Gordon Draves is a man with a vision. He has learned to take action and be outspoken, a far cry from his early years.

Gordon recalls when, as a child, he overheard doctors telling his parents that he was "too blind and deaf, and that people thought he was crazy." Gordon hated living in Michener Centre – the lack of privacy and locks everywhere. "Locks to keep people in, not to keep them out!" he recalls.

In 1980 Gordon was liberated from the confines of the institution and moved to St. Paul into a residence at the St. Paul Abilities Network, where for the next 7 years he learned all the skills he would need to live independently. Gordon fondly remembers the day he moved. "My life changed quite a bit, I felt free."

His time at Michener left him starving for social interaction. In response, he joined in many sports, including floor hockey, slow-pitch, speed skating, and Junior B hockey and even served as assistant hockey trainer for several years. With the help of Special Olympics and SPAN, Gordon has been to Parsons City, Kansas three times, Vancouver for softball in 1990, and all across the western provinces for sports events.

In 1987, Gordon moved into his own apartment. Then, in 1998, he and two close friends moved into a three bedroom two-story house of their own, just ten blocks from work. Gordon likes the fact that, "I can be my own boss in my house" and although he admits there can be problems living with roommates he also enjoys having someone around to talk to and share chores. Gordon says that, "Even when we don't get along it's still better than living in an apartment."

With his arrival in St. Paul through Habitat Enterprises, a vocational training center, Gordon learned woodworking and other skills. For 3 1/2 years, he worked with farmers doing farm work, including seeding and harvesting. Then, he returned to his workshop.

When budget cuts forced the woodshop to close, Gordon moved on to become an integral part of the steel grain bins assembly team. However, Gordon never gave up on his lifelong love – the woodshop.

Then in 2001, he negotiated to go out on his own to start his own specialty woodwork shop. The agency provided Gordon with the basic tools, and a separate shop and some support to get started, and Gordon R. Draves Woodworking was established.

Today Gordon spends much of his working day and many of his after-work hours in his little shop where he builds various types of flower planters, potato and onion bins, pet dish containers and many decorative shelving plans.

His success is already apparent. In the few short months he has been working, Gordon has managed to assemble an impressive selection of tools (most purchased out of his business profits). He is eagerly learning the administrative and financial management aspect of his business, and he is already a tireless promoter of his service.

Gordon does not expect to get rich – only happy with his home, with his business, with his life. Gordon faces each day with his shoulders back and a smile on his face. He has taken control of his destiny and is plotting the course of his future.

The sky is the limit Gordon, reach for the stars!

Story by Gordon Draves and Verna Ostopovich (Outreach Supervisor, SPAN)