Strength athletics in Canada refers to the various Strongman events throughout Canada and its provinces in the sport of Strength athletics in association with the World's Strongest Man. The roots of strongman in Canada go back long before the birth of WSM in 1977, particularly with Louis Cyr in the early 1900s, who was deemed the "Strongest Man on Earth" during his lifetime. Four Canadian athletes have finished on the podium, placing 2nd in 1982 with Tom Magee and 3rd in 2005 with Dominic Filiou, Jean-François Caron placing 3rd in 2020, and Maxime Boudreault placing 3rd in 2021. The provinces of Canada hold annual championships with the top 2-4 athletes going on to the National Championships at the end of the year to crown Canada's Strongest Man. Mitchell Hooper's win at 2023 World's Strongest Man makes him the first Canadian to finish in first place.
National Competitions Canada's Strongest Man
Canada's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition held in Canada, and features exclusively Canadian athletes. The event first started in 1982, with Tom Magee winning the first 2 titles.CSM 1999 Hugo Girard would later go on to win a record 6 titles; a record that would later be beaten despite Hugo's proclamation that nobody would ever even go as far as to match it. After Hugo withdrew from competition due to injuries, fellow training partner and 5 time runner-up Jessen Paulin won in 2005 & 2006.CSM 2005 Dominic Filiou won in 2007, becoming the first man to defeat Hugo Girard on Canadian soil.CSM 2007 After the dust had settled following the end of Hugo's era, a new champion would emerge: Jean-Francois Caron. Jean-Francois, or "J-F", has dominated strongman in Canada since 2011, winning the title of Canada's Strongest Man every year and ushering in a new era of Strongman in Canada. J-F has also nurtured the success of other athletes and has worked towards developing the success of the sport in the country as a whole.
Champions breakdown YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation1982 Tom Magee 1983 Tom Magee (2) 1984 colspan=4 1985 colspan=4 1986 Dusko Markovich 1987 Robert Dubeau Marco Fortier Ken Fisher 1988 Tom Magee (3) 1989 colspan=4 1990 Gregg Ernst 1991 Gregg Ernst (2) 1992 colspan=4 1993 Chuck Haase 1994 Ron Trottier 1995 Robert Ploughman 1996 colspan=4 1997 Ginaud Dupuis 1998 colspan=4 1999 Hugo Girard Ed Brost Ginaud Dupuis Quebec, Canada2000 Hugo Girard (2) Jessen Paulin Geoff Dolan Quebec, Canada2001 Hugo Girard (3) Travis Lyndon Jessen Paulin Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec2002 Hugo Girard (4) Jessen Paulin Travis Lyndon North Bay, Ontario2003 Hugo Girard (5) Jessen Paulin Geoff Dolan Saint-Jean-de-Matha, Quebec2004 Hugo Girard (6) Jessen Paulin Travis Lyndon Gatineau, Quebec2005 Jessen Paulin Travis Lyndon Dominic Filiou Gatineau, Quebec2006 Jessen Paulin (2) Dominic Filiou Louis-Philippe Jean Gatineau, Quebec2007 Dominic Filiou Jessen Paulin Hugo Girard Gatineau, Quebec2008 Louis-Philippe Jean Jean-François Caron Christian Savoie Gatineau, Quebec2009 Christian Savoie Louis-Philippe Jean Jean-François Caron Quebec City, Quebec2010 Christian Savoie (2) Jean-François Caron Scott Cummine Quebec City, Quebec2011 Jean-François Caron Christian Savoie Scott Cummine Quebec City, Quebec2012Jean-Francois Caron Wins Canada’s Strongest Man Jean-François Caron (2) Christian Savoie Scott Cummine Quebec City, Quebec2013Canada’s Strongest Man: Jean-Francois Caron Wins Jean-François Caron (3) Christian Savoie Ben Ruckstuhl Quebec City, Quebec2014 Jean-François Caron (4) Simon Boudreau Ben Ruckstuhl Quebec City, Quebec2015 Jean-François Caron (5) Maxime Boudreault Simon Boudreau Dubreuilville, Ontario2016 Jean-François Caron (6) Jimmy Paquet Vincent Lapointe Dubreuilville, Ontario2017 Jean-François Caron (7) Jimmy Paquet Karl Hjelholt Plantagenet, Ontario2018 Jean-François Caron (8) Jimmy Paquet Maxime Boudreault Plantagenet, Ontario2019 Jean-François Caron (9) Karl Hjelholt Jimmy Paquet Plantagenet, Ontario2020 colspan=4 2021 Gabriel Rhéaume Wesley Derwinsky Sean Hayes Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec2022 Maxime Boudreault Gabriel Rhéaume Wesley Derwinsky Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec2023 Simon Pratte Joey Lavallee Fredrick Rhéaume Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, Québec2024 Gabriel Rhéaume (2) James Jeffers Wesley Derwinsky Saint-Pamphile, Quebec2025 Tristain Hoath James Jeffers Gabriel RhéaumeSaint-Pamphile, Quebec2026 Tristain Hoath (2) Maxime Boudreault Larson HehrSaint-Pamphile, Quebec
Repeat champions ChampionTimesYears Jean-François Caron 9 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 Hugo Girard 6 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 Tom Magee 3 1982, 1983, 1988 Gregg Ernst 2 1990, 1991 Jessen Paulin 2 2005, 2006 Christian Savoie 2 2009, 2010 Gabriel Rhéaume 2 2021, 2024 Tristain Hoath22025, 2026
Quebec's Strongest Man YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation1999 Ron Trottier Ginaud Dupuis Jessen Paulin Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec2000 Jessen Paulin Dominic Filiou Ginaud Dupuis Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec2001 Jessen Paulin Martin Brisebois Dominic Filiou Lac-Etchemin, Quebec2002 Jessen Paulin Steve Bourgeois Dominic Filiou Baie-Comeau, Quebec2003 Dominic Filiou Jessen Paulin Franky Bonneau Gatineau, Quebec2004 Jessen Paulin Yannick Normandin Steve Bourgeois Mont-Joli, Quebec2005 Jessen Paulin Dominic Filiou Steve Bourgeois Dolbeau-Mistassini, Quebec2006 Jessen Paulin Dominic Filiou Louis-Phillipe Jean Quebec2007 Dominic Filiou Jessen Paulin Louis-Phillipe Jean Quebec2008 Hugo Girard Christian Savoie Jessen Paulin Quebec2009 Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Franky Bonneau Quebec2010 Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Warwick, Quebec2011 Jean-François Caron Christian Savoie Warwick, Quebec2012 Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Warwick, Quebec2013 Jean-François Caron Christian Savoie Warwick, Quebec
Ontario's Strongest Man YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation2000 Travis Lyndon Jamie Aszmies Rob Verkest London, Ontario2001 Travis Lyndon Jamie Aszmies Chris Ronzon London, Ontario2002 Mark Lozer Ryan Green Travis Lyndon Hawkesbury, Ontario2003 Travis Lyndon Ryan Green Steve Lozer Ottawa, Ontario2004 Travis Lyndon Ryan Green Jamie Aszmies Kitchener, Ontario2005 Travis Lyndon Mike Bade Joe Montgomery North Bay, Ontario2006 Travis Lyndon Joe Montgomery Sean Bates Port Stanley, Ontario2007 Joe Montgomery John Dungey Len Elliott Ottawa, Ontario2008 Jose Plante Paul Vaillancourt Len Elliott Wawa, Ontario2009 Paul Vaillancourt John Dungey Luke Skaarup Kitchener, Ontario2010 Paul Vaillancourt Eric Rautenberg Luke Skaarup Cornwall, Ontario2011 Paul Vaillancourt Kyle Rayner Karl Hjelholt Toronto, Ontario2012 Luke Skaarup Kyle Rayner David Droeske Kitchener, Ontario2013OntarioStrongman • View topic - OSM 2013 June 22-23, Thunder Bay Ben Ruckstuhl Kyle Rayner Maxime Boudreault Thunder Bay, Ontario2014 Luke Skaarup Ben Ruckstuhl Paul Vaillancourt Thunder Bay, Ontario2015 Ben Ruckstuhl Luke Skaarup Maxime Boudreault Toronto, Ontario2016 Paul Vaillancourt Karl Hjelholt David Jennings Trenton, Ontario2017 Maxime Boudreault Karl Hjelholt Kyle Rayner Trenton, Ontario2018 Maxime Boudreault Karl Hjelholt Ben Ruckstuhl Trenton, Ontario2019 Maxime Boudreault Karl Hjelholt Ben Ruckstuhl Kapuskasing, Ontario
Western Canada's Strongest Man YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation2000 Grant McReynolds Geoff Dolan Beerd Beekman2001 Beerd Beekman Geoff Dolan Ed Brost Calgary, Alberta2002 Geoff Dolan Maurice Paquette Cory Gillespie Saskatoon, SK2003 Geoff Dolan Alan Block Brad Provick Fort Qu'Appelle, SK2004 Brad Provick Geoff Dolan Gino Castonguay Winnipeg, Manitoba2005 Alan Block Chris Colonval Ed Brost Edmonton, Alberta2006 Scott Cummine Al Block Chris Colonval Regina, SK2007 Chris Colonval Scott Cummine Matt Parkes Regina, SK2008 Matt Parkes Scott Cummine Alan Block British Columbia2009 Scott Cummine Jon Moerike Maurice Paquette Altona, Manitoba2010 Scott Cummine Brad Provick Maurice Paquette Saskatoon, SK2011 Scott Cummine Nathan Rolston Jon Wade Edmonton, Alberta2012 Scott Cummine Brad Provick Jay Smith Regina, SK2013 Scott Cummine Brad Provick Jon Wade Regina, SK2014 Scott Cummine Brad Provick Quinton Falk Regina, SK2015 Dom Liontas Brad Provick Artur Walus Regina, SK2016 Scott Cummine Brad Provick Dom Liontas Regina, SK2017 James Loach Brad Shepherd Artur Walus Regina, SK2018 James Loach Dom Liontas Artur Walus Regina, SK2019 Brad Shepherd Sam Rissling Artur Walus Regina, SK2020–2021 colspan=4 2022 Sean Hayes James Jeffers Tyler Sigurdson Regina, SK2023 James Jeffers Tristain Hoath Colten Sloan Fort McMurray, AB2024 Sean Hayes James Jeffers Colten SloanDuncan, BC2025 Colten Sloan Andrew Langelaar Samuel RisslingDevon, AB2026 Colten Sloan Cameron St. Amand Sean HayesCalgary, AB
Eastern Canada's Strongest Man +YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation2022 Wesley Derwinsky Simon Pratte Joey LavalleeSaint-André-Avellin, QC2023 Joey Lavallee Wesley Derwinsky Kerri VanderSteltSaint-Cyprien, QC2024 Fredrick Rhéaume Gabriel Rhéaume Joey LavalleeTrois-Rivieres, QC2025 Kerri VanderStelt Fredrick Rhéaume Samuel DaigleAyer's Cliff, QC2026 Simon Pratte Mathieu Poirier Gabriel RhéaumeAyer's Cliff, QC
Atlantic Canada's Strongest Man YearChampionRunner-up3rd place2000 Tim Griffith Shane Murphy 2001 Shane Murphy 2002 Shane Murphy Jonathan Hickey 2003 Shane Murphy Brad Carty Jonathan Hickey2004 Brad Carty Shane Murphy Grant Connors2005ATLANTICS05 Grant Connors Darrell Crouse Kevin O'Keefe2006 Grant Connors Jonathan Schooten Chris Bulman2007 Grant Connors Danny Frame Jonathan Schooten2008 Grant Connors Danny Frame Chris Harper2009 Grant Connors Danny Frame Jonathan Schooten2010 Grant Connors Danny Frame Kalen Brennan2011 Grant Connors Jonathan Schooten Jay Smith2012 Kalen Brennan Alex Wallace
Regional Competitions North America's Strongest Man
North America's Strongest Man is an annual strongman competition consisting of athletes from both United States and Canada. The event was established in 1992 with Gary Mitchell of the United States winning the inaugural competition.
Despite the three hiatus periods (1994-1997, 2004-2006 and 2015-2022), the competition has been held eighteen times. Canada has produced five champions who shared ten titles among them while United States has produced eight champions with a title each for a total of eight.
The contest has been always held in Quebec.
Champions breakdown YearChampionRunner-up3rd placeLocation1992 Gary Mitchell Gatineau, Quebec1993 Steve Pulcinella Gatineau, Quebec1994–1997 colspan="4" 1998 David Brown Gatineau, Quebec1999 Steve Dmytrow Gatineau, Quebec2001 Hugo Girard Geoff Dolan Phil Pfister Gatineau, Quebec2002 Hugo Girard Gatineau, Quebec2003 Jon Andersen Chad Coy Walt Gogola Gatineau, Quebec2004–2006 colspan="4" 2007 Jessen Paulin Brian Shaw Christian Savoie Gatineau, Quebec2008 Jessen Paulin Christian Savoie Pete Konradt Gatineau, Quebec2009 Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Josh Thigpen Gatineau, Quebec2010Tuesday, September 7, 2010, Christian Savoie Wins North American Strongman Championships, by Randall J. Strossen, Ph.D. IronMind Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Scott Cummine Gatineau, Quebec2011 Christian Savoie Jean-François Caron Karl Gillingham Gatineau, Quebec2012 Jean-François Caron Dave Ostlund Jackie Ouellett Gatineau, Quebec2013 Jean-François Caron Christian Savoie Dave Ostlund Gatineau, Quebec2014 Brian Shaw Jean-François Caron Simon BoudreauGatineau, Quebec2015–2022 colspan="4" 2023 Trey Mitchell Lucas Hatton Wesley Derwinsky Victoriaville, Quebec2024 Maxime Boudreault Lucas Hatton Tristain Hoath Victoriaville, Quebec2025 Bryce Johnson Wesley Derwinsky Nick WorthamVictoriaville, Quebec2026 Bryce Johnson (2) Trey Mitchell Thomas EvansVictoriaville, Quebec
Results courtesy of David Horne's World of Grip: http://www.davidhorne-gripmaster.com/strongmanresults.html
Repeat champions