Red Deer to host 2020 STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Canadian Trophy

The ORIGINAL Extreme Sport is coming to Red Deer!

Hotels Red Deer has played a key role in bringing the STIHL Timbersports Canada “Canadian Competition” to Red Deer this coming August.

On August 14th^th and 15^th, 2020, Red Deer will welcome 12 of the best Canadian athletes in an elimination bracket format where the winner moves onto the next round, and the losing athlete is sent home.  This event has been nicknamed the “Masters Cup” of STIHL TIMBERSPORTS!

Four (4) disciplines will be featured: the stock saw, underhand chop, single buck, and the standing block; all done under 2 minutes.

The event will be hosted at Fort Normandeau. The Fort is situated on the south bank of the Red Deer River, at the site of the original Red Deer Crossing. This event is expected to draw 1500 to 2000 spectators in our region and will be the first time such an event has ever been held in Western Canada.

“This location will offer an incredible backdrop to this original extreme sport. Our community is excited to be the 2020 host of STIHL Timbersports Canadian Trophy.  We have hired an event manager, Anne-Marie Pasquino and we welcome her as she takes on this exciting and challenging role.  We are on task and on pace!” – Dawn Mellings-Kynoch, Executive Director, Hotels Red Deer. 

Click here for further information or contact:

Dawn Mellings-Kynoch- Executive Director, Hotels Red Deer   execdirector@hotelsreddeer.ca  403-304-4050

Gerry Rozo- Executive Producer, STIHL TIMBERSPORTS  gerry.rozo@stihl.ca  519-694-9925

About Stihl Timbersport: The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series is established worldwide as the major league of logger sports, with a massive global fan-base following competitive events live and on TV. The sport originated in Canada, the USA and New Zealand, where lumberjacks held local competitions to determine the best of their profession. Over time these tests of strength and skill evolved to a professional level and in 1985 the first STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series Championships were held in the USA. Click here for more information.

About Hotels Red Deer: We are working with our partners to not only build Red Deer into a strong destination option for meetings, conventions and event planners, but showcase Red Deer as the premier destination for city-wide events. As it stands, our Central-Alberta City hosts approximately 1,500 events, drawing 1.6 million visitors to our great destination annually.  Click here to learn more and book a room for this event.

About Fort Normandeau: A North West Rebellion fort first established in 1885 in present day Red Deer, Alberta. Abandoned later in 1885 and then occupied by the North West Mounted Police in 1886 until abandoned by them in 1893. Located west of Red Deer on the banks of the Red Deer River, Fort Normandeau sits at the site of the original Red Deer Crossing community. Red Deer began on and around this site in the 1870s. Before the railroad came to town, the Crossing was the best place to ford the river for miles around. Today through programs, hands-on activities, theatre and special events, the staff at the Fort Normandeau Interpretive Centre tell the stories of Red Deer’s three founding cultures: the Cree and Blackfoot people, the Metis Buffalo Hunters and the early Europeans who settled in the area.  Click here for photos and more information about Fort Normandeau.

Untold Stories with Serena Mah examines her Chinese family’s struggle and impact on a small northern community.

We love supporting storytellers!

This first podcast from Serena Mah is a joy to listen to.  Untold Stories features the strength, courage and sacrifice of a woman who blazed a trail for her family. We hear the story Serena’s family- immigrants who’s struggle to make it in a new country ends with a key to the hamlet decades later.  It’s a personal story about family duty, tenacity, and how three cultures merge on one First Nation.

This is a personal story dedicated to the Serena’s family and how her mother, Kim Mah, made an imprint in the small northern community of Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. Click below to listen to the podcast and make sure you read Serena’s behind-the-scenes story of how this special podcast came to be.

Click below to read Serena’s story about this podcast.

About Serena Mah:

I am fortunate to be able to do what I love and I’m grateful everyday. Storytelling is my passion. Ever since I was little, my mom would say I like to talk. In a big family like mine, you had to fight for attention and you really had to stand out to be heard. No one was surprised when I became a reporter/anchor. As a journalist for two decades, I’ve covered elections on all levels of government. I’ve had the privilege of witnessing history first hand, happy, sad and the tragic. I’ve interviewed newsmakers including Premiers, Prime Ministers, athletes, specialists, those awaiting their fate at the courts and local heroes. I’m thrilled to share my knowledge gained through years of broadcasting with clients. I continue to expand on networks built on as a journalist. My team is skilled at empowering stories in traditional, emerging media and on social media. We love crafting stories and we know how newsrooms tick, what makes a good story and how to tell it in a compelling way.

When I’m not working, I’m usually whipping up something in the heart of my home, the kitchen.  Food is central to keeping my family connected. I’m most proud of my young son, who is vibrant and curious. He is my why. He makes me better everyday. He and my beagle #sweetgus keep me busy. They along with yoga and meditation challenge me to stay grounded and grateful.