CPCA standouts Amber L'heureux and Randall Stanley jockey for position in action this summer. (Submitted photo/Carolin McKenzie, CVM Photography)

By Martin Martinson

CPCA benchmark event

Inaugural North American Chuckwagon Championship to get underway this weekend

Jul 9, 2021 | 5:12 PM

The Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) is gearing up for their inaugural North American Chuckwagon Championship July 11-19 in Lloydminster.

Taking place at the Lloyd Exhibition grounds, the event will serve as the first of its kind in the province, and is expected to feature not only the best in the province and country, but also some from the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) as well.

CPCA representative, Kim Carey said it is an event they have had marked on the calendar for some time, since planning began well ahead of the season.

“It’s the first huge post-pandemic event, so we’re really looking forward to it,” Carey said. “We’ve got lots of calls from all over; from fans wanting to come watch, sponsors [inquiring], and people just eager to be part of this inaugural event. So I suspect it’s going to be a big event for both the CPCA and the Lloydminster Exhibition.”

A nine-day show, the event came about after the Calgary Stampede announced in late 2020, they would no longer be extending an invitation to CPCA drivers to take part in the Stampede as of 2022, as part of their new regulations for future years.

Riderville

Now for the Hard Part

Dec 10, 2025

Grey Cup!!!

Everything you wanted and more

Nov 21, 2025

Ferland earns Grey Cup ring

'A wonderful human being': High school coach thrilled Logan Ferland is a Grey Cup champion

Nov 17, 2025

Because of this, the CPCA developed the idea for the North American Chuckwagon Championships, to provide their riders a chance to compete in a lucrative event of their own, against other top competition.

With provincial capacity restrictions expected to lift as of July 11, Carey said they intend to have a full capacity of about 3,500 people for this week’s event. That return to capacity is something more valuable than ever to the association at this time too, after being hit hard by the lack of activity last year due to the pandemic.

“We’d just really like to thank the fans for supporting everyone and coming out all this year, and [to those who do] this week,” Carey said. “These drivers and both the Lloyd Ex, and CPCA have had no income coming in since 2019, so to have this kind of fan support for [all three parties] has been so huge we can’t express how much we appreciate it. We’re looking forward to a great nine days ahead.”

For more on the CPCA schedule for 2021, click here.

—

Martin.Martinson@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1