One such creative individual is sixty eight years young Gordon Lindsay who arrived in Penticton from Toronto in 1964. Retiring from an office desk job at age 65 Gordon was on a fast slide to boredom when his sister advised him that she needed an artist easel to aid her in her artistic endeavours. That one request by one artist led to requests from other budding artists for easels customized to individual wants, needs, wishes and desires. Gordon now finds himself occupied at his own leisurely pace in a busy (if not harried) hobby in handcrafted wood products. Gordon never intended to be a carpenter as his father and grandfather before him.

Like most young men Gordon wanted to escape the family tradition of toil and trouble to do his own thing while developing his own lifestyle and means of survival. Even though he did get away and develop his own career in Government service it seemed inevitable that he would eventually return to the intoxicating smell of freshly sawn wood and the satisfyingly smooth feel of finely crafted woodwork. As with most men facing retirement Gordon had no intention of being seen doing nothing but waiting to die. The spectre of sitting at a computer module day in and day out held no interest either. He was going to be seen doing something productive and if it meant the use of his hands and mind while being creative - he was going to do it!

Gordon's retirement activity is a productive and prolific trade learned almost through the process of osmosis. Gordon had fine wood and wood working tools in his hands from his earliest memories. It seemed natural to return to them as a retirement activity. Gordon operates his small woodworking business out of his apartment and performs the actual carpentry work from a small rented workshop nearby. Gordon displays his wares as a member of the Penticton Leir House Artisans' Association Market hosted Saturdays mornings on Main St (in conjunction with the Penticton Farmer's Market). Gordon's 'Easy Easels' web and sales site can be seen online at http://www.easyeasels.com or better yet drop in to see him at the Artisan's Market.

2007-08