Lori Joseph
I don’t remember the exact moment I became passionate about woodworking, but I was intrigued from a young age. Taking it up as a hobby when my children were small got me instantly hooked. I have also always been drawn to trees and the forest; a place I still go for relaxation, inspiration and to gain clarity.
While attending the Woodstock Woodshow I was introduced to the Conestoga College Woodworking Course. A tour of their facility made me realize I wanted to pursue this more than anything else.
After completing the 3 year Woodworking Technology Co-op Program at Conestoga College, I worked in the commercial millwork industry, taking on roles as estimator, project manager and operations manager, as well as teaching Woodworking part-time at Fanshawe College and Lee Valley.
Working at the London Community Woodshop is definitely my dream job and beyond my imagination at the beginning of my journey. It is a place where people love creating and sharing with one another and where magic happens every day! From the beginning, woodworking has made a positive difference in my life and I thoroughly enjoy helping others have a similar experience. I am grateful each day I come into the shop.
Devon Curtis
My involvement with the London Community Woodshop began as a volunteer and advisor during the creation of the shop. When the shop opened, I joined as full-time facilitator, focusing on running community programs and workshops. I was thrilled to contribute to the education of new woodworkers and to the future of a craft that had long sustained me.
After an incredible three years with the shop, I was offered an opportunity with Lee Valley Tools to become their product manager for woodworking tools. While difficult to leave the shop, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and so I moved to Ottawa to develop and bring to market new woodworking tools. Despite being in a woodworker's candy store, I always missed the shop and teaching, and so after four years returned to the shop with a focus on workshop facilitation and custom work.
My woodworking interests are varied and have evolved over time, but today I am primarily interested in furniture making and greenwood products. I have a deep love and preference for hand tools, but openly embrace power tools for all they offer. My design preferences draw from Scandinavian, Japanese, and Shaker origins, with an emphasis on utility over ornamentation, and a reverence for the natural beauty of the material.
Woodworking has provided me with creative expression, deep satisfaction, and put food on my table. It thrills me every day that I am able to help others to experience the same, and to contribute to a vibrant community of diverse people united in a love of the craft.
The Community
When you join the Woodshop you become a Member of the LCW Community.
From new woodworkers to retired shop teachers and cabinet makers, there is always someone with a new idea and a solution to your project challenge.
Visits around the workbench, coffee at the front desk, and sharing new ideas happens daily. This Community is one of the greatest assets to joining the Woodshop!
