The Columbia Valley Pioneer • 23
June 26, 2009
Woodworking whiz nails TV challenge By Cayla Gabruck Pioneer Staff
The only female contestant, Cathy Dalrymple showed what she was made of on Home and Garden Television’s Handyman Superstar Challenge.
A local woman has proven that she has what it takes to be Canada’s Handyman Superstar. Cathy Dalrymple of Invermere is one of 10 people – and the only woman – chosen to participate in the Handyman Superstar Challenge, a popular home improvement show aired on Canadian Home and Garden Television. “I am excited to prove myself as a handyperson,” Cathy said, “especially for all the girls out there.” The Handyman Superstar Challenge features a batch of 20 contestants – reduced to 10 on the first day – each trying to prove they have the skill, integrity and personality to be named Canada’s best handyman. Contestants must showcase their abilities in timed one-hour challenges, all completed under the watchful eyes of celebrity judges Mike Holmes and Jim Caruk. Cathy was born and raised in Sault Ste. Marie in Ontario. She studied architecture and technology and also obtained a degree in furniture production and design at George Brown College in Toronto. In 1994, Cathy started a custom woodworking business. She decided to continue this line of work when she moved to Invermere from Toronto 12 years ago with her husband Rick. Upon their arrival in the Columbia Valley, Cathy renamed the business Toby Creek Custom Woodworking. At Toby Creek Custom Woodworking, Cathy designs and builds custom furniture for a variety of customers and businesses. You can see some of her work first hand at Fubuki Sushi in Athalmer, Te Papa Nui Antiques & Collectibles
in Invermere and Earl Grey Lodge at Panorama. Cathy is also a regular contributor to Canadian Home Workshop Magazine. It was her editor at the magazine who suggested Cathy fill out an application for the Handyman Superstar Challenge. “He just thought I would be a great fit for it,” she said. Cathy applied last June and in August she was informed that she had been chosen as one of the 20 contestants. “My first thoughts were ‘Oh, my God, what a load of testosterone!’ because there were two girls and 18 guys,” she said. They began filming in Toronto in October 2008, and Cathy easily survived the first cut, placing her in the top 10. She then spent an additional nine days filming the show, an experience she described as “exhilarating.” “Technically it wasn’t difficult, it was the time constraints that made it challenging,” she said, “but it was a great experience – it was fun to meet and hang out with the judges.” Cathy said she got along great with the other contestants on the show, despite being the only female. “I have been working in a field dominated by men all my life, so for me, it was just another day at the office,” she said, “but I was happy to represent women and let them know, ‘Hey, you are on a level playing field if you try.’” Cathy could not reveal how she finished on the show, only saying that she did “pretty well” and we will have to watch the show to find out. The Handyman Superstar Challenge airs on Thursday, July 2nd on HGTV. For more information and to place your vote for Cathy, visit www. hgtv.ca/handymansuperstar.
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