Senior teaches kids to weave magic 

Toronto Sun
March 1, 2014
By Kevin Connor

Harvey Chan finds joy sharing his life-long love of making baskets with elementary school kids.

The twist is he only uses materials that have been recycled.

“When I was a small child in China we had a small bamboo garden and I learned (to make baskets) from my grandmother. She never taught me, I just watched and knew I could do this,” Chan said Saturday in his home. “Now I go to schools and show the children.”

The 84 year old who is retired from the restaurant industry said he likes to work with kids because they like to learn about the magic he weaves from items other people throw away.

“I like to make projects for the kids to do with my crafts,” he said. “The children write me thank-you notes, which I appreciate and I keep every one of them.”

Chan collects broken glass, loose bindings and straps and even tin cans to create his art.

Many of his finds come from a local pharmacy.

“I have a drug store that saves things for me. Every time I get supplies I come home and wash them before I make things. I show the kids that with recycled art you don’t have to (buy) anything. You can just pick things up and make things,” said Chan, who also uses plastic tabs to make tiny animals like horses and reindeer and fish figures. “Everyone should be doing this. I can’t use all the recycled (materials) myself. There is just too much.”

Not only does he like to share his techniques he also likes to give away the final product to people or charities.

“I’m not going to sell it. I give it away to people. If you like it you can have it. Some people think I’m crazy, but I like to do my work,” he said.

When Chan isn’t helping students make art he goes into the class to volunteer and teach about nutrition.

“We have a vegetable and fruit promotion club to teach how to make simple and nutritious recipes. We teach kids how to be a chef and make a stir fry ... how to keep their hands clean and keep the vegetables fresh,” he said.

“I like being in the classroom — I don’t watch TV, gamble and I don’t drink,” Chan said. “I pass that onto the kids.”