Maurice Normand
July 23, 1935 – March 27, 2025
Maurice Normand (Far Right) celebrating his son George’s first World Chuckwagon Championship in 1985 with
(L-R): Dave and Ann Bowers, Joey and George Normand, and his wife Jeannine Normand
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association is Mourning the death of former chuckwagon driver Maurice Normand on Thursday, March 27, 2025 at the age of 89.
Maurice Normand grew up competing in Gymkhanas where he won many trophies and ribbons. After he was injured during a parade accident and broke his leg, Maurice never rode horses again, but began racing chariots teams. As Maurice described, he “got the sickness of driving four instead of two,”, and in 1969 he moved up to driving chuckwagons, and drove in his first race at the Agricultural Society Fair in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan.
Maurice continued to drive chuckwagons primarily on the Northern circuit, but also took out a permit with the Canadian Rodeo Cowboys Association (CRCA) – the predecessor of the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA) – in the 1970’s. Maurice’s best finish with the CRCA was fourth place overall at the Lethbridge Whoop-Up Days in 1974.
In 1976, Maurice’s twenty-year old son George, who started outriding in 1969 – the same year Maurice started driving chuckwagons – graduated from outriding and began driving chuckwagons as well. Maurice raced at the Calgary Stampede Saturday Morning Round-Up that year and retired at the end of the 1976 season so he could support his son George‘s chuckwagon racing career. George Normand went on to be a six-time World Champion Chuckwagon Driver. Maurice stayed involved with thoroughbred horses and racing for many years after his chuckwagon racing career had finished.
Maurice will be remembered by his daughter: Joanne (Doug) Britton, 3 sons: Raymond (Janet) Normand, Guy Normand (Vicki), and Richard Normand, 9 grandchildren: Sherry (Willy), Mandy (Dan), Bobbie (Anthony), BJ (RaeAnna), Tyler (Brittany), Ashley (Ashley), Victoria (Nick), Danielle, and Dylan, and numerous great grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Maurice was predeceased by his wife: Jeannine (2017), son: George (1994), his parents: Phillippe and Diana, and his brother: Rene (2020).To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Maurice Normand, please visit the Tree Store at Northern Lights Funeral Chapel in Bonnyville, Alberta.
A Memorial Gathering for Maurice Normand will be held on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 2:00 pm at the Bonnyvile Agricultural Society – 4201-55 Street, Bonnyville, Alberta.
Maurice will be missed by all in the WPCA and we extend our sincere condolences to the Normand family.
Billy Melville
