario, and by necessity became a woodworker, metalworker, mechanic, welder, and master of countless other practical arts. Prairie & Pine Woodcraft carries this family tradition forward, rooted in self-reliance, craftsmanship, and making things meant to last.
A Wilderness Home
Based just outside historic Rocky Mountain House, Alberta, Prairie & Pine Woodcraft calls one of the most inspiring landscapes on earth home. The Canadian Rocky Mountains rise to the west, while wildlife, endless forests, cold clear trout streams, wild winters, generous summers, and the timeless flow of the North Saskatchewan River define daily life here. Inspiration is constant in every season, shaped not only by the land itself but by the deep and palpable history of the people who have lived and worked on it for generations.
First Steps
My own path into woodworking began as a teenager, with a simple but formative project: a pine, ottertail-shaped canoe paddle. On its blade, I drew a black-capped chickadee—an early sign of how closely my love of craft and nature were already intertwined. From there I made other canoe paddles, discovering the satisfaction of making practical things and can be put to use in the real world—those first paddles propelled me along many canoe routes as a young man. Years later, I continue to make things of practical beauty, including canoe paddles, at Prairie & Pine Woodcraft.
The Prairie & Pine Philosophy
Make fewer things—make them well
Let the material lead
Function is not separate from beauty
Let nature speak through the work
Tradition is a foundation, not a constraint
Tools are extensions of the hand, not shortcuts
Wood is not just a resource—it is living history
Build for years, not trends
Character is earned, not added
Craftsmanship is a responsibility