Latest news with #Chetwynd
CBC
19-05-2025
- General
- CBC
Chainsaw diplomacy: Chetwynd, B.C., is giving away its chainsaw carvings to other municipalities
A northern B.C. community whose highway is lined with elaborate chainsaw carvings is starting to give some of the statues away to municipalities throughout the province. Each year, 12 of the world's best chainsaw carvers travel to Chetwynd — a community of about 2,300 in the northeastern B.C. — to compete in the annual Chetwynd International Chainsaw Carving Championship. The championship is now in its 19th year, and it has left a legacy of more than 150 chainsaw carvings scattered throughout Chetwynd. "We give smiles away," said Chetwynd Mayor Allen Courtoreille. He says Chetwynd has been giving some of its excess carvings as a sign of goodwill to other communities in the province. In May, Chetwynd gifted a carving of an eagle and salmon to Prince Rupert and one of a dolphin and turtle to the Village of Fraser Lake. Last year, they gave a statue to Smithers and have also sent carvings to Fort St. John, Dawson Creek and Tumbler Ridge "If you smile, then you get a smile back. So it's very important, and that's why the chainsaw carvings are very important to us because we do touch other communities with our donation," said Courtoreille. He says the decision to start giving the statues away precedes his election as mayor. "I think receiving this chainsaw carving from Chetwynd is more than just a gift to us," said Sarrah Storey, the mayor of Fraser Lake. "It's challenging for a lot of communities in the region, so showcasing the importance of collaboration, I think, is truly important, and it just shows that we're all in this together." Prince Rupert Mayor Herb Pond says he's happy to have a little piece of Chetwynd in his community. "It's just a beautiful piece and where it sits now, there is just an incredible view out over the Prince Rupert Harbour,' he said, noting that he also enjoys travelling to Chetwynd with his grandchildren to look at the carvings. "I have discovered what a wonderful little community Chetwynd is, but in addition to that, I've stopped and looked and admired these incredible chainsaw carvings that are all along the street there, so to have one here is just very fulfilling." Courtoreille says that Chetwynd is not done giving away carvings and has a special gift planned for Williams Lake later this summer. He says in late July or early August, they will be gifting Williams Lake a carving of Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price. Price is originally from the small community of Anahim Lake, but grew up playing hockey in Williams Lake. "It means the whole world to me and my community," said Williams Lake Mayor Surinderpal Rathor. "What could be a better honour than to have Mr. Carey Price and something hockey related? It is a great honour. It will be a great honour." Rathor says he is still working out the details with city staff about where the statue will be located and when it will be unveiled, but is extremely grateful for the gift.
Shafaq News
19-05-2025
- General
- Shafaq News
AUIS hosts Iraq's 1st nationwide forum for English studies
Shafaq News/ The American University of Iraq–Sulaimani (AUIS) has spotlighted the success of a first-of-its-kind academic forum in the Kurdistan Region and Iraq, bringing together more than 80 scholars and students from across the country to explore emerging research in English literature, linguistics, translation, and language education. Held on April 26, the '1st Annual Forum for Research in Progress in the English Fields' welcomed participants from as far north as Duhok to central provinces like Babil. Organized by AUIS's English department faculty and students, the event featured 19 research papers presented across six panels. The initiative, conceived by English Department Chair Dr. Alistair Chetwynd, aimed to fill a gap in Iraq's academic landscape. 'In the UK and US, it's common to present unfinished research to receive feedback that helps improve it before publication,' Chetwynd said. 'In Iraq, most humanities conferences focus on nearly completed work.' The AUIS forum provided a rare space for scholars from diverse universities to interact and exchange feedback during the research process. Participants hailed from 13 institutions across Iraq and presented papers in areas including Anglophone literature, linguistics, translation studies, and language teaching. Third-year AUIS student Sara Sarbast said the event broadened her research horizons, inspiring her to explore underexamined topics in literature. Ansam Riyadh Abdullah, a participant from Tikrit University, praised the forum for promoting academic exchange and introducing innovative methodologies aligned with her research interests. 'This forum stood out for its inclusive, collaborative spirit,' Abdullah noted. 'Unlike formal conferences, it encouraged meaningful interaction among attendees from various academic levels and backgrounds.' Dr. Hussein Mayouf of the University of Babil described the forum as 'pioneering' compared to other domestic events. Chetwynd said the inaugural forum was intended as a pilot. 'We wanted to gauge interest. Now that we've seen the positive response to the focus on feedback, we hope to organize a larger, more ambitious event in the future,' he said.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
80 Years after V-E Day, volunteers honor British soldiers buried locally
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — Following Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, the United States was thrust into a global conflict. Germany declared war on the U.S. just days later, and by January 1942, launched U-boat attacks along the coastal waters of Virginia and North Carolina. 'Operation Drumbeat' was a devastating wake-up call. 'You could actually see ships burning against the night sky in Virginia Beach during that time,' said Military Aviation Museum CEO Keegan Chetwynd. The U-boat offensive sank nearly 500 Allied vessels and killed roughly 5,000 merchant seamen and U.S. Navy sailors. Nazi Germany brought the war to our shores and we needed help fighting them off our coast. Thankfully, our neighbors across the pond were no strangers to the 'U-boat menace.' Their help would come at a cost. Several ships, including the HMS Kingston Ceylonite, were sunk off the coasts of Virginia and North Carolina. 'Her majesty's trawler the Kingston Ceylonite was one of several ships that were converted from fishing vessels that were crewed by Royal Navy sailors who traveled over here to try and help the situation,' Chetwynd said. On June 15, 1942, the HMS Kingston Ceylonite struck a German mine and sunk, killing 18 of the 32 men on board. Leading Seaman Charles R. J. Grimmer was one of the soldiers killed. 'So this man had come over here as a part of a group of sailors who were here to help us drive the Germans back off shore to buy us the time to get it together,' Chetwynd said, 'which was time that was well used because after the first six months of 1942, this really stopped happening. Grimmer is buried in Oaks Lawn Cemetery in Norfolk, nearly 4,000 miles away from his home country. Unlike American soldiers, British soldiers killed during conflict are buried where they died. But Cheywynd and countless volunteers across the U.S. have spent the last couple months working to get a piece of these soldiers back home. 'The project is to basically get gravestone rubbings from British personnel that were killed either off the coast of the United States or in the United States during World War II,' said Zack Baughman, volunteer coordinator at the Military Aviation Museum. 'Project Bring the Boys Back Home' sent volunteers to 12 cemeteries across Hampton Roads and North Carolina. The rubbings are all collected by hand, and three copies of each grave are needed for the project. One copy goes to a museum in England, another to a genealogical project, and the final copy to any surviving family member of the soldier. Volunteers collected rubbings from 42 gravestones. The Commemorative Air Force out of Dallas, Texas began the nationwide effort, and altogether, they will be flying more than 400 rubbings back to England. Last month, the Military Aviation Museum welcomed a Douglas R4D aircraft, sent by the Commemorative Air Force, to collect the rubbings and fly them 4,000 miles back home. 'When we heard that there was a group of people mustering to do this and to offer thanks in this way,' Chetwynd said, 'it seemed a really appropriate way to mark the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nerves ahead of start of centuries-old ball game
A woman picked to start a traditional Shrove Tuesday ball game which dates to the 12th Century said it was "amazing" to be chosen for the role. Chantelle Chetwynd will begin the annual Atherstone Ball Game on Tuesday and hundreds of people will then grapple in the Warwickshire town's streets for the heavy ball. Whoever still has the ball in their possession after two hours is crowned the winner. "It's such a big thing for Atherstone - everybody loves the ball game, it's one of the biggest days of the year," Ms Chetwynd said. "I'm a little bit nervous but I'm sure it'll be fine on the day." The medieval game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199 when teams used a bag of gold as a ball, which was won by Warwickshire. Ms Chetwynd, a former captain of Atherstone Ladies and Nuneaton Borough's women's football team, helps out at the annual game. In the past she said she was "usually in the background" but this year would "be a little bit different". At last year's event, Atherstone-born comedian Josh Pugh threw the special ball from a balcony window to start the game at 15:00 GMT. The event is run privately by a committee responsible for the safety of those attending. In 2023, the game was marred as several people suffered nasty injuries and Warwickshire Police issued a safety warning. Ahead of this year's event, Ch Supt Mike Smith said the force was "generally pleased" with how last year's game was held and they would be supporting this year's. "Policing the event requires a delicate balance; protecting a historic event that means a lot to the local community whilst holding to account those who use the game as an excuse for criminal violence and vandalism," he added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram. Hundreds attend historic Shrove Tuesday ball game 'Extreme violence' risk to Shrove Tuesday ball game Atherstone Ball Game Official Warwickshire Police
BBC News
04-03-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Shrove Tuesday's Atherstone Ball Game to be started by ex-football captain
A woman picked to start a traditional Shrove Tuesday ball game which dates to the 12th Century said it was "amazing" to be chosen for the Chetwynd will begin the annual Atherstone Ball Game on Tuesday and hundreds of people will then grapple in the Warwickshire town's streets for the heavy still has the ball in their possession after two hours is crowned the winner."It's such a big thing for Atherstone - everybody loves the ball game, it's one of the biggest days of the year," Ms Chetwynd said. "I'm a little bit nervous but I'm sure it'll be fine on the day."The medieval game honours a match played between Leicestershire and Warwickshire in 1199 when teams used a bag of gold as a ball, which was won by Chetwynd, a former captain of Atherstone Ladies and Nuneaton Borough's women's football team, helps out at the annual the past she said she was "usually in the background" but this year would "be a little bit different". At last year's event, Atherstone-born comedian Josh Pugh threw the special ball from a balcony window to start the game at 15:00 event is run privately by a committee responsible for the safety of those 2023, the game was marred as several people suffered nasty injuries and Warwickshire Police issued a safety of this year's event, Ch Supt Mike Smith said the force was "generally pleased" with how last year's game was held and they would be supporting this year's."Policing the event requires a delicate balance; protecting a historic event that means a lot to the local community whilst holding to account those who use the game as an excuse for criminal violence and vandalism," he added. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
