NEWS RELEASE
ONTARIO FEDERATION OF SNOWMOBILE CLUBS
ONTARIO FEDERATION OF ALL TERRAIN VEHICLE CLUBS
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The Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) and the Ontario Federation of All Terrain Vehicle Clubs (OFATV) announced a historic memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the province’s two largest recreational trail organizations.
This first-of-its-kind MOU solidifies a co-operative new approach in organized powersports with the goals to foster the protection, sustainability and growth of motorized recreational trails. The MOU will significantly benefit each federation, their clubs, volunteers, landowners and trail users, as well as countless trail‐connected communities and tourism businesses across Ontario.
“Through these formal co-operative efforts, we will be able to leverage our collective communities to amplify messaging and strengthen our efforts to combat off‐trail riding, trespassing, and seasonal trail usage,” said Ryan Eickmeier, OFSC CEO. “Where shared trails exist, the ability for our respective clubs to work together to build trail and infrastructure is also a definitive win for both organizations.”
“With the incredible rise in popularity of powersports in Ontario, this MOU provides an unprecedented opportunity to contribute to the growth of clubs and experience for trail users as well as the integrity of shared trails,” said Shari Black, OFATV executive director. “Moving forward, riders and clubs in Ontario will benefit from our collaborative approach to working together to encourage the growth of tourism and support the sustainability of our natural resources.”
Through the MOU, the OFSC and OFATV seek to develop inter‐club alignment and collaboration, and where applicable, explore opportunities to share infrastructure and trail maintenance for more cost-effective and efficient operations.
While leveraging their respective economic and community impacts to increase support from municipal, provincial, and federal government, the federations will proactively partner on government grants and funding opportunities. They will also develop and promote common themes in their respective messaging around safety, seasonal trail usage, trespassing, off‐trail riding, and respecting landowners.
The OFSC and OFATV recognize that many motorized recreational trail users share mutual and overlapping interests as owners of both snowmobilers and ATVs, using snowmobile trails when they are available in the winter and ATV trails that open in the other seasons. This new MOU will build on these commonalities to strengthen organized powersports and secure the future of motorized recreational trails in Ontario.
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