Truck Rodeo

The Truck Rodeo of Notre-Dame-du-Nord community, Abitibi-Temiscamingue Region, is a major tourist event of international level.

Related to the trucking industry, this rodeo is held at Notre-Dame-du-Nord, a small village, where a natural road intersection exists between the Temiscamingue region, the Abitibi region and the province of Ontario. The Truck Rodeo is the biggest annual truckers’ festival in all of Eastern Canada.

It started in 1981 as an addition to a local fishing tournament. Its organization was very modest at the beginning, and only a dozen competitors demonstrated their abilities in front of a few hundred spectators. In 1986, the organizing committee had an audacious idea to have a draw for a Mack Superliner truck.

The committee printed out 2 000 tickets and put them in circulation. These tickets sold out within a month. This success allowed the committee to announce a net profit of $ 93 500 for its 6th edition. It was the beginning of the Truck Rodeo's promotional tours. In 1987, the mascot “El Rodeo” was created by Jerry Blain. In 1991, the Show and Shine Contest was added to the event. The idea is based upon a competition of the nicest truck.

A flea market site has been another new component to the event. Dozen of booths offer a variety of products to all visitors. There are also exhibitors who are proud to present their latest products or services on the market. Today, the Truck Rodeo has become a major event recognized internationally with regional economic repercussions.

Guests can attend to various shows, the truck parade, truck pull competitions, flea market and other activities.

Fireworks are held at night. Camping facilities are available on place.

Address of the Truck Rodeo:

5, rue Ontario, C.P. 36 Notre-Dame-du-Nord

J0Z 3B0

Telephone : 1-877-357-6336 (toll free) or 819-723-2712

Web Site of Truck Rodeo: elrodeo.com