Not even a year since moving to Cochrane, local photographer Walter Howor is already taking the town’s name to the world stage. This July, he’ll serve as the official photographer for Team Canada at the Roller Derby World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.
Howor is no stranger to major sporting events. His first assignment was the Pan American Wrestling Championships in Ottawa in 2020.
“I just loved it,” he recalled. “I love shooting action—fast-moving and combat sports—and I said, this is what I have to do.”
Originally from Quebec, Howor moved to Cochrane with his wife, Patti Holter, in July 2024, seeking new projects and a change of scenery.
“I wanted to be close to the mountains and to an international airport,” he said. “After visiting Calgary, we discovered Cochrane and fell in love instantly. As soon as we visited, we knew this was where we wanted to live.”
Before the move west, Howor had been photographing roller derby in Montreal, following several club teams. After relocating, he quickly connected with Calgary Roller Derby and began shooting for the club.
“After I made the connection with Calgary, all the other connections started to form,” he explained. “When the opportunity for Austria came up, a lot of groundwork had already been done, and luckily, I was chosen.”
Numerous photographers from across Canada applied for the coveted position. The selection was made by a committee.
“The World Cup only happens once in a while, so it’s a really big deal for me that I was able to be selected as an official photographer.”
The Roller Derby World Cup runs July 3–6 in Innsbruck and will feature 48 teams from around the globe. For Howor, the fast-paced nature of the sport is part of its photographic appeal.
“You try to isolate a certain move or moment, but with roller derby, there’s so much going on all the time,” he said. “You want to try and tell a story—you want to capture those incredible, high-action moments.”
As a new Cochranite, Howor is already finding ways to give back to his community through his work. Most recently, he photographed the 2025 Cochrane Cowboys Wrestling Invitational and submitted his images to The Cochrane Eagle.
“I want to contribute,” he said. “We love it here, and I want to promote our community however I can.”
Leading up to July, Howor will also be photographing the 2025 National Wrestling Championships in both Calgary and Edmonton, as well as Flat Track Fever, Calgary’s premier roller derby tournament.
To view Howor’s work, visit: walterhowor.wixsite.com/walter-howor-photo
