In what started as a way to honour the trees that were cut in Drumheller to make way for the Flood Mitigation program in the valley has grown into the largest tree carving events in Alberta.
And this year it grew again.
The Chainsaw Wizards sculpting event went international this year with eight world-renowned participants not only from Canada but a strong contingent from the US, the UK, and Germany. Some of these artists are featured on A Cut Above, streaming on Amazon.
Artists include s
This year the event took up a new venue to accommodate for the greater number of carvers. The site beside the Drumheller Memorial Arena was a hive of energy as the carvers worked the gigantic logs into works of art.
The local Chainsaw Wizards committee, which includes Heather Colberg, Wayne Powell, Tony Miglez, and Harvey Saltys, with support from the town of Drumheller, worked with Marina Cole, who has participated in previous years’ events.
The carvers set to work on Friday, May 16, and worked away until Monday, May 19. Along the way, they created new trail stoppers, which will be used on the local trail network. Throughout the weekend, there were quick carve events where the artists created a new work within an hour that were immediately auctioned off on-site.
One of the organizers, Wayne Powell, explains that two of the main projects will remain in the valley, while six main projects will be auctioned off online. The carving will be posted for one week on Premier Auctions' website for sale, starting May 19.
Powell explains that the proceeds from this auction will help make the event sustainable and continue for years to come.

On April 16 2025, after receiving an initial report of suspicious activity, the Central and Southern Alberta Crime Reduction Units (SAD CRU), with assistance from the Emergency Response Team and Strathmore RCMP, executed a Search Warrant for stolen property in Rockyford.

As a result of the search RCMP recovered:

5 stolen ATVs;
3 stolen firearms;
2 stolen trailers;
A stolen car;
Various other stolen items.

The stolen items were linked to thefts from Caroline, Airdrie, Drumheller, Vulcan, Strathmore, and Calgary areas.

“These investigations spearheaded by the Southern and Central Alberta Crime Reduction Units with assistance from RCMP detachments across Southern Alberta showcases the Alberta RCMP’s ability to work collaboratively in interdicting crime networks,” says Constable Adam Heather of SAD CRU, “two of the stolen firearms recovered in Aldersyde are linked to the same break and enter as two of the stolen firearm recovered in the Rockyford search, this demonstrates how different crime groups are interconnected.”

As a result of the investigation RCMP have charged Kevin De Laurier (50) with:

Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);

Possession of property obtained by crime (x11);
Break and Enter;
Failing to comply with a release order (x5).

De Laurier was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody with his next court date set for May 22, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Airdrie.

RCMP have charged Nicole Lewis (42) with:

Unauthorized possession of a firearm (x3);

Possession of property obtained by crime (x5).

Lewis was taken before a Justice of the Peace and released with her next court date set for May 20, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Calgary.

On April 19, 2025 Brooks RCMP received a report of a stolen vehicle. During this investigation Alberta RCMP Detachments in Brooks, Redcliff, Drumheller, Strathmore, Three Hills, Bassano, Taber-Vauxhall all assisted in locating two stolen vehicles and arresting a suspect. SAD CRU followed up on this investigation and on April 21, 2025, SAD CRU with the assistance of the Emergency Response Team, High River RCMP and Okotoks RCMP executed a Search Warrant in Aldersyde.

As a result of the search, RCMP additionally recovered:

Stolen trailers (x3);
Stolen Trucks (x3);
Stolen motor bikes (x3);
A stolen ATV;
Stolen firearm (x3);
Forged documents;
61 other firearms.

After a brief pursuit RCMP arrested and charged Foothills County resident Clayton Whaling (44) with;

Possession of property obtained by crime (x8);
Possession of a stolen firearm;
Flight from police;
Mischief;
Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle;
Failure to comply with a release order (x3);
Possession of break in tools;
Possession of a prohibited weapon.

Whaling was taken before a Justice of the Peace and remanded into custody for court on May 30, 2025 at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

RCMP have charged Foothills County residents Allan Eroshinsky (78) and Chad Eroshinsky with:

Possession of property obtained by crime (x5);
(Allan)Careless storage of a firearm (x2) - (Chad) Careless storage of a firearm (x1);
Possession of a prohibited weapon.

Allan Eroshinsky and Chad Eroshinsky were taken before a Justice of the Peace and released with their next court date set for May 30, 2025, at the Alberta Court of Justice in Okotoks.

From the original Brooks investigation, RCMP have charged William Holub (43) with:

Flight from police
Possession of property obtained by crime over $5000 (x2)
Break and Enter
Possession of break in instruments

Holub was taken before a Justice of the peace and released for future court dates at the Alberta Court of Justice in Brooks.