Maynard Metchewais
March 6, 1941 – June 4, 2023
Competing At The Calgary Stampede in 1985
Photos Courtesy of The Metchewais Family and the Billy Melville Collection
The World Professional Chuckwagon Association has been saddened by former chuckwagon driver Maynard Metchewais who, after a lengthy illness, made the journey on Sunday, June 4, 2023 at the age of 82.
Influenced by former chuckwagon driver Allan Bensmiller, and with the help of former driver Pat Ross, Maynard’s drove in his first chuckwagon race in Pierceland, Saskatchewan in 1975 as a founding member of the newly formed Northern Chuckwagon Racing Association (NCRA) – the predecessor of the Northern Professional Chuckwagon Association (NPCA), and the Canadian Professional Chuckwagon Association (CPCA) as we know it today.
Maynard drove at the Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby for the first time in 1983 as a late substitution for driver Brian Laboucane, and made his first start at the Cheyenne Frontier Days later that same year as well. He would compete at the Calgary Stampede seven times between 1983 and 1995, with his best year coming in 1994 when he cracked the top ten three times in ten nights, including a career best second place run on night four. Maynard would finish the 1994 Rangeland Derby in 14th place overall. He also made 11 trips to the Cheyenne Frontier Days between 1983 and 1994, missing only once in 1990, and placing 6th overall in his final appearance at Cheyenne in 1994. In 1989, Maynard was also a Permit Holder with the World Professional Chuckwagon Association (WPCA).
1993 was arguably the best of Maynard’s career, winning the Coronation Mid-West Stampede, and placing a career best 6th overall in the NPCA standings, and followed it up in 1994 by placing 7th overall in the NPCA standings. In 1995 he competed in his final Calgary Stampede Rangeland Derby, and after 22 years in the wagon box, Maynard Metchewais retired from full time competition following the 1996 race season.
In 1998 Maynard was elected President of the CPCA, and in just his first season as President, Maynard was the recipient of the CPCA’s prestigious Roy Bremner Memorial Award which is presented annually to the individual for their outstanding work in promoting and expanding the CPCA race season, and outstanding contributions to chuckwagon racing in general. Maynard served as the CPCA President until 2001.
Over the course of his life and career, Maynard Metchewais was a well liked and well respected individual and competitor by the chuckwagon fans and by his fellow competitors and peers. Even when his career as a chuckwagon driver ended, Maynard still remained one of chuckwagon racing’s biggest fans and supporters, taking in the races at such places as Bonnyville and Ponoka, or catching them on the radio program. As a chuckwagon driver Maynard competed against many of the all-time greats at many of chuckwagon racing’s most storied events. For over 20 years Maynard maintained a consistently fine record while at the same time raising 4 children, owning and operating his own transportation business, and serving as Chief of the Cold Lake First Nation. In 2006, Maynard and his wife Joyce were the recipients of the CPCA’s Gold Card Lifetime Memberships for a lifetime of dedication to the sport of chuckwagon racing and the CPCA as a whole.
Maynard will be lovingly remembered by his wife of 58 years, Joyce Metchewais, children; Bryan (Norma) Metchewais, Shawn (Anita) Metchewais, Shawna (Roy) Denning, and Maynard Jr. (Bella) Metchewais, ten grandchildren; Durrell (Maria), Scott (Amy), Jacey, Allison, Abby, Londyn, Twyla (William), Willy, Gavin (Taylor), Ryan, and Jace, 13 great grandchildren, and many relatives and friends.
Maynard was predeceased by his parents; Pierre and Annie Metchewais, and all of his siblings; Bernadette, Charles, Albert, Florestina, an infant sibling, Lillian C, Anne-Marie, Lillian I, Maurice, Collin, and Paul.
Wake, Monday, June 12, 2023 beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the Metchewais’ Residence, Cold Lake First Nations.
Mass of Christian Burial, Tuesday, June 13, 2023 at 1:00 p.m., St. Raphael’s Roman Catholic Church with cremation to follow and an interment to follow at a later date in the Cold Lake First Nations Community Cemetery. Arrangements through Northern Lights Funeral Chapel.
Maynard will be missed by all in the WPCA, chuckwagon fans everywhere, and we extend our sincere condolences to the Metchewais family.
Billy Melville
