TRAIL TALK NEWSLETTER OF THE ALBERTA OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE ASSOCIATION Spring 2010 Edition Message from the President This has been a challenging and inter- esting year in the life of the Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association. There have been lots of changes that we hope will have a long term positive impact for the OHV riding community in the Province of Alberta. We developed and enacted New Bylaws on November 27, 2009 which resulted in a change from individual members to regional club representation. There also was improvement in board governance, transparency, financial accountability, pro- ceedings at meetings and general man- agement oversight. This has provided the basis to unify the off road motorcycle and ATV groups and as our club membership grows so does our strength to work together to plan, build and maintain our Recreation Trails. We would like to thank Oksana, Man- ager of the Rider Federations for the Ca- nadian Off Highway Vehicle Distributors Council, for their continuing support amid the current economic challenges. Their funding is based on an import levy and is directly affected by the level of sales. There has been a 40% drop in sales, therefore our sustaining and project grant money available this year has been re- duced. We do appreciate the contribu- tions and the ongoing efforts of the (COHV) staff on our behalf regarding Rider Education Programs, Off Highway Vehicle Safety, Funds for Trail Building , and constant vigilance regarding Regula- tions and Legislation that may affect the off road riding community. As a direct result we have received funding from the National Trails Coalition for motorized trail projects. The Calgary ATV Riders Club , Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders, Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, Lethbridge Motorcycle Club, Athabasca Recreational Trails Society and Redwater Riders Club, were our member clubs that completed trail improvement projects. The Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Asso- ciation has now assumed the responsibil- ity of delivering the ATV Youth Safety Program and has just received $42,000 in funding. We would like to thank Terry Malone on behalf of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation for their past and continuing contributions to this very worthwhile program. The AOHVA would like to thank the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad for their dedication and perseverance in the deliv- ery of this program up to December 2009, when the funds were exhausted. We are excited to be able to move
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TRAIL TALK NEWSLETTER OF THE ALBERTA OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE ASSOCIATION
Spring 2010 Edition
Message from the President This has been a challenging and inter-esting year in the life of the Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association. There have been lots of changes that we hope will have a long term positive impact for the OHV riding community in the Province of Alberta. We developed and enacted New Bylaws on November 27, 2009 which resulted in a change from individual members to regional club representation. There also was improvement in board governance, transparency, financial accountability, pro-ceedings at meetings and general man-agement oversight. This has provided the basis to unify the off road motorcycle and ATV groups and as our club membership grows so does our strength to work together to plan, build and maintain our Recreation Trails. We would like to thank Oksana, Man-
ager of the Rider Federations for the Ca-
nadian Off Highway Vehicle Distributors
Council, for their continuing support amid
the current economic challenges. Their
funding is based on an import levy and
is directly affected by the level of sales.
There has been a 40% drop in sales,
therefore our sustaining and project grant
money available this year has been re-
duced. We do appreciate the contribu-
tions and the ongoing efforts of the
(COHV) staff on our behalf regarding
Rider Education Programs, Off Highway
Vehicle Safety, Funds for Trail Building ,
and constant vigilance regarding Regula-
tions and Legislation that may affect the
off road riding community.
As a direct result we have received funding from the National Trails Coalition for motorized trail projects. The Calgary ATV Riders Club , Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders, Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad, Lethbridge Motorcycle Club, Athabasca Recreational Trails Society and Redwater Riders Club, were our member clubs that completed trail improvement projects. The Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Asso-ciation has now assumed the responsibil-ity of delivering the ATV Youth Safety Program and has just received $42,000 in funding. We would like to thank Terry Malone on behalf of Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation for their past and continuing contributions to this very worthwhile program. The AOHVA would like to thank the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad for their dedication and perseverance in the deliv-ery of this program up to December 2009, when the funds were exhausted. We are excited to be able to move
ahead with this program and will con-tinue to deliver it as funds become available.
The Alberta government is ready to move forward with the recommendations of the Alberta Recreation Corridors Coor-dinating Committee. These include the formation of a designated administrative organization (DAO) that will collect user fees for distribution back to trail man-agement organizations for trails operation and development. It could also be a parking spot for liabilities and ownership of infrastructure so the individual non-profit organizations do not have to carry that load.
The Alberta government is also in the process of reviewing, and offloading many responsibilities that we have tradi-tionally felt they were responsible for, to the non-profit segments of our province. Trail development, operations and their management, enforcement and education components are all part of this offloading. We have no tools in place to do that at the present time and are continuing to work with the Alberta government through our MLA’s and Ministers. The AOHVA has had strong interest in the DAO concept development, to manage stewardship, assume liability issues, allo-cate funding, monitor trail development projects and generally oversee the ad-ministration of a funded and formalized trail strategy. We will continue and increase our in-volvement in the development of the Delegated Administration Organization as this is vital to our continued successes in delivering responsible off highway rid-ing opportunities to our members. On behalf of the AOHVA I would like to express a great appreciation to all of our clubs, members and volunteers for your hard work, commitments and accomplish-ments of the past year.
In closing I would like to thank our 2009 Executive Officers and Directors for their efforts and dedication that has kept our Association running smoothly and provided us with the ability to take on the upcoming challenges in 2010.
The Alberta Off-Highway Vehicle Associa-tion is dedicated to providing safe individual and family motorized recreational opportuni-ties in an environmentally responsible man-ner.
Respect the environment and minimize impacts. Respect the rights of other users. Participate in the decisions that affect our access and use of public lands. Improve public understanding by ad-dressing issues and concerns. Be responsible when riding by using designated trails and minimizing impact. Obey the rules and other relevant legisla-tion.
Beliefs:
We believe that majority of motorized recreationists are responsible. We believe that majority of motorized recreationists respect the environment. We believe that motorized recreation is a legitimate use of public lands. We believe that attitudes can be changed through education. We believe that users must participate in the decisions on trail use and management. We believe trails can be shared by all users. We believe that the motorized recreation community provides significant economic benefit to local communities.
Values:
We value our privilege to ride on public lands. We value the natural and archaeological treasures that our great outdoors hold. We value nature and respect its diver-sity. We value clean air, water and land. We place a high value on future use of trails for our children and other users.
NATIONAL TRAILS COALITION PROJECT
We have received funding from the National Trails Coalition for many different motorized trail projects. Most notably are the Calgary
ATV Riders Association, the Rocky Moun-tain Dirt Rides, and the Crowsnest Quad Squad. The Calgary ATV Riders have re-ceived $196,000 to do trail redevelopment and to install 8 engineered bridges that al-low for motorized access in the Ghost area. The Mclean Creek area has 450 km of trails GPSed and signed which was another mas-sive accomplishment. As well, there have been 30 km of new trails developed in the Crowsnest Pass Area and still 14 new bridges to be installed in 2010.
CANADIAN OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE
ASSOCIATION FUNDING
We would like to thank the Canadian Off Highway Vehicle Association (COHVA) for their continuing support amid the challenges that they face with regards to the economy. Their funding is based on an import levy and is directly affected by the level of sales. As we all know there has been a 40% drop in sales, therefore our sustaining grant money awarded this year was reduced by 50%. However, we do appreciate the contribu-tions and the ongoing efforts of the Cana-dian Off Highway Vehicle Staff on our be-half. Further Rider Education, Off Highway Safety, Trail Funding Operations, and Politi-
Pictured above is Terry Malone being thanked by Don
McKay for last years matching funding that the NTC had
contributed to the AOHVA for the trail projects
cal Lobbying are among a few of the many jobs that they perform.
MEMBERSHIP INFORMATION With the bylaw changes of November 2009, individual memberships are no longer avail-able. Individuals must belong to an ATV or ORM Club which is incorporated as a Soci-ety or Association in Alberta and is good standing with Alberta Corporate Registry and has met the membership criteria as es-tablished by the Board from time to time, and that has a mandate and objects com-patible with the objects of the AOHVA.
Current Club Members Athabasca Trail Conservation Society www.snowandmud.com
Bighorn Heritage Society
www3.telus.net/bhas/
Brazeau ATV Club www.members.shaw.ca/brazeauatvclub Calgary ATV Riders Association www.calgaryatvriders.com
The Calgary Motorcycle Club www.calgarymotorcycleclub.com Crowsnest Quad Squad www.quadsquad.ca Edson ATV Club [email protected] Fall Creek Conservation Society www.fcgk.com Grande Cache ATV Club [email protected] Hinton ATV Club [email protected] Lac Ste. Anne ATV Club www.lacsteanneatvclub.com Off Road Motorcycle Training Institute www.offroadmotorcycletraininginstitute.ca Outlaw ATV Club www.outlawatvclub.com Redwater Riders [email protected] Rocky Motorcycle Club www.rockymotorcycleclub.com
Rocky Mountain Dirt Riders Club www.rockymountaindirtriders.com Second Gear Club http://secondgearclub.camp9.org/ St Paul ATV Club [email protected]
Youth Safety Education This is one of the founding pillars of our community; the Crowsnest Pass Quad Squad had delivered this program up until this year. The Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association has now assumed the responsi-bility of delivering the program and has just received $42,000 in funding from Terry Malone on behalf Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation to administer and implement this very worthwhile program. We, the Al-berta Off Highway Vehicle Association are excited to be able to move ahead with the program and continue to deliver it as funds become available.
Pictured above: Terry Malone (Director of Tourism Prod-
uct Development, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation)
presenting the $42,000 cheque to Brent Hodgson
(AOHVA President). Also in the picture Aaron Bauer
Delegated Administrative Organiza-tion Proposal The Alberta government is ready to move forward with the recommendations of the Alberta Recreation Corridors Coordinating Committee. These include the formation of a designated administrative organization (DAO) that will collect user fees for distribu-tion back to trail management organizations for trails operation and development. It will also be a parking spot for liabilities and own-ership of infrastructure so the individual non-profit organizations do not have to carry that load.
The Alberta government is also in the proc-ess of reviewing, and offloading many re-sponsibilities that we have traditionally felt they were responsible for, to the non-profit segments of our province. Trail develop-ment, operations and their management, enforcement and education components are all part of this offloading. In a bold statement if we do not maintain our trails we will lose them! We have no tools in place to do that at the present time and are continuing to work with the Alberta government. Through our MLA and yours through your letters to get these tools in order to maintain our trails system and develop it into a professionally operated industry that is a huge benefit to all Albertans. The AOHVA has had strong in-volvement in its development, to manage stewardship, assume liability issues, allo-cate funding, monitor trail development pro-jects and generally oversee the administra-
tion of a funded and formalized trail strat-egy.
April 10, 2010 Trail Ride Oksana Buhel (Manager of the Rider Fed-erations for the Canadian Off Highway Vehi-cle Distributors Council), arrived from On-tario Saturday morning to attend the AO-HVA AGM being held on the following day. That Saturday afternoon Garry Salekin (AOHVA Treasurer) took Oksana Buhel (Manager of the Rider Federations for the Canadian Off Highway Vehicle Distributors Council), for a quad ride. The ride was gen-erously sponsored by Mountain Toys of Cochrane, Alberta who supplied the Polaris Ranger that was used for the day. They rode the trails in the Ghost/Waiparous area for a couple of hours to allow her to see in person what the AOHVA has accomplished with the grant funds that the COHV have provided us with through their Grant Pro-gram.
AOHVA AGM The AOHVA AGM was held Sunday April 11, in Rocky Mountain House at the Lou Soppit Centre and was well attended. Many club members were present for the event and the wonderful buffet that followed. Most notably were Oksana Buhel (Manager of the
Rider Federations for the Canadian Off Highway Vehicle Distributors Council), as previously noted flew in from Ontario to be present for the cheque presentation. Terry Malone (Director of Tourism Product Devel-opment, Alberta Tourism, Parks and Rec-reation), on behalf of Minister Ady, pre-sented the AOHVA Youth Safety Education program with a cheque for $42,000
New Developments Unveiling of our new backdrop that empha-sises all of the efforts put in to make our trails better and the variety of users than can enjoy them. With the recent move of our office to Cal-gary, AB, it has proved to be very productive and we are continuing to serve our club members efficiently as possible. Next week, Don Peters will be attending a
Provincial Fatality Inquiry, representing the
Alberta Off Highway Vehicle Association;
regarding the death of a 12-year-old that
had died as result of the ATV he was riding
rolling on top of him.
A few of the many people that make things happen: Glen
Simpson, Andy Hayward, Denis Robson, Denis Poissant,
Brent Hodgson, Garry Salekin, Karl Giesler Aaron Bauer
and Christine Ross.
AOHVA SPONSORS Backroad Map Book
GW Cycle World Mountain’s Edge
PRO-AM Motorcycling Rancher’s Supply
Scona Cycle Honda SUZUKI
Turple Bros. Ltd. Red Deer Walt Healy Motorsports
Pictured to the left is the new AOHVA back drop that will be used at Trade Shows as well as many other events.
