Female master 1 power lifter Aileen Smith of Manitoba attempts a 127.5-kilogram squat during the 2025 Canadian Powerlifting Western Canadian Championships, taking place in Nanaimo this weekend. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

squat, bench, deadlift

‘It’s great for all ages:’ Western Canadian Powerlifting Championships takes over downtown Nanaimo

Oct 5, 2025 | 6:27 AM

NANAIMO — Some of the strongest people in Canada are in Nanaimo this weekend, competing to see who among them can lift the most weight.

The 2025 Canadian Powerlifting Western Canadian Championships (CanPLWCC) started on Thursday, Oct. 2 and goes until Sunday at the Vancouver Island Conference Centre, welcoming over 450 athletes and 300 volunteers.

Courtenay-born powerlifter Dennis Leong, 45, has been in the sport for 14 years now, and he told NanaimoNewsNOW what started as a competition eventually grew into a great way to stay in shape.

“It’s great for all ages, it’s definitly good for older folks who want to maintain strength and maintain their ability to just live everyday life pain-free and without assistance. I do it myself now to try and make sure that I stave off the inevitable decline as long as I can so I can be independent and be around for my kids.”

Albertan Chad Lockman attempts to squat 276 kilograms during the 2025 Canadian Powerlifting Western Canadian Championships taking place in Nanaimo this weekend. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Of the 450 athletes competing in the Harbour City this weekend, around 15 are from the greater Nanaimo area, with over 200 from the B.C. mainland.

The competition in Nanaimo is the first time a major powerlifting event has been held here in recent memory, with the national competition scheduled to take place in Nanaimo in early 2027.

Leong got turned on to powerlifting while training for hiking marathons, falling in love with the sport in the process and encouraging others to give it a try.

“The best way to learn how a competition goes is to volunteer. Everyone is super friendly, they just want to help out. The competition is mostly against yourself, so everyone is always very cooperative and helpful if you have any questions.”

Competitors have three attempts to lift in the squat, bench press, and deadlift formats, with the best performance being added together for their qualifying total.

Event co-director and organizer Renae Witzaney said athletes can rank their scores from this meet on the national and international stage, with classes open to anyone of any age, with a chance to qualify for nationals next year.

She said Nanaimo was a “beautiful” spot to find who the strongest people are in Western Canada.

“Everything is so accessible here, everyone’s had nothing but good things to say about it. It’s been a year in the works…it’s been fun, and trying to incorporate Nanaimo-style into it.”

Organizers made sure to incorporate some Nanaimo-style into the event, with the medal ribbons coordinated in the colours of a Nanaimo bar, with all competitors and volunteers getting a Nanaimo bar courtesy of Reds Bakery. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Witzaney said competitors this weekend ranged in age from 10 to over 70, with Special Olympic and Paralympic athletes also competing Friday morning.

Lifting began at 8 a.m. every day, with the heaviest of the weights being attempted to be lifted on Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. in the open category, with athletes ranging in age from 24 to 40.

The CanPLWCC was assisted in setting up the event thanks to the first-ever Sport Hosting Grant from Tourism Nanaimo, which provided a total of $35,000 to eight major local sporting events this year.

More information on the CanPLWCC can be found here on their website, or through their Facebook and Instagram accounts.

Winners in the Master category receive one of these statues. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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