The West Shore Local Hero Awards are back! You can find this yearB次元官网网址檚 special feature in the March 16 edition of the Goldstream Gazette or online under e-editions. Stay tuned for more on each of this yearB次元官网网址檚 nominees, you will also be able to read their stories online at goldstreamgazette.com/tag/local-hero-awards.

Meet the man behind the masks.

Each honouree in this yearB次元官网网址檚 Local Hero Awards will receive a hand-carved mask created by Indigenous artist Howard La Fortune.

A long history of carving runs in his family. Born in Duncan, he has always lived on the Island but settled in Tsawout First Nation about 25 years ago and has been there ever since.

La Fortune started carving about 40 years ago when he quit school at the age of 16 because he couldnB次元官网网址檛 sit still.

B次元官网网址淢y brother said I needed something to do, so he showed me how to carve,B次元官网网址� he told Black Press Media. La FortuneB次元官网网址檚 brother was one of the original carvers for the City of Totems project in Duncan.

What he likes most about carving is being able to create something with his hands B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淚 need to keep them busy.B次元官网网址�

And heB次元官网网址檚 kept those hands busy, carving everything from rings to masks.

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Those masks were thrust into the international spotlight in 2020 after a friend joked that he needed a mask to help prevent spreading germs. La Fortune found some yellow cedar he had on hand and carved a half-mask of a bear snout.

B次元官网网址淚t was something to do, and I usually have wood lying around the house so I thought, why not?B次元官网网址�

Catching up with Black Press Media in May 2020, after an initial feature on his masks, he said orders had been piling up from around the globe. He even won the Masked Heroes contest put on by First American Art Magazine.

B次元官网网址淭hat came out of left field,B次元官网网址� he said, explaining how a friend told him to submit a photo for the contest. Five days later, he got an email that heB次元官网网址檇 won.

But even with the increase in demand for his work, La Fortune isnB次元官网网址檛 cutting any corners.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 taking my time because itB次元官网网址檚 got to be to my satisfaction too.B次元官网网址�

While heB次元官网网址檚 carving, La Fortune thinks of ways to make his work better and takes his inspiration from the wood.

B次元官网网址�(The pandemic) has changed my style of working B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 doing this for people now B次元官网网址� all over B次元官网网址� and theyB次元官网网址檙e interested and they want it and itB次元官网网址檚 made my work better.B次元官网网址�

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