About Me

My name is Tobias Saad, and here is a little bit on my life and how I came about woodworking.

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I am a Coptic-Canadian woodworker, who primarily works out of Ottawa, Canada.

After graduating from the University of Ottawa in Honours Finance, I began working in private wealth management. This time period coincided with me competing internationally in Powerlifting. A very intense time in my life, fast paced work, high stakes competitions. This invited a craving for something slow and small, so I began dabbling in wood carving, and I made my first hand cross. This process opposed every formal training and familiarity I had previously learnt in my life.

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The intense nature of the modern world attempts to suck us into a habit of rushing for things and along with that, we forget to live in the present. Not to mention the exponential rate at which technology is evolving, leaving us constantly one step behind the latest advancement. This is not the life I believe God intended us to be living. It is not a lifestyle which aids us to see Him in everything.

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Amidst the hustle and bustle of the financial world I was working in, I discovered this escape and creative outlet in wood carving. It became a source of tranquility and a meditative environment amidst the chaos. Woodworking opened up a whole new dimension in my life, where I could channel my creativity and unburden my mind. The materials I use, dictate the speed at which I work, there is simply no rushing. By the grace of God, it is now my full time vocation.

 

After all, our Lord Jesus Himself and St. Joseph were woodworkers, so following their craft is bound to lead somewhere good. Through a Christ centered perspective, I find meaning and purpose in my endeavors, recognizing that all my abilities are gifts from God. I give all glory to Christ, knowing that He is my inspiration and the source of my strength.

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And this is the, as they say; "origin story", of the St. Joseph Woodshop which serves as a means of dedicating myself to a spiritual craft and utilizing one of the talents God has given me.