According to the Canadian Loggers’ Sports Association (CANLOG), Loggers’ Sports in BC have a story as rich and historic as lumberjacks themselves.

“The history of loggers’ sports in Canada goes back over a century when loggers would spend evenings and weekends around camp testing their skills against one another throwing axes, sawing and chopping timber,” reads CANLOG’s website.

“This evolved into organized competitions and through the fifties and sixties several smaller organizations popped up across the country. The Canadian Loggers’ Sports Association was formed in 1969 from those smaller organizations. Over the years a comprehensive rule book has been developed and the sport has been and continues to be showcased from the grass roots level to the international stage.”

In 1971, loggers’ sports were recognized by an Order in Council as the Official Industrial Sport of British Columbia.

The Herald sat down with Nicola Valley Forestry Recognition Society President Jerry Canuel, and Vice President Clint Langill, to discuss the Society’s most popular event: The Merritt Logger Sports Show.

Traditionally, the show takes place in the middle of September, but the COVID-19 pandemic threw a wrench into the works, leading the Society to believe they would have to cancel the event. However, at the AGM on Sept. 9, plans were made to move ahead with a Drive-In show.

“This was still something we wanted to do for the community,” said Langill.

“It’s going to look different, but it’s still going to be a fun event. Forestry plays a huge role in Merritt, it’s important, and COVID hasn’t changed that.”

According to Canuel, recognizing the importance of forestry within the community was one of the main reasons the Loggers’ Sports Show was started.

“Initially it was started to create an understanding and recognition of what forestry is in Merritt,” said Canuel.

“At the time, a lot of people didn’t really understand how big of an issue forestry was for the community of Merritt, in terms of jobs and economics and everything else. But then it expanded over and above that to also try to communicate and point out to the provincial government the need for strong communities, and the reason some communities are strong, is because we have a forestry base, and we need to maintain that into the future.”

Canuel feels that it is important for those within the community to recognize how the forestry industry affects them and their town, as well as all levels of government; be it municipal, provincial or federal.

“It’s true that a lot of the smaller communities are losing the small, independent mills, and as a result of that the communities are suffering,” explained Canuel.

“I thought this would be a good segue to the government to also focus on the communities, and the value of the forest industry to these small communities. That’s probably become the most important item, from my perspective, in recognizing National Forest Week.”

During a regular, pre-COVID Loggers’ Sports event, Merrittonians are involved as teams that compete in events such as axe throwing, choker setting, and spar tree climbing.

Attendees were able to watch teams compete, as well as watching performances by Laughing Logger, an internationally renowned Lumberjack Show company based out of Burnaby. Food trucks were on hand serving up tasty treats, and demonstrations of forestry equipment were held. A Show and Shine of Heavy Trucks took place, as well as a chainsaw carving competition where several carvers from around North America battled it out for the top prize, including Marina Cole of Chainsaw Spirit, the artist who created the Ty Pozzobon carving in Central Park.

This year, the show will revolve around Laughing Logger performances.

There will also be a change of venue this year.

“We’re moving the show to the rodeo grounds this year,” said Langill.

“We know a drive-in will work there because they’ve already had a drive-in movie this summer.”

Shows will take place at 6:00p.m. Friday, Oct. 9 and again on Saturday, Oct. 10 and 11:00a.m., 1:00p.m. and 3:00p.m.

Tickets will be $10 per vehicle, with each ticket an automatic entry into a draw for prizes.