Searching - Chetwynd, British Columbia
Posted by: 
T0SHEA
N 55° 41.286 W 121° 36.010
10U E 588003 N 6172255
Searching is at the corner of John Hart Hwy. and 53rd Avenue near the Chetwynd Gospel Tabernacle.
Waymark Code: WM14C2H
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Date Posted: 06/08/2021
Views: 1
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 2012, talented master craver, Simon O'Rourke created Searching a slightly clad man with one out stretched arm. He appears sad and lonely searching for answers that may not be realized. Searching is about 7 feet in height.
The plaque reads:
Searching
Simon O'Rourke
North Wales, England
2012 Chainsaw Carving Championship