In a tidy workshop behind his modest Arnprior home nestled near the Gillies Grove nature preserve and just a stone’s throw from the Ottawa River, Patrick Risdon spends his days meticulously turning salvaged wood into bespoke furniture.
Once immersed in the high-paced world of IT sales, Risdon has found a new calling — crafting pieces with purpose and history.
The tables, cradles and other furniture he creates are more than just functional; they are works of art, each tied to its origin story through GPS coordinates that mark the tree’s original location.
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For Ginger Bertrand, some of her earliest childhood memories in Ottawa are centred around healthcare. “I grew up across the street from what was originally the General Hospital,” she explains,
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Zaahra Mehsen was three years into a biology degree at a local university when she realized she wanted to take a different path. “I realized that it’s not my thing,”
“Anybody can go to a store and buy a table,” Risdon says, his hands gliding over a smooth, live-edge coffee table. “But this? This has a story.”
Launched in earnest this past September, Risdon’s furniture business is rooted in sustainability and craftsmanship. Using wood from deadfall and standing dead trees, he transforms discarded materials into meaningful creations.
The live-edge coffee table in his workshop, still a work in progress, was once a towering maple tree that for decades provided sap for a farmer to boil into maple syrup. After a fungal infection forced the farmer to cut the tree down, Risdon’s craftsmanship gave it new purpose.
“It got a new life,” he says. “Not just in my home, but in many others — a kitchen island top, a cradle, and this coffee table.”
The tree’s legacy now touches several homes and, with a great stack of boards still left, Risdon will find more forms in which that tree will inspire.
From hobbyist to entrepreneur
Woodworking first came to Risdon as a hobby years ago, but really took root after he and his family moved to Braeside in Arnprior in 2020. Moving from Kanata, the extra space they earned in Arnprior with a detached garage and larger yard gave Risdon the room he needed for his growing passion.
“I started with small projects — cutting boards, little side tables,” he says. “Then a neighbour asked me to make a custom table and people started inquiring about other pieces. That’s when it clicked.”
With the full support of his wife Laurie Larabie, Risdon started making small investments in second-hand tools and raw materials.
Risdon’s journey into full-time woodworking began earlier this year after he was laid off from his sales job in February. While he had worked in sales for more than two decades, he admits it was never something he loved.
“It was a paycheque,” he says. “I didn’t hate the job, but it wasn’t fulfilling. I used to hear people say, ‘Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.’ I never believed it, until now.”
However, the writing had been on the wall, even before the layoff. COVID-19 disrupted his previous employer’s business and Risdon even suggested to his boss a year earlier that his position could be eliminated to save the company some cash.
Still, when the news came, it marked a turning point.
“I was applying for jobs and not getting anywhere, not even to the interview stage,” he recalls. “I realized I loved woodworking and thought, maybe it’s time to give this a go.”
Sustainability is at the heart of Risdon Furniture Co. All of the wood comes from deadfall or trees that are standing dead, often sourced from local farmers or arborists.
“These trees still have so much beauty,” he explains. “It’s about respecting the material and giving it a second life.”
By attaching GPS coordinates to each piece, Risdon offers his customers a deeper connection to their furniture.
“It’s not just about the aesthetic,” he says. “It’s about knowing where it came from and understanding its story.”
Risdon is taking that storytelling online, posting short videos to his YouTube account about where the wood came from and the fabrication process, adding to the piece’s history and weight.
More than a career shift
The change from sales to woodworking has had a profound effect on Risdon’s life, he says. Where sales demanded high-energy pitches and constant networking, woodworking offers a quieter, more focused experience.
“It’s calming,” he says. “Even when I make mistakes, it’s a problem I can solve. Sales didn’t feel like that — it was go, go, go. This is different. It’s loud with all the machines, but it’s quiet in my head.”
The shift has also made him a better father and partner. With more control over his schedule, Risdon can spend time walking his kids to school or helping with dinner when his wife works late.
“She sees the change in me,” he says. “This work has made me happier and that translates to everything else in my life.”
Growing clients
Starting a business is never easy and Risdon says he faces his share of challenges. Finding customers who value the sustainability and craftsmanship of his furniture is an ongoing task.
“I’m still building my client base,” he admits. “I want to reach people who see the value in what I’m doing, people who want something meaningful, not just functional.”
Despite these hurdles, he remains optimistic. He dreams of one day expanding his shop, hiring staff, and perhaps even milling his own wood.
For now, though, he is focused on creating each piece with care and precision.
“I have enough material and ideas to keep me busy for a long time,” he says. “There’s no shortage of work or inspiration.”
At least finding wood for his projects hasn’t been a significant challenge; he often has to turn down materials due to limited space and time.
“There’s only so much material I can take at a time,” he explains, but the abundance of local resources ensures he always has access to sustainable wood for his creations.
With each piece that leaves his workshop, Risdon hopes he is crafting more than just furniture; he’s looking to build a legacy, one that honours the trees, the craft, and the people who bring his work into their homes.
