Paul Rozek has spent hundreds of hours making model houses but has never made a dime.
Since 1992, Rozek has made model houses and donated them to charity. Now, thanks to the Parksville Museum, seven historic models of the area are on display at the Parksville Community Centre until the end of February.
Standing in the community centre, among his models, onlookers comment on the accuracy of his replicas of St. Anne’s Church and French Creek School — places they have fond memories of.
Rozek said his adventure with model house making all started when his daughter wanted a dollhouse she saw in Cranbrook.
“I took a shine to that, so I snuck around the back and found out where it came from, and it was in Spokane, bought the model, took it home, made it,” he said. “After that, I don’t need to buy a model, I can just make everything myself.”
Rozek cuts each single for the models out of a piece of wood with a knife before glueing them down individually.
The first model he did of the Parksville Qualicum Beach area was of St. Anne’s church, which took him approximately 300 hours. The stained glass windows are replicated, as well as the pews inside. Everything inside the models was made by hand, sometimes with a little help from his daughter — who has sewn a couple of bedspreads.
Rozek will be at the community centre for the remaining Wednesdays in February from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. to meet anyone interested in his models and answer questions.
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