The Mountaineer Volunteer is a pay-it-forward feature in the Revelstoke Mountaineer that highlights the great work volunteers do to make Revelstoke a true community. We feature a new volunteer who then nominates the volunteer to be featured next.
Ken Talbot, Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre
What are your volunteer duties?
-Board Chair
-Bartender for gala opening events
-Minor building maintenance and repair
-Coordination of professional repair requirements (i.e. plumbing, electrical)
-Summer grounds maintenance
-Winter snow removal
-Manage access to and operation of community woodworking shop
Why do you volunteer at the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre?
Volunteering is a way I can give back to society, a way to say thanks for giving me a rewarding 35-year career in the public service, and a comfortable retirement.
For you, what’s rewarding about volunteering?
The most rewarding thing for me is the opportunity to collaborate with other artists and members of the community. It is the chance for us to work together to find creative solutions to interesting arts and crafts projects.
Perhaps most importantly, I value the energy I get from working with the young men and women of our community as they embark on their careers and set out to change the world, much as I was doing when I came here almost forty years ago.
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Have you heard of the woodworking shop at the RVAC?
When I stopped by the community woodworking shop to get a photo, Ken explained the history of the facility, which has been operating in its current form for about 10 years.
The woodworking shop has lots of serious woodworking tools, all available for a $20 annual membership at RVAC and a $30 per month fee. You need to prove basic competency with the tools for safety reasons, and attend an orientation, but after that you’re free to use the facility whenever to work on your projects independently.
The equipment was leftover from a couple of different past community initiatives, and has all of the basics, and lots of extras. There are lots of hand tools available as well.
Talbot said they have about 45 members trained up, but usage really depends on the season — members will finish a project then not be around for months.
The in-progress projects on display when I was there are varied: a custom longboard deck, a Polynesian surfboard shape, three sculptures in various forms, an expanding table based on intricate sliding joints, some picture frames, an intricate table, and many more.
Talbot, a retired forests ministry staffer, showed my some of the wood that’s been donated or leftover, so there’s lots available for people looking to get into crafts.
Contact the Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre to learn more.
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