The history of the CAWF

1976 - The Canadian Armwrestling Association was founded by John Miazdzyk and Borden Letawsky.


1978 - Miazdzyk is one of the founding members of the World Armwrestling Federation.


1979 - John Miazdzyk hosts the first WAWF World Championship in Wetaskwin, Alberta with four countries in attendance: Canada, U.S.A, Brazil and India

              - Fred Roy becomes Vice-President of the western provinces


1988 - Cathy Morrison becomes Secretary/Treasurer


1989 - John Miazdzyk passes away at the age of 40

             - Fred Roy becomes President

             - An annual award is given out in John's memory, Miles Wolko is the first recipient


1990 - Lise Blanchard becomes Co-Secretary/Treasurer with Cathy Morrison


1991 - Rick Blanchard becomes Vice-President of the eastern provinces


1992 - Lise Blanchard becomes sole Secretary/Treasurer 

             - The first CAWF Referee Clinic is held. It became an annual test for Canadian referees 


1993 - Keith Koenig becomes Vice-President of the western provinces

             - Rick Pinkney becomes Referee-in-chief

             - Canada hosts the WAF World Championship in Edmonton, Alberta run by Cathy Morrison and Ron Highet

             - CAWA changes to CAWF

             - An agreement is made to have one nationals a year instead of one in the east and one in the west


1998 - Fred Roy becomes President of the World Armwrestling Federation

             - Canada hosts the WAF World Championship in Thunder Bay, Ontario run by Paul Levesque


2003 - Canada hosts the WAF World Championship in Ottawa, Ontario run by Rick and Lise Blanchard


2006 - Ryan Espey becomes Vice-President of the western provinces and Joey Costello becomes Vice-President of the eastern provinces


2007 - CAWF Hall of Fame is created


2008 - The first five inductees into the CAWF Hall of Fame are, John Miazdzyk, Fred Salvadore, Fred Roy, Dave Hicks and Barb Zalepa

            - Canada hosts the WAF World Championship in Kelowna, B.C. run by Keith Koenig


2011 - Anthony Dall'Antonia becomes Director of Communications 


2013 - Rick Pinkney becomes President

             - Ryan Espey becomes Vice-President

             - Tracey Arnold becomes Secretary/Treasurer

             - Patrick Callan becomes Referee-in-chief


2016 - Joey Costello becomes Vice-President

             - Dave Campbell becomes Referee-in-chief

             - Patrick Callan becomes Assistant Referee-in-chief


2019 - The International Federation of Armwrestling is formed and Canada votes to join the IFA. This year Canada sends a team to both World Championships. (WAF Worlds in Romania and IFA Worlds in Poland)


2020 - For the first time, there is no National Championship as a result of the Covid-19 virus. Also all provinces postpone or cancel their Provincial Championship. Our AGM is done online.

- Ryan Espey becomes Vice-President

- Vivian Santos becomes Secretary/Treasurer