Canadian Armwrestling Federation

The Canadian Armwrestling Federation (CAWF) is the national governing body for the sport of armwrestling in Canada. It was founded in 1976 as the Canadian Armwrestling Association by John Miazdzyk and Borden Letawsky, and has operated under the CAWF name since. The organization sanctions and runs the annual Canadian National Armwrestling Championships, which have been held every year since 1977, and it selects and supports Canadian teams at World Armwrestling Federation (WAF) and International Federation of Armwrestling (IFA) world championships. It also trains athletes and referees, maintains national records, and administers a Hall of Fame and the John Miazdzyk Award for dedication to the sport. The CAWF is a volunteer-driven non-profit federation rather than a commercial company. Its activities are funded through membership and event fees, and its governance is set out in a constitution and by-laws published on its website. The federation is organized with a board of directors and regional vice-presidents, and it maintains an ethics committee and an ethics advisory committee. It publishes tournament results, referee reports, financial statements, and policy documents online. Internationally, the CAWF has been closely tied to the World Armwrestling Federation since its early years: founder John Miazdzyk was among the WAF's founding members, and in 1979 the CAWF hosted the first WAF World Championship in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, with four countries competing. The federation continues to send Canadian teams to WAF world championships and to IFA world championships, and it tracks Canadian medalists at both. Its national championship rotates among host provinces, with future editions scheduled in Blackfalds, Alberta (2027) and Winnipeg, Manitoba (2028). As a sports federation, the CAWF does not sell consumer products; its "offerings" are competitive events, athlete and referee development programs, rankings and records, and recognition programs such as the Hall of Fame. Its brand identity is built around the promotion and growth of armwrestling in Canada and around the legacy of its founder.

The Canadian Armwrestling Federation traces its origins to 1976, when John Miazdzyk and Borden Letawsky founded the Canadian Armwrestling Association. The organization held its first Canadian National Championship in 1977 in Alberta, establishing an annual national competition that has continued since. In 1978, Miazdzyk became one of the founding members of the World Armwrestling Federation, and in 1979 he hosted the first WAF World Championship in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, with four countries participating: Canada, the United States, Brazil, and India. That same year, Fred Roy became Vice-President of the western provinces. Through the 1980s and 1990s the federation built out its governance and officiating structures. Cathy Morrison became Secretary/Treasurer in 1988. John Miazdzyk died in 1989 at the age of 40; Fred Roy became President, and an annual award was established in Miazdzyk's memory, with Miles Wolko as its first recipient. Lise Blanchard became Co-Secretary/Treasurer alongside Cathy Morrison in 1990, and Rick Blanchard became Vice-President of the eastern provinces in 1991. In 1992 Lise Blanchard became sole Secretary/Treasurer, and the first CAWF Referee Clinic was held, becoming an annual test for Canadian referees. Keith Koenig became Vice-President of the western provinces in 1993. The federation has continued to run national championships, train referees, and send teams to WAF and IFA world championships. It maintains a Hall of Fame with induction classes dating back to at least 2008, publishes by-laws, minutes, constitutions, and financial statements, and administers the John Miazdzyk Award, voted on by the board of directors. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the national tournament in 2020 and 2021. Future national championships are scheduled for Blackfalds, Alberta in 2027 and Winnipeg, Manitoba in 2028, while Canadian teams are set to compete at the WAF World Championships in New Delhi, India in 2026 and the IFA World Championships in Japan in 2026.

• 2026

  WAF World Championships scheduled for New Delhi, India; IFA World Championships scheduled for Japan.

• 2020

  National tournament cancelled due to COVID-19.

• 1993

  Keith Koenig becomes Vice-President of the western provinces.

• 1992

  Lise Blanchard becomes sole Secretary/Treasurer; first CAWF Referee Clinic held.

• 1991

  Rick Blanchard becomes Vice-President of the eastern provinces.

• 1990

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

• 1989

  John Miazdzyk passes away at age 40; Fred Roy becomes President; John Miazdzyk Award established.

• 1988

  Cathy Morrison becomes Secretary/Treasurer.

• 1979

  First WAF World Championship hosted in Wetaskiwin, Alberta, with Canada, USA, Brazil, and India competing.

• 1978

  John Miazdzyk becomes a founding member of the World Armwrestling Federation.

• 1977

  First Canadian National Championship held in Alberta.

• 1976

  Canadian Armwrestling Association founded by John Miazdzyk and Borden Letawsky.

• Canadian National Championships scheduled for Blackfalds, Alberta.

• Canadian National Championships scheduled for Winnipeg, Manitoba.

National governing body and member federation for armwrestling in Canada, focused on athlete development, officiating standards, and international representation.

• Canadian National Armwrestling Championships

  Annual national championship held since 1977.

• Referee clinics and certification

  Annual referee clinic and testing for Canadian officials.

• Hall of Fame

  Induction program recognizing contributors to Canadian armwrestling.

• John Miazdzyk Award

  Annual award for dedication to the sport, voted on by the board of directors.

1. 1Canadian Armwrestling Federationcawf.ca
2. 2History of The Canadian Armwrestling Federationcawf.ca
3. 3About John / Winnerscawf.ca
4. 4Canadian Armwrestling Federationwikidata.org