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Title
Northern Toboggan and Sled -- Snow Sleds and Toboggans
Description
My introduction to the world of handcrafted toboggans and sleds came about ten years ago, when my uncle, Friar Raymond DesChenes of the Oblate Fathers of Winnipeg, Manitoba encouraged me to build toboggans for the Canadian North. I had a background in carpentry and I was interested, but didn't follow up until he called me again later, suggesting that I come and talk to a fellow who had sleighmaking equipment for sale. I went to see the man and left more curious than ever!
Eventually, my uncle put me in touch with Father Darveau, who was a Catholic priest in Lac Brochet, Manitoba for 50 years. Father Darveau explained to me that since the fall of fur prices many northern trappers lost their incomes. This ruined the toboggan market as well, and good handmade toboggans were becoming hard to come by. Farther Darveau knew that sleighs were still needed for travel, hunting, and the trapping that still went on, and he encouraged me to learn the art of making them. He put me in touch with well-known sleighmaker Milton Chaboyer of Thompson, Manitoba.
I arranged to meet with Chaboyer in Thompson and was very impressed. A trapper himself, Chaboyer had refined the art and technique of sleighmaking as one of the most respected manufacturers of wooden toboggans. I was very excited when he told me that if I was serious, had a good carpentry background and a strong work ethic, he would teach me his craft.
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