Elena Andrews with a wood carving made by blind artist Ted Ohlsen (Photo credit: Emily Dahl Foundation)

By Vernon Matters Staff

Blind carver encourages people to never give up on themselves

Dec 2, 2023 | 7:00 PM

When Ted Ohlson was accidentally shot and blinded, many thought he would never recover.

But he has proved them wrong.

The Saskatchewan native lost his eyesight in a hunting accident but went on to build the Northern Lights fishing lodge, the first wheel-chair accessible facility of its kind in the province.

He and his wife also ran two fishing camps.

Ted Ohlsen (Photo credit: Emily Dahl Foundation/Global)

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Ohlsen is also well known for his wood carvings, which he says teaches people “to never give up.”

Ohlsen has donated a number of his unique carvings to the Vernon-based Emily Dahl Foundation (EDF).

“His work has helped so many in B.C. and Vernon,” said Sherman Dahl of the EDF. “And he keeps sending me carvings, which The Emily Dahl Foundation then gives out. His carvings are all over Vernon and other parts of the world.”

Click here to watch the Ted Ohlsen story, courtesy of Global News.

Dahl said Ohlsen recently moved with his wife, Diane, from Flin Flon, Manitoba to the Trinity Manor retirement home in Saskatoon, a move that initially made them nervous to leave their home for a retirement facility.

“I talked to Ted and he said he could not ask for anything better, including the wood working shop he said is very good, so they are quite happy,” Dahl said.

Dahl recently sent one of Ohlsen’s carvings to Elena Andrews of Deep Cove, B.C., who like Dahl, lost one of her children.

“In fact, the friend that introduced Elena to me has also lost a child. So all three of us reflected on living in the present and enjoying this magical dream we are all in, both the good and the bad,” Dahl told Vernon Matters.