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 

2021 - This is the second year of 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.

- The Ethics Advisory Committee is created by Chantal Leduc with the help of Tracey Arnold

2022 - Nationals are back, hosted in Winnipeg by Darrell Steffensen. A new record is set with 574 entries.

2023 - Canada votes to rejoin WAF and have our Nationals as the qualifier for WAF Worlds.

             - Ryan Espey becomes President

             - Tracey Arnold becomes Vice-President