I'm 63 years old and recently moved to Penticton. I was born in New Westminster, raised in South Western Ontario before moving back to BC, growing up in the Lower Mainland. Anyone who knows me sees that I have a disability that's progressive, getting worse as time passes. It's only in the last 7 years that I've been using a wheelchair. 

My disability has eventually forced me to leave the work-a-day 9-5 life and I started working with wood to pass the time. Soon after, I found woodturning and my other woodworking tools took a back seat. After joining two woodturning guilds based in the Lower Mainland, I started taking classes & absorbing as much as possible from demonstrations and other events. 

When my wife was offered a health care position in Penticton, we made the decision to pack everything up and leave wood working behind for small city life. The transition had been easy and fun after I received my power wheelchair, almost a year after leaving the big city. In just a year, I've racked up over 1300 km and I love the freedom. 

One of the therapists who worked with me to make the small city life transition easier introduced me to a fellow he met by chance who introduced me to the men's shed. Since then, I've taken an at-large position on the board. I've donated many of the tools I was able to bring to Penticton and some friends from the Lower Mainland have given me some tools to donate as well.

I'm really enjoying the meetings, and I attend as often as possible. I enjoy the conversations and even the business part of the meetings but I'm really excited for the time when we'll have a place of our own to meet, work and relax.