Wendy Robertson
Building the Wa’apa
Wendy Robertson’s journey as a canoe enthusiast and a member of Fuse33 has been nothing short of inspiring. Her love of canoeing, sparked by cherished memories with her father, led her to her passion project. After a trip up North and witnessing the Mackenzie River’s challenging waters, she realized she needed a sturdier boat to navigate such a problematic waterway. Coupled with the travel halt of the COVID-19 pandemic, Wendy embarked on a new journey: building her canoe!
Upon researching the perfect boat, she landed on the Wa’apa Outrigger Sailing Canoe, a South Pacific boat. The model she desired was not available for purchase, so embracing the spirit of true adventure, she decided to take matters into her own hands and build the boat. This is where Fuse33 joined her crew.
She was able to kickstart the canoe’s production at her brother’s shop in Northern Alberta. Still, she was looking for a location closer to home to base her project on. After passing by Fuse33 a few times while in the neighborhood, she decided to check the makerspace out.
For Wendy, the space was even better than she imagined. It provided her with ample room to work on a large-scale project, like boat construction, and the specialized tools needed to complete the job.
Skill-Enhancing Community
Sailing into the unknown world of boat construction, Wendy joined the vibrant community at Fuse33.
In a space that fosters creativity and innovation, Wendy was able to tap into a network of experienced makers across various trades to provide her with expert advice and support along the way. She honed her skills by attending many of the skill-enhancing classes offered at the makerspace, and now Wendy has become a member who guides others. For Wendy, the community at Fuse33 is even more beneficial than the access to the space and the tools themselves. Community input has helped speed up building her boat and inspired her to paint a playful shark face on the boat.
“The community at Fuse33 is even more beneficial than the access to the space and the tools themselves,” she says.
With her father sadly passing earlier this year, the significance of her passion project has deepened. Building the canoe allowed her to cherish and honour the memories they created while forging new ones. With the boat projected to be ready in August, Wendy is excited to set sail on new adventures and show off her remarkable accomplishment created with the help of Fuse33.
See more of her process at imgur.com.
