Snowmobile federation disputes Rick MacLeod's facts

"Snowmobile safety officers resigning in droves

The following is in response to the above disturbing headline.

It would be fair to readers to know some more pertinent information.

Being the OFSC (Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs) provincial chair for the STOP (Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol) program, I must state that some of the information is misleading.

To make things clear, the STOP program is not only alive and well but is growing in the province."

Ontario Snowmobile Trails

Snowshoeing at Scout Valley - The Orillia Packet & Times - Ontario, CA

"Ethen Devine, 8, tries snowshoeing for the first time at Scout Valley as part of the city's Winter Active events over the weekend. He is followed by his brother Davin Devine, 6, and grandparents Alli and Eric Devine - all first time snowshoers."

Ontario's Snowshoe Trails

Timmins Police patrolling snowmobile trails. - Timmins Times - Ontario, CA

"Timmins Police officers were out patrolling the snowmobile trails and conducting RIDE checks throughout the City of Timmins. Twenty-two snowmobiles were stopped said a police news release. Documents and OFSC trail permits were checked. One driver was charge under the Motorized Snow Vehicle Act for driving with no license. Police remind snowmobilers to carry all required documents and to adhere to trail speed limits."

Ontario Trails - Sled Smart

TheRecord - On the trail to fitness

TheRecord - On the trail to fitness: "It is one of the longest continuous pieces of exercise equipment in the province. The Grand Valley Trails are 275 kilometres of scenic terrain perfect for hiking, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing."

Ontario's Outdoor Fitness Trails

SkiTrax.com: Ontario Coaching Opportunities - WorldofXC.com

SkiTrax.com: Ontario Coaching Opportunities - WorldofXC.com: "January 25, 2011 – Cross Country Ontario would like to fill the Assistant Coach and the Apprentice Coach positions for the 2011 National Championships between March 10 – 20, 2011"

Ontario's Cross Country Ski Trails

TheSpec - City considers smoking ban in public parks

TheSpec - City considers smoking ban in public parks: "The legislation would apply to much of Hamilton’s 1,566 hectares of parkland at 438 properties, including 52 parks shared with schools. It excludes smoking on municipal golf courses and recreational trails."

Horseback Ride Along the Beach in Niagara, Ontario

Horseback Ride Along the Beach in Niagara, Ontario: "Horseback ride along the beach in Niagara, near Toronto, Hamilton and Buffalo. Discover the local beauty while horseback riding on one of our well-trained horses. Horseback Ride on our one and two hour horseback rides, Sunset trail rides, Cookouts and Romance packages."

Ontario Equestrian Trails

Glendaler's ATV Sports Club - About the Organization

Glendaler's ATV Sports Club - About the Organization: "The Glendaler's Winter Sports Club is an ATV and snowmobile Club located in the North and South Glengarry Townships, east of the city of Cornwall, Ontario. We are the largest ATV Club in Eastern Ontario! and a non-profit organization."

Ontario's ATV Trails

InsideToronto Article: Cyclists spin outdoors to raise funds for cancer research

"Cyclist Frank Zechner braved the frigid sub-zero temperatures Saturday, Jan. 22, to kick off his 2011 fundraising season in the fight against kids' cancer.
He was joined on the weekend by fellow Sears National Kids Cancer rider Ulana Kopystansky, the former owner of the Swansea Village Pharmasave store, for an outdoor spin in front of the Bank of Montreal at the corner of Bloor Street West and Windermere Avenue from 9:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Their efforts raised almost $400."

Opportunity to ride Ontario trails for $30 - HCS Snowmobile Forums

"The Sunset Trail Riders out of Kenora have a poker derby scheduled for Saturday January 29. They generally issue a one-day $35 (not $30 as in subject line) 'special events pass' on that day giving you an opportunity to ride their trails. Please see the STR website http://www.sunsettrailriders.ca/ as point of departure, poker route and details in obtaining pass are TBD. Click on calendar Jan 29 date or click on the Contact tab to email club officers for added information."

Ontario Snowmobile Trails

Ontario Snowmobiling Offers Many Unique People & Places

"This unique 60,000 acres of wilderness is the only wholly privately owned snowmobiling operation in the world. Rated by Supertrax Magazine as one of the top-10 snowmobiling destinations in North America, Haliburton Forest attractions include snowmobiling on 300 kilometres (198 miles) of groomed trails, plus numerous events (such as a Snowarama or poker run), snowshoeing excursions, and dog sled rides. In its famous Wolf Centre, the wild pack roams freely in a 15-acre enclosure and interpretative exhibits tell their story."

Snowmobile and ATV stolen from Base Line outbuilding - Chatham Daily News - Ontario, CA

"WALLACEBURG — A Ski-Doo snowmobile and Yamaha ATV were stolen from an outbuilding on Base Line outside Wallaceburg recently.

Chatham-Kent police said the break-in was reported Sunday.

The snowmobile is yellow with the registration 893052 and the red ATV has the licence plate 58MW8.

The vehicles are worth $17,000, police said."

CBC News - Nova Scotia - ATV trails lose Trans Canada status

"The Trans Canada Trail says it will no longer fund or promote trails that allow all-terrain vehicles.

Trail spokesperson Tim Hoskin said shared use trails, as they're known, don't work.

'What we've discovered through this experiment is that on shared use trails, there is considerable user conflict,' said Hoskin."

Ontario's Multi-Use Trails

UC student cycles and freezes for Haiti | theVARSITY.ca

"On January 29, U of T student Andreas Kloppenborg plans to cycle non-stop from Kingston to Toronto in a charity effort to sponsor schoolchildren in Haiti. Kloppenborg will attempt to complete the 280 km trek — a route usually completed in three days — in 24 hours. The Canadian winter, which will be Kloppenborg’s biggest obstacle, inspired his cause’s name: Frostbike."

Bon Soo Is Ontario's Largest Winter Festival Feb. 4-13 - OnTheSnow

"Midwesterner's looking for a little winter revelry should consider heading north of the border in early February.

Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., has long been a haven for Great Lakes' snow sports enthusiasts. So it's no wonder that it's also home to Ontario's largest winter carnival, Bon Soo, which takes place Feb. 4-13 this winter.

Bon Soo, which has been named one of the country's top 50 festivals, is Canada's second largest winter carnival next to the Montreal Carnivale in Quebec. This marks its 48th season."

Ontario Trail Events

Trail Ride along the beach at HorsePlay Niagara - Port Colborne, Ontario Horseback Riding - RealAdventures

"Horseback ride along the beach and the Trans-Canada Trail viewing the wildlife found along these quiet paths. Loose the crowds and get back to the basics as you discover the beauty and peace of Niagara, on the back of one of our well trained horses."

Ontario's Equestrian Trails

Ontario rec group claims province blocking Crown land - CTV News

"TORONTO — A northern Ontario recreational group says the Ministry of Natural Resources is blocking local access to lakes and rivers in favour of foreign-based tourist outfitters.

The Ontario Outdoors Recreational Alliance complains the ministry closes logging roads to prevent residents and local tour companies from driving into remote areas to hunt, fish or canoe.

Alliance president Tom Brason says the government is keeping locals out at the request of remote tourist operators who fly customers into camps on Crown lands."

Ontario's Northwestern Trails
Ontario's Northeastern Trails
Ontario's North Central Trails

Toronto International Bicycle Show 2011 - Toronto :: Ontario Bike Guide

"The 2011 show is at the Better Living Centre
Exhibition Place, Toronto, Ontario.

The show runs from March 4 to March 6, 2011"

Ontario Off-Road Cycling Trails

Waterways and trails keeping police busy - The North Bay Nugget - Ontario, CA

"Police issued 27 charges including anglers having more than two lines each, failure to have proper documentation such as a driver's licence, insurance, ownership and fishing licence.
Police have also encountered an increase in the number of all-terrain vehicles and side by side riders not wearing their helmets when out on the lake. They remind the public this is a safety concern as well as a violation of the Off-Road Vehicle Act."

Ontario ATV Smart

onteba: Ontario eBike Alliance: Bancroft-area trails to host 'eBike Challenge'

"The challenge will include events for scooter-style, four-wheel (mobility), and something the paper calls 'open-class modified' eBikes.

Organizers say it will be a time-based ride that will coincide with the Coe Hill Wild West Weekend and the Maynooth Logging Games. It won't be a 'race.'

Onteba salutes the EOTA for including eBikes in the summer recreation plans for Hastings Highlands, Bancroft and Wollaston in addition to Maynooth and Coe Hill."