This year’s Timber Days event was a vibrant community event dedicated to preserving logging culture.
Although there are dozens of men and women who work hard each year to put on this event by the Revelstoke Forest Workers’ Society, it’s certainly not a large, flashy festival. But it is a genuine expression of loyalty to the way things used to be here. It’s also a clear demonstration of the power of volunteerism in Revelstoke.
Take Wendy Larson. Born and bred in these mountains she remembers how it used to be many years ago. Towns like Meadowcreek, Kaslo, Slocan and others also celebrated logging culture with logging sports and other good times. But the popularity of these events was solely eroded as mills closed, forestry companies declined and people who depended on our forests gradually died off.
“Revelstoke is probably one of the last towns to keep Timber Days going,” Wendy said as she worked at this year’s event.
Anyone who has attended Timber Days for a decade or more can see how it has changed here, too.
Until a few years ago, Timber Days really ran for more than just one day. It also was on the logging sports circuit with competitors from the USA, New Zealand, the US and Australia contending for cash prizes. However, dropping attendance the decline in international contestants and a drastic reduction in the size of the cash prizes offer, shrunk the event to just one day of the year where it remains a valuable way to entertain the family during the summer.
“You know, money is tight for our young families and this is something they can come out and enjoy with their whole families.”
But there’d little doubt that although there are enough volunteers to — for now — keep it going, it needs an infusion of dedication from younger people,
Nadine Overwater, president of the Revelstoke Forest Workers’ Society, attended her first Timber Days back in 2009 when she moved here from Alberta and has volunteered at every once since then.
“It’s authentic,” the silviculturalist with Downie Timber said in a brief interview on Saturday afternoon, adding that her entire family is hooked on Timber Days. But, like Wendy she understands that Timber Days needs some help from younger people who value this cultural event.
There are probably some simple fixes that could improve attendance. The traditional July dates are problematic because of the heat. Moving Timber Days to September when it is cooler could, all by itself, ensure larger attendance figures. Perhaps the reintroduction of events like pole climbing or more kids’ events could also bring out more people.
But that’s easy for me to say. And I should really leave it up to the people who make decisions about Timber Days. People like Wendy, Nadine, Angus Woodman, Brian Sumner and Cindy Pearce. They’re excellent proponents of logging culture and the work they do is applauded by all those people value our community and our heritage.
In the meantime, I am pleased to present a selection of photos from the 2013 Timber Days:
Timber Day’s Pie Gobble contests are among the most popular and amusing competitions. Just checkout the crowd watching the Under-5 contestants on Saturday afternoon. Gage Riesen came in first, Tessa Haggart placed second, Tessa Turcotte was third and Bryn Ellis was fourth. David F. Rooney photoHungry competitors in the 5-8 category chow down on gooey fruit pies. Thur Abelskov came in first, Ty Hewitt came second, Kayah Haggart was in third place, Jacob Ellis came n fourth and William McBride was fifth. David F. Rooney photoKids enjoy pie just about any time, but, boy, it can be hard choke it down when you’re in a pie-eating contest. Jacob Ancell came in first, Cameron McTaggart came in second, Noah Overwater placed third, Larado Riesen was fourth, Quinn St. Onge was fifth and Isabella McBride came in sixth. David F. Rooney photoPie Gobble contestant Ginger Shoji gives MP David Wilkes a good-nature face-plant into his pie. To be fair, Wilks had started it just a moment before bu ining her a gentle face plant into her own gooey dessert. David F. Rooney photoEating pie without your hands is truly icky as Patrick McMechan (right) found out. David F. Rooney photoScott Hansen comes up for air as Dennis Ryan during the adult Pie Gobble as Denis Ryan bends over for another bite. David F. Rooney photoDavid and Ginger look a tad stunned by their efforts to gorge themselves on pie. “It’s so gooey it just clogs your mouth,” our good-natured MP noted. David F. Rooney photoDavid and Ginger can hardly believe they sucked back most of their pies. Pat McMechan came in first. Scott Hansen was second, Denis Ryan was third and David and Ginger tied for fourth place. David F. Rooney photoTimber Days always has a “Political Saw-off,” usually involving the mayor or a member of City Council, in this case Phil Welock (right back) with David Adshead, and our MLA or MP. In this year’s event MP David Wilks (center) with Earnie Larson. This year’s event also involved a third pair of sawyers — Jonathan Blais with Debbie Barstad. David F. Rooney photoThe event started out fairly evenly… David F. Rooney photo… Blais and Barstad beat their opponents… David F. Rooney photo… and Wilks and Larsen beat Welock and Adshead. David F. Rooney photoDebbie Barstad edged out Nadine Overwater in the Ladies Stock Saw Hot Start event. David F. Rooney photoScott Duke (left) races away from competitor Dan Peck in the Men’s Choker Race. Duke was pretty game about competing in Timber Days. David F. Rooney photoPat McMechan tosses his cable over the log as he competed again Denis Ryan in the Men’s Choker Race. David F. Rooney photoYou had better be fast, and accurate, in the Men’s Choker Race. These two guys were evenly matched in the speed department, whipping past each other at the half-way mark. David F. Rooney photoThe folks from Team Gloria — Wayne Murray, Maura Dower, Carolyn Murray, Giinger Shoji, Mary Spencer and Chris Deverall — pose for a photo in their concession stand at Timber Days. They whipped burgers, dogs and other typical fare. The group raises a logt of money each year for Cancer Society, the local Cancer Support Group and other organizations. They raises $8,606 at the Relay for Life all by themselves. David F. Rooney photoBear Aware/WildSafeBC Coordinator Sue Davies talks with young mum about living safely with wildlife. David F. Rooney photoForest Fire fighters had it made in the shade. David F. Rooney photoThe BC Interior Forestry Museum provided antique logging implements. David F. Rooney photoJosee Goodman (left) hands Andrea Andrews a cool refreshing ice cream cone for her son Caleb.The one in Andrea’s left hands was for very daughter Sephora (not shown). David F. Rooney photoScott made a bull’s eye during his first toss in the men’s Axe Throw. That’s pretty good, Scott. Was it natural skill, luck or the result of endless hors of practice, Scott? David F. Rooney photoAlan Dennis tosses a pretty mean axe. David F. Rooney photoLisa Moore, Halle Simpson and Lauren and Sara Channell display some of the gorgeous carved trophies created for this year’s Timber Days by master carver Rod Aspeslet. David F. Rooney photoScott Duke and friend Eve Northmore (left) going head-to-head against Pat McMechan and Debbie Barstad. David F. Rooney photoDebbie Barstad tosses her blade in the Women’s Axe Throw. David F. Rooney photoBrian Sumner of the BC Interior Forestry Museum poses with Allan Hascarl who was picked as this year’s Pioneer Logger. Hascral, a 72-year-old native of Nakusp, spent decades building logging roads throughout our mountains. David F. Rooney photo
