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 2006, talented master craver, Dan Richey created this action packed bull rider. Hanging on hoping for that final bell. It is painted though unsure if this originally part of the overall vision.
The plaque reads:
Bull Rider
Dan Richey
Nanaimo, BC
2006 Chainsaw Carving Championship
Bull riding is a rodeo sport that involves a rider getting on a bucking bull and attempting to stay mounted while the animal tries to buck off the rider. American bull riding has been called "the most dangerous eight seconds in sports"