1 00:00:01,990 --> 00:00:12,160 ♪ 2 00:00:17,600 --> 00:00:20,046 My name is Mary Jane Olinyuk, 3 00:00:20,070 --> 00:00:23,370 and I carve duck decoys. 4 00:00:25,880 --> 00:00:30,786 Growing up, when other kids were playing video games 5 00:00:30,810 --> 00:00:34,126 or having friends, I was studying mallards. 6 00:00:34,150 --> 00:00:36,126 I was obsessed. 7 00:00:36,150 --> 00:00:39,736 Um, I was, and still am 8 00:00:39,760 --> 00:00:41,266 "the duck girl." 9 00:00:41,290 --> 00:00:43,536 But if you search that on the internet, 10 00:00:43,560 --> 00:00:44,936 it's not me that comes up, 11 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:48,276 and what comes up is quite graphic. 12 00:00:48,300 --> 00:00:58,470 ♪ 13 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:21,500 ♪ 14 00:01:22,700 --> 00:01:26,076 Phew! Well... 15 00:01:26,100 --> 00:01:30,386 We're already three months out, so things are completely crazy. 16 00:01:30,410 --> 00:01:32,656 I mean, formally we start the planning process 17 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:37,456 about three months out, but truth be told, 18 00:01:37,480 --> 00:01:40,056 I woke up the morning after last year's competition 19 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,456 already thinking about this. 20 00:01:44,350 --> 00:01:48,536 Mm. This is our 10th competition as planning committee 21 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,136 and if I have learned one thing, 22 00:01:50,160 --> 00:01:51,736 it's that if you think you can rest on your laurels 23 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:53,276 planning an event like this, 24 00:01:53,300 --> 00:01:56,806 you're gonna be served a very, very generous portion 25 00:01:56,830 --> 00:02:00,370 - of humble pie. - Yeah, a la mode. 26 00:02:03,710 --> 00:02:05,816 But more importantly, 27 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,026 you're gonna let down those artists. 28 00:02:09,050 --> 00:02:11,686 Those magnificent artists. Right, Dennis? 29 00:02:11,710 --> 00:02:15,366 Yeah, I mean, anything less than your maximum effort is... 30 00:02:15,390 --> 00:02:17,226 It's an insult to them. 31 00:02:17,250 --> 00:02:20,836 ♪ 32 00:02:27,660 --> 00:02:29,306 How'd I get into duck carving? Well... 33 00:02:29,330 --> 00:02:33,046 Don't you mean "why on Earth did he get into duck carving"? 34 00:02:33,070 --> 00:02:36,046 My job is pretty repetitive, I'm a small business loan officer. 35 00:02:36,070 --> 00:02:37,916 So I figured it's important to have hobbies 36 00:02:37,940 --> 00:02:40,986 and a creative outlet, and I have the tools, so why not? 37 00:02:41,010 --> 00:02:42,910 A quarter life crisis. 38 00:02:47,620 --> 00:02:50,266 What does it take to put on the NACC? 39 00:02:50,290 --> 00:02:53,866 It will make your head spin. 40 00:02:53,890 --> 00:02:57,806 Oh, um, first you need to book a venue. 41 00:02:57,830 --> 00:03:00,476 Not too big, not too small. 42 00:03:00,500 --> 00:03:03,876 - Cistern for coffee. - And one for tea. 43 00:03:03,900 --> 00:03:05,416 Cups. 44 00:03:05,440 --> 00:03:07,676 Styrofoam, strictly Styrofoam. 45 00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:09,546 Cash box for the entrance fee. 46 00:03:09,570 --> 00:03:12,216 Tons of loonies and toonies. 47 00:03:12,240 --> 00:03:15,040 What else? 48 00:03:17,980 --> 00:03:27,096 ♪ 49 00:03:27,120 --> 00:03:31,490 You don't just sit down and start carving. 50 00:03:32,860 --> 00:03:36,400 You have to find the art within the art. 51 00:03:41,300 --> 00:03:43,246 You have to... 52 00:03:46,810 --> 00:03:50,856 Create the environment within which to create. 53 00:03:54,620 --> 00:03:57,996 You know, you could have a well paying job, 54 00:03:58,020 --> 00:03:59,936 a partner who cares about you, 55 00:03:59,960 --> 00:04:02,536 two beautiful kids who adore you, 56 00:04:02,560 --> 00:04:06,536 maybe like, a Cocker spaniel named Worthington. 57 00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,276 Or you could be a creator. 58 00:04:09,300 --> 00:04:12,276 I mean, what would you choose? 59 00:04:12,300 --> 00:04:15,346 ♪ 60 00:04:15,370 --> 00:04:19,956 To me, being Canadian means being a duck carver. 61 00:04:19,980 --> 00:04:21,756 It's a little bit of a challenge living in a condo, 62 00:04:21,780 --> 00:04:23,480 but we're making it work. 63 00:04:24,710 --> 00:04:27,426 Basically a requirement for us Canadian guys. 64 00:04:27,450 --> 00:04:29,426 A home workshop. 65 00:04:29,450 --> 00:04:32,366 Doubles up as a pantry sometimes. 66 00:04:32,390 --> 00:04:36,520 It's a... a sanctuary for me to get away from it all. 67 00:04:37,660 --> 00:04:40,236 Amu? Pass me a bag of rice. 68 00:04:40,260 --> 00:04:42,460 Whoa, men at work here! 69 00:04:43,270 --> 00:04:44,976 Oh, where do I start? 70 00:04:45,000 --> 00:04:48,786 I had just come to Canada on my visa before my wife had come, 71 00:04:48,810 --> 00:04:51,046 so I was getting a bit lonely. But I told myself 72 00:04:51,070 --> 00:04:53,656 "Amandeep Singh, you are not going to sit around" 73 00:04:53,680 --> 00:04:55,456 "feeling sorry for yourself." 74 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:57,586 So I'd go feed the ducks at the pond, 75 00:04:57,610 --> 00:05:01,596 and one afternoon, I see this guy, and he's sketching ducks. 76 00:05:01,620 --> 00:05:04,196 And so we get around to talking and chitting and chatting, 77 00:05:04,220 --> 00:05:07,596 and all of a sudden he tells me that's he's also carving ducks! 78 00:05:07,620 --> 00:05:09,206 I mean, he carves ducks! 79 00:05:09,230 --> 00:05:12,106 I couldn't believe it. My mind got blasted into pieces, 80 00:05:12,130 --> 00:05:14,806 and I was like "Are you serious?" 81 00:05:14,830 --> 00:05:17,746 So he suggests "Let's go grab a beer." 82 00:05:17,770 --> 00:05:19,816 Like, right then, right there. 83 00:05:19,840 --> 00:05:21,816 Does it get any more Canadian than that? 84 00:05:21,840 --> 00:05:23,146 Let's be real here, yeah? 85 00:05:23,170 --> 00:05:25,486 So we start to bro out about duck carving 86 00:05:25,510 --> 00:05:27,016 and my head is spinning. 87 00:05:27,040 --> 00:05:29,156 I mean, the beer made me a little light-headed too, 88 00:05:29,180 --> 00:05:34,226 but more importantly, for the first time in Canada, 89 00:05:34,250 --> 00:05:36,966 I felt at home. 90 00:05:40,390 --> 00:05:42,906 - Folding tables. - Oh, yes, of course. 91 00:05:42,930 --> 00:05:45,406 Now usually the venue provides those for you, 92 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:47,506 but you need to let them know how you want them arranged. 93 00:05:47,530 --> 00:05:49,106 - Yeah. - In advance. 94 00:05:49,130 --> 00:05:51,376 You don't want to get the ones that just, like, 95 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:53,946 fold up like that. I've cut my fingers many times. 96 00:05:53,970 --> 00:05:55,446 I actually broke one of my fingers. 97 00:05:55,470 --> 00:05:56,846 It's so dangerous. 98 00:05:56,870 --> 00:05:58,346 Can't really bend it that much anymore, 99 00:05:58,370 --> 00:06:01,656 but it got caught in the middle of one. Um... 100 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:04,456 It was a pretty... it was touch and go. It was touch and go. 101 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:09,596 ♪ 102 00:06:09,620 --> 00:06:11,796 There's nothing fun about carving. 103 00:06:11,820 --> 00:06:14,666 Nor should there be. 104 00:06:14,690 --> 00:06:17,266 Difficult things build character. 105 00:06:17,290 --> 00:06:18,736 I carve with hand tools only. 106 00:06:18,760 --> 00:06:21,300 The way the original masters did. 107 00:06:22,770 --> 00:06:24,446 Funny enough, I have never actually taken home 108 00:06:24,470 --> 00:06:26,416 the first place ribbon myself. 109 00:06:26,440 --> 00:06:29,686 Let's just say that... 110 00:06:29,710 --> 00:06:32,686 pure technical ability 111 00:06:32,710 --> 00:06:35,756 hasn't always been valued as highly 112 00:06:35,780 --> 00:06:37,580 as it should have been. 113 00:06:41,950 --> 00:06:44,166 This year, my carving 114 00:06:44,190 --> 00:06:46,636 will finally get the recognition it deserves. 115 00:06:46,660 --> 00:06:52,576 ♪ 116 00:06:52,600 --> 00:06:56,306 I bookkeep on my folks' farm. 117 00:06:56,330 --> 00:06:57,846 I live right next door. 118 00:06:57,870 --> 00:07:01,316 Um, some people would say that sounds a bit quiet, 119 00:07:01,340 --> 00:07:05,710 but I wouldn't... I wouldn't want it any other way. Um... 120 00:07:09,080 --> 00:07:10,950 I have plenty of company. 121 00:07:14,220 --> 00:07:17,726 And also just make sure that there isn't some sort of, 122 00:07:17,750 --> 00:07:19,996 you know, wrestling match the week before, 123 00:07:20,020 --> 00:07:24,006 'cause the tables I got after that were all broken. 124 00:07:24,030 --> 00:07:28,406 So imagine me having to glue a bunch of tables 125 00:07:28,430 --> 00:07:29,676 back together before... ugh. 126 00:07:29,700 --> 00:07:32,916 ♪ 127 00:07:32,940 --> 00:07:35,746 My... my mom sold the family house, 128 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:38,770 so I kept some things from my dad's workshop. 129 00:07:41,110 --> 00:07:43,880 It's a bit of woodworking humour. 130 00:07:45,250 --> 00:07:49,296 I mean, it's just odds and ends, really. 131 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:54,190 Looks like I was trying to help out. 132 00:07:58,860 --> 00:08:01,506 I don't have much free time these days, you know. 133 00:08:01,530 --> 00:08:03,506 I'm in my last year of my fellowship, 134 00:08:03,530 --> 00:08:07,576 and I'm about to transition into full-time ER work. 135 00:08:07,600 --> 00:08:09,486 But I love to go out. 136 00:08:09,510 --> 00:08:12,786 Eat, dance, 137 00:08:12,810 --> 00:08:14,986 leave the house. 138 00:08:15,010 --> 00:08:18,456 I think I was just initially so attracted to him 139 00:08:18,480 --> 00:08:21,556 because he was so much fun. 140 00:08:21,580 --> 00:08:25,396 He had the ability to turn any situation into a party 141 00:08:25,420 --> 00:08:26,796 or an adventure. 142 00:08:28,360 --> 00:08:31,936 These days, he is perfectly happy to stay home 143 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:34,206 and carve his ducks. 144 00:08:34,230 --> 00:08:36,446 It's a dust collection system! 145 00:08:36,470 --> 00:08:38,746 It's my own design! 146 00:08:38,770 --> 00:08:42,146 It's a unique hobby. 147 00:08:42,170 --> 00:08:44,216 Especially when performed 148 00:08:44,240 --> 00:08:47,980 in such a thoughtfully decorated apartment. 149 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:56,296 ♪ 150 00:08:56,320 --> 00:09:01,236 ♪ Oh, Alberta don't you cry, listen to me ♪ 151 00:09:01,260 --> 00:09:04,236 ♪ It'll be all right, oh-oh-oh yeah ♪ 152 00:09:04,260 --> 00:09:09,260 ♪ Don't hate Saskatchewan, never meant no harm to anyone ♪ 153 00:09:12,400 --> 00:09:17,186 ♪ Manitoba, don't you know you're out where ♪ 154 00:09:17,210 --> 00:09:21,116 ♪ You won't make it home, back to Ontario ♪ 155 00:09:21,140 --> 00:09:26,150 ♪