A 12-year-old We’koqma’q girl has a history of not doing things in the conventional way.
Her unique style all began at birth when one February day in 2014, she came into this world not in a hospital or a home – not even in a bed in a room. Arabella Cremo gained instant local fame at birth by being delivered by her grandfather in a pickup truck at the side of the road near Bucklaw, Victoria County.
When her parents – Gavin Cremo and Autumn Dennis-Doyle – couldn’t make it fast enough into the Cape Breton Regional Hospital from their home, little Arabella couldn’t wait. Fortunately, her grandparents Tiny and Karen Cremo were in the truck with them. They drove into an empty garage parking lot in Bucklaw along Highway 105 and waited for paramedics to arrive.
Tiny Cremo was fire chief of the We’koqma’q volunteer department at that time and had Red Cross training which helped him work with the 911 operator to deliver the baby safely. Later that year, he was presented an award for heroism by the Red Cross. And Arabella became known for the next few years as “The Bucklaw Baby.”
At the age of two, Arabella was “play arm wrestling” with her father who was a fan of the sport and coaching and competing when he could. She became such a fan and so good at it that she started competing when she was eight years old at such events as the Mi’kmaw Summer Games where people of all ages challenge friendly rivals in their age or weight class.
And last month, the pre-teen with the adventuresome spirit qualified to represent Canada at an international arm-wrestling championship in Japan in September.
Not only is she unique to be competing internationally at her young age in a sport most women have never thought about participating in, but according to her stepmother Darian Bernard, she will be the first Mi’kmaw woman to do so.
Arabella’s strength, character and tenacity will serve her well when she competes at the International Armwrestling Championships during September 22-27 in Tsuchiura, Japan.
PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL CHAMP
In May, she won a Nova Scotia provincial class and at the end of June, she competed and won her age class at the Canadian Armwrestling Federation Championships in Moncton. The next step is competing in the IFA World Armwrestling Championship in Japan.
“I’ve been competing, but I never thought I would get this far,” says the We’koqma’q student.
Although she has taken part in many provincial and local competitions, Moncton was her first national one. After winning her age class, she was bumped up an age class and won that one as well against a strong contender.
“I’m very grateful for all of the support I’m getting from my community and others,” Arabella says.
She trains every day and practices with her dad, older relatives, or other young people around her community who participate in the sport.
“My medals are all very special and important to me because I worked hard to get them. Hopefully, I will get one at the worlds, too,” she says.
Arm wrestling is a popular and long-practiced sport among the Indigenous. It’s one of the favourite events at the Mi’kmaw Summer Games which are coming up in August.
For some years now, there has been a call to have arm wrestling included in the Olympic Games.
‘IT’S SKILL’
Arabella will compete in junior age classes until the age of 18. She says she can beat most of the boys her own age – but she still can’t beat her dad – yet.
She likes the fact that she gets stronger every year and credits that to a lot of practice. There’s also a lot of work she does in a gym such as lifting weights for strength and working on her footwork – because arm wrestling is more than just from the elbow up to the hand.
Gavin Cremo, who coaches more people than just his daughter, says it’s a matter of “shoulders, arms and body work.”
“It’s not just a couple of guys concerned about the elbow on up. It’s skill,” he says. “If you just try to use your elbow, you’re going to get hurt.’”
“I think this is really good for other people to learn,” Arabella says. “This sport is really entertaining and it’s fun to do. You can just find a table and arm wrestle anywhere.”
As a Mi’kmaw youth, Arabella is proud to represent her nation and inspire other youth to believe in themselves and never give up.
The plan for Arabella now is to fly to Japan with her mother and father. The cost for the three of them to attend is expensive for flights, hotel rooms and food. The family has begun to fundraise and look for sponsorships. Contributions for the trip can be made through Darian Bernard at: darian_ann@hotmail.com .
ARM WRESTLING
The Rules
There is a lot of skill and timing involved – it’s not just about brute strength, even though it may look like that. Winning relies heavily on finger, wrist, and forearm leverage, and strategy.
- Competitors grip hands with their elbows planted on a specialized table. The aim is to pin their opponent’s hand to the pad. Elbows must be kept on padded surfaces and one hand grips a hand peg in a way that wrists are flat and thumb knuckles are visible.
- At least one foot must be touching the ground at all times.
- Two referees oversee the match.
- Thumbs must remain visible and hands must stay centered on table.
- No part of the competing hand may touch the competitor’s own body.
- Referees will ensure proper alignment of hands, wrists, and forearms, and that shoulders are square.
- A referee will impose a “ref’s grip” if competitors cannot achieve a legal grip within a set time; any movement during a ref’s grip may result in a foul.
- A referee will apply a strap for a “strap match” if required due to a slip in previous round, or by prior mutual agreement of competitors.
- Referee starts match with “Ready… Go!” or an equivalent signal.
FUN FACTS
- There is a famous Peanuts cartoon arm-wrestling match between Lucy and Snoopy that ends only when Snoopy gives Lucy a big kiss on her face, causing her to lose her grip in horror. The clip ends with Lucy calling “foul” to everyone who will listen (“Snoopy VS Lucy at Summer Camp” on YouTube).
- The only movie so far to highlight the sport of arm wrestling was the 1987 film “Over the Top” starring Sylvester Stallone, which was inspired by real-life arm-wrestling events and raised the profile of the sport worldwide.
Rosemary Godin is the Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for the Cape Breton Post, a position funded by the federal government.
By Rosemary Godin, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Original Published on Jul 08, 2026 at 07:58
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