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It has been a wonderful last few years for Janis & I. Probably the most eventful of our lives.
First we have done a lot of travelling with work and all. We saw our company (Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation) grow tremendously from a handful of employees to over 20 and had the vast amount of work to do to keep that awesome crew busy. What a blast that was! Good times.
Then came the sad day it all came to an end when our major contract was complete and all other work vanished from our horizon. We had to say good bye to all those wonderful folks we had trained and then came to count on so much.
Our kids grew up and left home in this period as well. (they were part of that same crew) And as most of our crew were about the same age as our kids, it was very much like having a very, very large family. I loved every second of that exciting time!
Last year we were fortunate to have the opportunity to call back together most of those same talented folks to build a project Janis and I have been dreaming of for over 10 years. The project was a labor of love for each of the crew as well as Janis and myself. And what a job this awesome crew did! It was a stretch, more than we could have imagined, but we got open and enjoyed a brief half season at Giggle Ridge. The little theme park was everything we dreamed and more and we loved the new business! The season was over in a flash and we tucked it all away for the winter.
We went through the skinniest winter (work wise) I have every experienced. But I also immensely enjoyed the free time I suddenly had. I got the time to do lots of drawing for the pure enjoyment of it.
In the last few weeks we decided to move to the mainland permanently and concentrate on Giggle Ridge and even begin working towards the second phase in the long term. We also did a whole bunch of additions and improvements to last years work.
Instead of a huge crew, I had the privilege of working with my daughter and son-in-law. I also got to get my hands real dirty and did my share of the physicalwork myself. It was a real change from leading a crew of 20 or more and a lot less stress.
Just a few days ago our house in Chemainus finally sold (after four years on the market) Our other property looks like it might finally move as well leaving a clear road to our future.
And in Cultus Lake, our new home, I have offered to help out in redoing the complete public sign program for our little community. Today I got the official word that our design proposal was accepted.
And today we also opened Giggle Ridge for our first complete season.
So as we leave Chemainus permanently (after a wonderful and eventful 17 years) we are already helping to change the face of our new adopted community. We are also dreaming of the ultimate shop and house which will be a part of the next planned phase of our project.
The future looks bright!
And as we welcomed our first guests to the park today, all the work was instantly worth it! It is great fun to create a little world where families can forget their everyday worries for just a little bit and simply have fun together.
That's the business we are now in. And signs are a big part of it.
If any you folks are out our way drop in and I'll challenge you to a game of adventure golf. Sure beats workin!
-dan
------------------ Dan Sawatzky Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation Cultus Lake , British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.ca
I could sure use a break. I just might take you up on that after I get done with baseball coaching this summer!
------------------ Draper The Signmaker Bloomington Illinois USA My Next Article In The April Issue of Sign Builder Illustrated covers step by steps on "digital airbrushing" YOU CAN DO! 309-828-7110 drapersigns@hotmail.com Draper_Dave on mIRC chat
[This message has been edited by Dave Draper (edited April 14, 2001).]
Posts: 2883 | From: Bloomington Illinois USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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The very best to you and janis dan. your work has inspired a lot of folks on this bullboard and readers of trade magazines. I remember the first work i saw from you was an article in signcraft a few years back on your mural work. simply awesome.
then one day i was watching the discovery channel's "On the Inside" and lo and behold your 3-d work at edmonton mall!!! again, awesome.
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Dan, I realize that seasons change and we need to roll with it. From your message I sense the lonliness from not having such a large family after the richness you knew. We sometimes ponder the revival of our old commune.
Hope you have a meaningful season and find what your real work is behind the lines of Giggle Ridge.
------------------ The SignShop Mendocino, California "Where the Redwoods meet the Surf"
Oh, for the faith of a spider! He begins his web without any thread.
Posts: 6806 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Nice story Dan, All the best. I once visited Cultas lake many moons ago, and it was beautiful... now I've been to BC. 3 times and forgive me if I'm wrong, but is cultas lake near Chilliwack or closer to the okanagon, ive been to both places and everywhere in between,. Also do you own giggle ridge, A miniature Golf Course was something I was always interested in.. Great Family Entertainment. Again Good Luck.. It reminds me of the song by The Band Green Day.. "Time of your Life" Another turning point a fork stuck in the road... Time grabs you by the wrist and directs you where to go..... Neil
------------------ "Keep Positive"
SIGNS1st. Neil Butler Paradise, NF
Posts: 6277 | From: St. John's NF Canada | Registered: Mar 1999
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Congrats on all the changes you've been working so long on Dan! You're nearly my neighbour now.
We can't wait to take a cruise up to Giggle Ridge with Cody this year. I personally can't imagine it better than how I saw it last year, but I'll take your word for it.
Welcome to the mainland, and best wishes on your next production!
BTW, have you started on the Giggle Sasquatch yet?
Giggle Ridge is an Adventure Golf. Same game as mini golf of old but a little more sofisticated than the old game. The course is constructed of concrete instead of the old plywood ones you used to see. There are still 18 holes but the similarity ends there.
Ours has a theme of a 1930's logging camp. There are "old" logging artifacts all over the course. And it is done in a fun colorful cartoon style. If you know Disneyland Toontown it would be a good comparison.
The course also has over 10 feet of elevation changes and loops over itself through a "hollowed out" log and over some funky bridges. The course is built of carved concrete which is fashioned over a welded steel frame. An "old" logging locomotive and log car sit precariously on the trestle overhead. The "logging truck" sits in the couryard and acts as a photo op for our guests. The signs are very much a part of Giggle Ridge too and all done in the same fun style (and all of the same concrete construction). All the hole numbers are carved into various stumps, buckets, tools and alots of other fun stuff. All is cartoon and slightly bent. Even the welded steel fence is built to the same fun style. It literally winds its way up and down and around the course. The most fun fence in history.
And then there are the flowers all around. We have always wanted a show garden and here we have it with bells on. We had a world class professional give us a hand in setting it up last year. We gave him total freedom and he went crazy!
Even the water in the pools is dyed a deep shade of blue. The three waterfalls add magic. This sound mixed with the other sound effects and period music makes it very fun.
We are in the middle of Cultus Lake Park. It is right in the mountains and real pretty in all seasons of the year. Cultus lake is just outside Chilliwack which is about 50 miles east of Vancouver. (about the perfect distance from the city. Near enough but also far enough away.)
Cultus Lake enjoys about 2 million visitors during the summer months and then is real quiet the rest of the year. Again, a real nice place to both do business and live a quiet life the rest of the year. We are looking forward to it!
You can visit the website at www.giggleridge.com Lots of pics there and it shows how we built it too.
Very busy day today. I had a blast visiting with folks in the sun!
We'd love to see any letterheads who are out this way or visiting in the area. I broke par last night, so now I am a formidable challenge for anyone who dares to take me on.
-dan
------------------ Dan Sawatzky Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation Cultus Lake , British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.ca
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Dan, my daughter and I enjoyed our visit last may during construction and were planning on visiting you this summer with all the family.... i'll bring my own trick putter...
------------------ Del "aka" badge trimline@canada.com Holden, Alberta
Posts: 636 | From: Sylvan Lake, Alberta | Registered: Nov 1998
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vancouver island is our favorite part of the world and we'll return again and again.......your post reminded me of the song......to paraphase......"things are going right, i'm gett'en good grades.......the future's looking bright !.i gotta wear shades!!........vance
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Hay Dan! It's a blast to have your dreams unfold in your lap isn't it? I know a lot of hard work went into this, it's just kewl to see it pay off eventually!
I feel pretty blessed lately and I'd high-five you if you weren't so far from Georgia!
------------------ DrQuill - Mural Woman PEACE SIGNS logodesign2@icqmail.com Georgia, USA
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