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On November 1, 2000 a group of people from the Kenora area gathered at the Norman Community Club to discuss the state of organized snowmobiling in Ontario. Out of this first and subsequent meetings came an organization of concerned citizens calling itself the Wilderness Riders. We signed up 81 members that first night and by the end of the season our membership stood at 623.
We were concerned that the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), thinking that they had a monopoly, were riding roughshod over the wishes of a great number of snowmobilers in the province of Ontario. We were concerned with reports that snowmobilers from Manitoba had been turned back by the local OFSC affiliated club (the Sunset Trail Riders) because they (the Manitobans) didn't have OFSC trail permits. We were concerned that the STR wardens were exceeding their authority and stopping riders where they had no jurisdiction. As it turned out, we were right. We were concerned that STR representatives were stopping snowmobilers on private land over which the snowmobile trail crossed and threatening drivers with tresspass charges, also in areas where they had no authority (permission from the landowner). We were right again. We were concerned about the Ontario government's proposed Bill 101 and the changes that it would bring to the sport of snowmobiling. Bill 101 was being touted as a tool for policing authorities to enforce measures designed to make snowmobiling in the province of Ontario safer. We saw it as a measure to put more restrictions on who and where snowmobilers in Ontario could travel. We also saw it as an attempt by OFSC to further their own agenda without consultation with snowmobilers - empire building - gathering big bucks without accountability. We mounted an education campaign to inform snowmobilers about their rights and advised them not to let harassment and intimidation rule their lives and spoil their enjoyment of the wilderness and snowmobiling. We uncovered and made public the fact that STR didn't have all their paperwork in order with regards to getting permission from landowners before putting the OFSC designated trail across private property. We presented a petition with over 900 signatures to the City of Kenora council asking them to remove the requirement of an OFSC trail permit on the cross-town corridor (which they did) in the interim until a new by-law could be drafted and passed. They have since passed a resolution supporting one OFSC/STR operated and maintained snowmobile corridor within city limits, however, the actual route has yet to be mapped out and the new by-law has yet to be drafted. City officials have assured snowmobilers that they will be allowed to access services and businesses via routes within city limits not designated to OFSC and we will be involved in the process to ensure that this does indeed come about. We lobbied the provincial government with regards to Bill 101. We tried to warn other citizens in Ontario about the consequences of the legislation, but were mostly ignored. However, some of them have woken up since (ie. see "We must stand up and be counted", by Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director - Ontario OUT OF DOORS August 2001). This past spring and summer, we have had inquiries from citizens in Terrace Bay and Sault Ste Marie who are interested in starting up Wilderness Riders chapters for the upcoming season. So this is not just a Northwestern Ontario problem. Snowmobilers across the province are looking to become organized outside of OFSC to ensure that their views are being heard in Toronto. But that isn't all we did this past winter. We wanted to be a club in the true sense of the word (all work and no play, etc.), you get the picture. Our Recreation Committee was very busy. We held a very successful "Swap 'n Shop/Show 'n Shine/Open House" and are planning to make it even bigger and better this year. Watch for our advertisements regarding place, date & times. We entered a very elaborate float in the local Santa Claus parade. Our snowmobilers participated in a very successful ride to raise money for one of our members who was injured between Christmas and New Years in a snowboarding accident. And we held a couple of family day picnics and rides. We also held a summer BBQ on Sunday, September 2, 2001 for all our members. We wanted to let all snowmobilers know that they are most welcome in our area and we are doing everything we can to make their coming here enjoyable. We are still lobbying for such things as reduced rates for groups, reduced rates for weekend passes and perhaps even reciprocol agreements. We already have members from outside our area (particularily cottagers) who believe in our cause and we thank them for their support. No doubt there will be a groomed OFSC snowmobile trail to Kenora if snowmobilers want to pay the fee to use it. However, for those who enjoy a more adventurous type of riding, there are lots of other ways to get to Kenora without using the OFSC trail. And once you are here, there are lots of trails for you to ride without having to use an OFSC trail and potentially even access to city services without the requirement of an OFSC trail permit. |
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