Team Canada’s Quest to be the World’s Best Butchers
Team Canada 2025: Doug Easterbrook (Alternate), Brent Herrington, Dave Vandervelde, Peter Baarda (Captain), Taryn Barker, Corey Meyer, Damian Goriup, Ben Carson (Alternate).
Canada entered the World Butchers’ Challenge with a bang in 2022. Creating a Canadian team was the brainchild of team captain Peter Baarda, three-time winner of Ontario’s Finest Butcher competition. It was a rigorous try-out process for those wanting a spot on the team and in the end, seven butchers entered the Golden 1 Centre to represent Canada in their inaugural and highly memorable performance on the world stage. A passionate group of butchers, they dedicated their time and talent to showcase what Canada has to offer. Team Canada held their own, with the experience giving them so much more than just meat. Team Canada placed in the top 10, giving them the taste for more; and the drive to come back better and beefier than ever!
FAST FORWARD TO Corey the Butcher in PARIS. FRANCE 2025
A Record-Breaking Event
The 2025 World Butchers’ Challenge broke new ground, with a record 14 nations competing and attracting over 6000 spectators – over the two day event – making it the largest event in WBC history. This year also saw the global expansion of its three events, welcoming new nations from five continents, including Indonesia, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Romania, and Spain.
The 2025 World Butchers’ Challenge also saw a record-breaking number of female competitors, with 19 women showcasing their skills across the World Butchers’ Challenge, World Champion Butcher Apprentice, and Young Butcher competitions.
A Historic Moment in Paris
This marks the first time the World Butchers’ Challenge has been hosted in France, with Paris providing an awe-inspiring backdrop for this international showcase of butchery talent.
Canada Meets Paris
The focus was to show case Canada in all of its delicious glory. The display was to bring your eyes, and taste buds to travel through all four seasons that Canada has to offer. Team Canada brought the best of Beef, Pork, Chicken and Lamb to light to dazzle the judges, earning them an impressive 5th place win against the world. A significant jump from the 10th place finish in Team Canada’s first ever showing at the World’s Butcher Challenge in 2022. Team Canada is now back at the block and excitedly anticipating what is to come at the World’s Butcher Challenge in 2028. Stay tuned and stay hungry. Go Team!
