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 is known as the "Chainsaw Sculpture Capitol of the World".
We had planned our trip to the Peace Country around the chainsaw competition yet still managed to arrive a little early, getting to Chetwynd on the first day of the competition when the carvers were just getting started. As well, it was a bit rainy the first part of the day, clearing up later, with no rain falling on Chetwynd for the rest of the competition. Competitors invited to the 2019 competition hailed from Australia, Japan, The Netherlands, Lithuania, USA and Canada, 12 in all. Prize money for the event is $5,000, First Prize; $3,000, Second Prize; $2,000, Third Prize, $1,000, People's Choice Award; $500, Carver's Choice Award; $500, Committee's Choice Award. As well, most, if not all, of the carvers' expenses are paid by the committee in charge of the event.
It all began with the commissioning in December, 1990 of a chainsaw carving of three bears to master carver, Terry McKinnon from Vancouver, British Columbia. The bears grace the Chetwynd welcome sign along Highway 97. That commission, and the the staging of a chainsaw carving competition in 1992 were part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the creation of the Alaska Highway. To pay for that initial commission of the three bears, no less than 42 different fundraisers were held by Chetwynd's
Rendezvous ‘92 Committee, including bake sales and dances, in order to pay for the carvings.
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. The point of that methodology is to maintain the quality of both the competition and the carvings. It has paid off handsomely; now Chetwynd is decorated by some of the finest chainsaw carvings one will find anywhere. Some examples of carvings from past competitions are below.
The competition 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.
Chainsaw Carvings History
The chainsaw carving project began as part of the Rendezvous ’92 Committee, which was created to help with the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the construction of the Alaska (Alcan) highway. The Chetwynd Rendezvous ’92 Committee wished to leave a lasting legacy of the community’s participation in the special event to celebrate this milestone of the Alaska Highway.
On December 31, 1990, a meeting of major businesses and community groups was called to discuss the idea of commissioning three bears which form part of the Welcome to Chetwynd sign display. Unanimous approval was given to commission the bear sculptures from master carver, Terry McKinnon.
Since completion of the bear scene, businesses, residents and fundraising efforts of the committee have supported the project. In the first year, the Rendezvous ’92 Committee held 42 different fundraisers to raise the money to bring the first carvings to town. Some of these fundraisers included baking cookies, hosting dances, and events centered around a visit to town by the first woman in space.
In 2005 Chetwynd hosted the first annual Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship, hosting seven carvers from B.C. and the United States. In 2006, the number of carvers attending increased to twelve carvers from all across North America. Chetwynd is now drawing international attention, with carvers coming as far away as Wales, North Wales, and Japan. Spectators are also traveling to Chetwynd from distances as great as the lower United States.
In 2008, ECHO Chainsaw Carving Series and Championship picked up our championship as a qualifying event for the 4th Annual ECHO Chainsaw Carving Series Championship at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival in New Mexico during fall 2008.
The carvings themselves are becoming more intricate, with details so fine it is hard to believe that they were created with a chainsaw. Now there are more than 120 carvings located in various places around town.
From the District of Chetwynd