Mel Genge

Mel Genge

My love of wood began at an early age while growing up in Outport Newfoundland. I would go down to the dockyard (shipyard) where my grandfather and uncles built boats for the Newfoundland fishery. I came to Saskatchewan in 1959 and started to work for Canada Safeway in Prince Albert, I moved to Saskatoon in 1960, then in 1963 I was transferred to North Battleford as assistant manager, returning to Sask­atoon in 1967.  I was promoted to store manager in 1970 and remained a store manager until retirement in 1995. After retiring, I started helping with the Kiwanis Clubʼs woodworking project at Walter Murray Collegiate. Here we would cut out small wooden projects for nursing home residents to assemble and finish in their recreation program. While there, I met Butch Williams, who convinced me to join the SWG. I saw Mike Hosaluk turn a spin top and I was hooked. I turned my first bowl in 2000. Since then Iʼve taken classes from Trent Watts, Michael Hosaluk, Jimmy Clews, Richard Raffin and have attended four symposiums. I have been married to Sharon for the past 49 years. and we have one son, Shawn. We are both active in the craft community, Sharon (spinning and weaving) and myself anything in wood. Fortunately I donʼt cook, vacuum or do laundry which means I have more time to spend in my shop!