Canadian Handgun Nationals kick off in southern Alberta

The Canadian Handgun Nationals are being held in the MD of Taber this week. It's the first time the event has taken place in Alberta since 2017.

The 2025 Canadian Handgun Nationals are underway in Taber, Alta., and more than 400 competitors from across Canada and the United States are setting their sights on winning.

All of the competitor take part in 18 fast-paced and unique stages.

“Everything’s just come together beautifully,” said match director Rob Mckenzie. “Chinook Country Shooters is really, really proud and really fortunate to bring Canadian competitors together.”

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The nationals are hosted by the Chinook Country Shooters Club, and several of its members are involved in the week-long competition.

It’s taken over a year of planning, but members say its worth it.

“It’s an honour just to be involved. said Chinook Country Shooters Club president Marc Henderson. “There’s a ton of work to do, nut we’ve had really, really good help – and from other shooting clubs throughout Alberta as well, they’ve brought down equipment and some of them come down to help build.”

The event is also a major economic boost for the area.

It is projected to add up to $1 million to the provincial economy.

“We know they’re visiting our hotels, our restaurants, our shops, and taking in all that is great in our region,” said Tamara Miyanga, reeve for the MD of Taber.

Safety is top of mind for any shooting event like this.

Plenty of precautions are taken to make sure no one is in harms way.

“The most important thing in this sport is safety,” Henderson said. “That’s. It’s the first rule of safety. Nothing comes ahead of safety.”

This year marks the first time since 2017 that the event has taken place in Alberta.

The 2025 Canadian Handgun Nationals wrap up on Saturday.