2 minute read
Resiliency and passion help alumnus realize dream
Running on a dream didn’t come without its hurdles.
Business alumnus Lorne Davidson, Class of 2011, opened a makerspace in Lloydminster called Legacy DIY. The community workspace is for people with mutual interests to meet, socialize and collaborate on projects.
Lorne is looking forward to putting the Border City on the makerspace map and adds that the opening has been a long time coming.
After a workplace injury resulted in complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic pain condition, Lorne spent years revaluating his life. “With my injury keeping me from work, I started heavily investing in woodworking. I’m a maker and tinkerer. I enjoy building and creating and using my hands. After four years, I couldn’t stay at home anymore. I wanted to be back in a productive environment,” says Lorne. He and his wife Nicole, who is also a co-owner of Legacy DIY and a marketing and business management professional, travelled across Canada to tour and learn about makerspaces and their viability. They also partnered with Justin Humby, a local contractor, and Lakeland Class of 2007 university transfer alumnus Devin Davidson, Lorne’s brother and a marketing professional. “Legacy DIY is part business incubator, part educational facility. We can offer anything from welding to woodworking to 3D printing and more at our facility. We’ve invested in about a quarter-million dollars between equipment and renovations. The goal is to bring affordability to people who want to start or continue their hobby, or kickstart a small business. It will also be a familyfriendly environment. We want this space to be available to anyone, at any age,” he says.
Born and raised in Lloydminster with deep family roots in the community, Lorne explains he’s “always wanted to build something in the city. I just wasn’t sure what I could offer and how it could make a positive impact.”
With an entrepreneurial heart, he stayed close to home to attend Lakeland. He says he enjoyed the small class sizes, which made it easier for him to build relationships with his instructors. Some of those relationships still stand today. Legacy DIY officially opened in September 2020. Lorne says they are already developing a scholarship and exploring options to expand the space by another 6,000 square feet.
“The amount of hurdles that you come across when you’re starting a business is unbelievable. If you let all the naysayers get into your mind, you’re never going to get anywhere. Believe in your goals and don’t take no for an answer,” Lorne says. Learn more about Legacy DIY at
