Artist’s Statement

Like so many other Canadians, I was introduced to crokinole in my youth in the early 1960s on our family farm near Wembley, Alberta. It was one of the many table games played during the often-long winters experienced before the variable weather now experienced with climate change/global warming. Later as my children grew up, there were many family gatherings at which crokinole was feverishly played with raucous enthusiasm. In 1999 and 2000, while pursuing a Masters in Recreation and Leisure Sciences at University of Waterloo, Ontario, I became re-energized about the game and games research in general.  I also started collecting antique crokinole boards for a collection that now represents a multitude of boards from the late 1800s to 1980s. 

Having experienced the joys of crokinole at house parties and community tourneys, and the superb family fun that crokinole can bring, I decided to further the crokinole spirit by building top quality boards that would last a lifetime and foster family togetherness and friendship. Especially now, as western society is overwhelmed by the “screens” in our lives, I believe a social game like crokinole helps to bring us back to relating to each other on a personal level.

The production of each crokinole board is done with care and skill. There will be minor flaws and mini-imperfections when one looks really closely. Afterall, these are one-of-a-kind handmade objects. With the variety of design elements possible, truly beautiful boards are created that will play well and provide a lifetime of family fun.