“Heart of a Champion” — a tribute to Gerald “Gerry” James Palmantier, a Cariboo cowboy. This cowboy statue stands in Williams Lake, British Columbia.
“Gerry was born and raised in the Cariboo. The grandson of Leonard Palmantier, who co-founded the Williams Lake Stampede, he grew up in the most beautiful ranch lands of the Province. Having lived and cowboyed from Riske Creek, Alkali Lake, Dog Creek, to finally, Sugar Cane where Gerry settled down with his wile Kristy and their children. Gerry put his heart and soul into everything he did from working in the bush as a faller, buncherman, loader owner/operator, to going on the road as a bull rider and All Around Rodeo Cowboy in both amateur and pro ranks, then finally as a rancher- owner/operator of the Bearclaw Ranch. Gerry was a proud man of Chilcotin, Shuswap and American descent. Gerry lost his battle with bone cancer on August 27, 1996. His uncle, Jack Palmantier, 1976 World Saddle Bronc Champion and world class bucking horse stock contractor, said of his nephew, he had the ‘Head of a Champion’.”
I visited this Canadian roadside attraction on a road trip to Hyder, Alaska. Taking a British Columbia road trip and looking for stops? Also look for the World’s Largest Gold Pan, the Large Wheelchair, the Big Marmot Statue, Cariboo Sam – the Gold Miner Statue, and Mr. PG.
Site: Heart of a Champion – Gerry James Palmantier cowboy statue
Location: BC-97, Williams Lake, British Columbia, Canada
Cost: Free To See
Hours: Always Visible
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