Song of Spring - Chetwynd, British Columbia - Outside Wooden Display Carvings on Waymarking.com

Chetwynd "Chainsaw Sculpture Capitol of the World".

Chetwynd was once known as “Little Prairie” but with the coming of the Pacific Great Eastern Railroad in 1957, the name of the community was changed to Chetwynd in honor of the Minister in charge of railroads, Ralph Chetwynd. In 1962 Chetwynd became incorporated as a Village and has approximately 2,500 residents.

Each year in June, Chetwynd holds its annual Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship where master chainsaw carvers from around the world compete. There are now around 200 chainsaw carvings displayed throughout the community.

Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship began with the commissioning in December, 1990 of a chainsaw carving of three bears to master carver, Terry McKinnon from Vancouver. The bears grace the Chetwynd welcome sign along Highway 97. That commission, and the staging of a chainsaw carving competition in 1992 were part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Alaska Highway.

It wasn't until 2005 that Chetwynd went ahead with the idea of making it an annual affair, holding the first annual Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship. Some of the world's best chainsaw carvers have attended the event, which is by invitation only.

Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship is now Chetwynd's major tourist attraction and its major annual festival. While the competition itself takes place over four days, the festival itself becomes a week long party.

In 2010, talented master craver, Steven Higgins created this indigenous piece. Song of Spring is about 7 feet in height. This carving features a large eagle, the symbolic turtle and the carving of an elder.

The Eagle symbolizes grace, power and great intellect. It is a sacred and noble creature representing power and prestige to the First Nations people of the Northwest Coast .

In Canada, the turtle (Kéya) symbolizes Grandmother Earth and has a cultural significance as strong as the shell on its back. This powerful carapace is the foundation upon which the land was built.

The plaque reads::

First Place
"Song of Spring"
Steve Higgins
Washington, USA
2010 Chainsaw Carving Championship

Type of wood carving: Chainsaw carving Artist's Name: Steven Higgins Approximate size/height: 6' Type of wood: Generally soft green wood Other type: Not listed

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