The history of a legend

Notre-Dame-du-Nord forms a natural road intersection between the Témiscamingue region, the Abitibi region and the province of Ontario. It's in this small community of 1 250 that the biggest annual truckers festival in all of Eastern Canada is held: the Truck Rodeo from Notre-Dame-du-Nord.

The Truck Rodeo started in 1981 as an attraction to a local fishing tournament. The organization of the event was very modest at the beginning. For example, the control tower was simply located on the president's veranda, Jacques “Bébé” Dubé. Approximately 12 competitors demonstrated their abilities in front of a few hundred spectators. At the time, no one could predict the importance that this event would take.

In 1986, the organizing committee had an audacious idea... to have a draw for a Mack Superliner truck. After having personally endorsed the loan and met with the “Régie des Alcools, des Courses et des Jeux du Québec” better known as the Provincial Lottery Centre, the organizing committee printed out 2 000 tickets and put them in circulation. These tickets sold within a month thanks to a network of twenty-five sellers. This success allowed the committee to announce a net profit of $ 93 500 for its 6th edition. An idea qualified as a crazy one in the beginning was now quoted as an example. It is also the beginning of the Truck Rodeo's promotional tours. The event can no longer be ignored.It is growing in popularity.

In 1987, the mascot "El Rodeo" is created by Jerry Blain. The Truck Rodeo organizes one of its biggest promotional tours ever. El Rodéo is present at the “National 10 roues” in Sanair, located in the heart of the province of Québec, and the Big Rig 500 in Cayuga, Ontario...

The year 1990 (10th anniversary) marks an important turning-point in the history of the Truck Rodeo. In order for the event to pass on to bigger things, a secretary is hired to maintain in order the increasing load of paperwork. The organization decides to take up a new challenge; to sell 5 000 tickets which represents a total value of $ 230 000.00 in prizes.

In 1991, a new component is added to the event: the Show & Shine Contest, which is organized by a sub-committee. This idea is based upon a competition of the nicest truck that was first introduced in 1985. A flea market site is also an added component to the event. A total of 15 booths offer a variety of products to all our visitors. There are also 10 exhibitors who are proud to present their latest products or services on the market. A general director is also hired to emphasize the development of the festival. It is also where new major sponsors get affiliated to help promote the event outside the region.

For its 15th Edition, over 35 000 people attended the Truck Rodeo and more than 650 trucks were present inside the municipality. For this special occasion, the Truck Rodeo committee had the audacious idea to put three Peterbilt trucks as draw prizes. All the draw prizes represented a total of $ 400 000.00. A total of $ 20 000.00 in prizes and trophies were shared among the participants of the Show & Shine Contest and a total of $ 25 000 among the competitors of the truck pull competitions.

2005 marks the arrival of a new component, the fireworks which is greatly appreciated by all family members. Over 65 000 visitors participate to the festivities of the 25th Edition.

In 2006, an operational committee is added. It is mainly responsible for organizing the various components held during the weekend event, leaving the task of making the decisions throughout the whole year to the administrative committee.

2007 marks the beginning of a new era with a woman taking over the general director position leaving place to possible changes.

After 27 years, the Truck Rodeo has become a major event recognized internationally with regional economic repercussions of over 4.5 million dollars annually. A permanent office is located in the heart of Notre-Dame-du-Nord where three people are employed. Because of the Truck Rodeo's great reputation, the event has won numerous regional and national prizes. The event is also responsible for allowing national media coverage for the region. For example, various articles appeared in the famous “Journal de Montréal”, a coverage of the event appeared on the television station RDS... The event now has the reputation for being the biggest truckers Festival of its kind in all of Eastern Canada.