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Help carve Coast Salish legacy canoe for Transfer Beach at Ladysmith Loggers Sports

Residents will have an opportunity at this weekend’s Ladysmith Loggers Sports event to make a lasting mark on a cedar canoe being created by Stz’uminus master carvers for Transfer Beach.
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Mike Gregory Photo Master carvers Manny and Elmer Sampson and chainsaw carver Dan Richey examine a log back in June that is being transformed in a canoe for Transfer Beach. Master carvers Manny and Elmer Sampson and chainsaw carver Dan Richey examine a log back in June that is being transformed in a canoe.

Residents will have an opportunity at this weekend’s Ladysmith Loggers Sports event to make a lasting mark on a cedar canoe being created by Stz’uminus master carvers for Transfer Beach.

The Canada 150 Committee are working in collaboration with Stz’uminus First Nation to have a traditional canoe carved that will be permanently on the waterfront pointing toward Shell Beach.

On Sunday ,the canoe will be at the lower level of the Transfer Beach amphitheatre for people to chat with the traditional carver Manny Sampson, who along with brother Elmer is carving the canoe from a 20-foot cedar log.

Residents will also have an opportunity to be able to carve a little bit themselves. The canoe will be at the on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

It is anticipated that after this public appearance of the canoe it will go back to the the Sampson brother’s workshop and be finished. Traditional Coast Salish art is also being painted on the side before a blessing by the Stz’uminus elders.

Once all that is done, the canoe will be brought back to Transfer Beach where it will be permanently mounted so that local citizens as well as visitors can look and feel the strength and warmth of a true Coast Salish cedar canoe.

Also from Saturday to Monday, celebrated chainsaw carver Dan Richey will also be at the amphitheatre carving everything from from eagles, to owls to sea serpents. Richey is carving the base for the canoe that will become a permanent highlight of Transfer Beach.

His current project is also completing the world’s largest polar bear carving for a town in Northern Ontario.

Loggers Sports Lineup

The 2017 edition of the Ladysmith Loggers Sports is definitely going to be fast paced and fun to watch on Sunday.

Not only are there a couple of new features, this year there are some world class and award winning loggers. The Loggers Sports is a fundraiser put on by the Ladysmith committee of the Cops for Cancer Tour de Rock.

“It’s meant to be as much of a fundraiser for the Tour as well as a great family outing,” said event organizer Duck Paterson, adding that the event is by donation. “We want families, singles, couples, everybody, to come out have fun and some laughs and not worrying about it costing a lot.”

A highlight of this year’s show is Stirling Hart, who has a long line of championship genes in his family. In 2010 he sent a world record in speed climbing and has been a four-time world record champion in that discipline as well as the 2010 Ironjack World Champion.

“Locals as well as visitors will be able to see some competitors that have been all over the world competing and really making a mark” said Dave McLeod who is a Canadian champion climber and one of the organizers.

Crowds will also witness Brian Bartow from Molalla, Oreg., perform the underhand chop. He’s been burning up the side of climbing poles and earlier in August became the national speed climbing champion.

The event starts at 3 p.m. with entertainment and activities in the early afternoon.





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