Newsletters
July 11, 2010
At 11 am I was informed that what was once only a dream had just become a reality.
In order to explain I have to take you back almost two years. My cell phone rang – it was a friend and fellow ATVer and he told me that our RM Board Members were about to ban the use of all ATV’s in our cottage area. I had just purchased a quad and this was not good news.
There were several other municipalities that had already done this and we quickly organized to try and stop the ban. There were attempts made to meet with the municipal board and submit a large petition but the subject kept getting tabled to later meetings. During the winter (when there are only a few residents in the area) the ban was passed. Shortly after my RM passed the ban, the municipality south of us did the same thing.
In January of 2009 I was searching the web for information about ATV Associations in other provinces. I was amazed at the achievements they listed. They were getting support from the provinces instead of being banned. They were getting grants from both private and federal sectors to help maintain and develop trail systems. That was when I decided to do whatever it took to start an Association in Manitoba.
I started to email Provincial Associations to get information on how they got started. By February I was invited to come to a meeting with the “newly formed” All Terrain Vehicle Association of Manitoba. Because I missed the first election meeting I worked with the Board of Directors for the rest of the years as a non-board member. We had our first AGM last March and I was elected as a Director.
If there is one word that would describe the people I work with it would be devoted. We come from different parts of the province every month and meet for hours working through piles of issues. We go to Municipal meetings and make presentations in the hope that they will support our plan to build a trail system in our province. We give up our weekends to go to derbies and club meetings to promote the Association and help start new clubs.
This brings us back to July 11, 2010. I spent weeks getting ready. There were posters to put everywhere and hours spent on the trails personally inviting riders. We needed prizes and a good location. We also needed our supporters to make an appearance. Most importantly we needed a group of ATVers who were interested in knowing more about what they could do to grow the sport in the East Beaches Area.
This is where my dream becomes reality. Saffie’s General Store in Albert Beach gave us their outdoor deck for the location. Hillside Power Products donated a great set of ATV chains for the new members draw. Victoria Beach Police Dept had an officer on site to answer questions regarding local by-laws and how to get to where we can ride. I got to welcome everyone to the information meeting that started as a dream. I also introduced the other board members that made the drive and our President, Chris Fox-Decent who gave a review of what we have accomplished so far. This was followed by a question and answer time.
In conclusion the interest level is high and the support is growing. Our hope is that we will soon see some designated, insured trail in the East Beach Area. We also hope that there is enough ATVers that will take the time to start a club for the general area. We need this to happen so that we can direct funding, education and support to the area. There have been quick results in other municipalities where bans have been replaced with designated trails and teamwork.
To find out more about the items I touched on, visit our website at atvmb.ca.
Contributed by: Bryan Peters – ATVMB Director
June 2009
We contacted the Manitoba Floodway Authority in regards to an ATV trail on the East side of the floodway. As we knew, they require us to have the support of the Municipalities that the floodway passes through before they can consider ATV's in the development plan.
Read the whole story June 2009.pdf
May 2009
It has been some 6 weeks since we had our first meeting on March 21st and we have come a long way. There hasn't necessarily been much information available on Trackshare about the association’s progress but I assure you it is not due to a lack of action, but rather not enough time in the day to compose this. So I had a few hours to review and this is where were at.
Read the whole story May,2009.pdf
ATVMB input in the Off-road Vehicle Event Policy on Crown Land
ATVMB's input in this policy came in the form of redefining the term “Events”, eliminating redundancy, and trying to be sure the procedure for application is not overburdened.
Read the whole story Event Policy on Crown Land.pdf
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