Photo Courtesy Dan Wilson

By Tanner Smith

Mr. Muscle & Fitness

Mr. Muscle & Fitness could be a Grande Prairie local

Jun 8, 2022 | 10:13 AM

A 44-year-old dad from Grande Prairie is trying to change how the world sees northern Alberta.

Dan Wilson, who currently sits in third place in the Mr. Muscle & Fitness contest is trying to beat out social media influencers almost half his age from all over the world.

“You know a place like Grande Prairie that quite often gets stereotyped as just a bunch of dirty oil workers, people need to understand that people here are just as diverse and interesting as anywhere else in the world and competing against 25-year-old social media influencers from New York and L.A… it’s a little bit hard right, everyone has heard their story.”

Wilson said even with all of their followers he believes the good people of Alberta will see what he’s doing and pile on to help him win the prize and show the world that fitness matters everywhere regardless of where you live and how old you are.

For Wilson, he didn’t start his fitness journey wanting to be Mr. Muscle & Fitness. It came from “shoveling food in his mouth before rushing his kids to hockey,” says Wilson.

Plan Ahead

Why Would You Pre-Plan Your Funeral?

Apr 03, 2024

Dying away from home

What Happens if You Die Away From Home?

Mar 04, 2024

Flag Retiring Ceremony

What Do You Do With Worn-Out Flags?

Feb 01, 2024

“So lifting weights was just a bit of a necessary evil, but throughout all of that, I found it very therapeutic, I just fell in love with the process. Like I tell everybody you put 300 pounds across your back, squat to the floor, and try to stand up, I guarantee you in that moment you’re not thinking about work or trouble at home or any of the stresses in your regular life.”

Wilson said besides showing the world the true colours of northern Alberta, he’s doing this for his sons and everyone around him.

“I wanted to show my boys, growing up and the people that love me in my life that I can come through when it matters, I can do something so impossibly hard just to show something positive to the people I care about and the people that care about me, to show everyone around me that you can do it.”

You can vote for Dan Wilson to become the next Mr. Muscle & Fitness, by clicking here