2005-2006
Pancake Breakfast
Ross Winters is back for a second year running the Forest Center Canteen and has agreed to help us with a Pancake Breakfast. Mark Jan 15th on your calendar and come on out for breakfast with the club. All proceeds from this event go directly back on the trails.
Click here for directions to the Forest Center
2004-2005
Dyno and Ganaraska Poker Ride
Cancelled due to lack of snow
Mark February 13th on your calendar. It’s our biggest poker ride yet with a guaranteed first prize of $250. We have joined forces with our neighbors to the North the Cartwright Dyno’s to bring you a full day of riding and gathering with friends, oh and did I forget to mention a Poker hand or two.
A 100km ride through the Ganaraska Forest north into Cartwright Dyno’s trail system (Breakfast available at the Granary Restaurant on Hwy 7A) West through the Janetville trail system, back through the Long Sault trails and home via the Ganaraska trails to the Forest Center.
Registration is from 8:00am -11:00am at the Ganaraska Forest Center and everyone must be back no later than 3:30pm.
There will be Hot Dogs, Chili, Soup and Coffee available at the Forest Center Canteen upon your return.
Donation to Tsunami Releif Fund
It’s hard to imagine the death and destruction left behind from the tsunami’s in Asia. As a small club with limited funds sending money wasn’t an option or was it? About a year ago I enrolled the club in an online points program from My Points (www.mypoints.com) where you earn points for reading emails and making purchases online from selected merchants. After collecting enough points you can cash them out for gift certificates to your favorite stores.
As of Jan 1, 2005 we had enough points to cash out for a gift certificate to Home Depot. My intention was to use this gift certificate towards the cost of new supplies or tools. I think we can do without an extra pair of pruners for the winter and give these points to the Red Cross to be turned into cash to buy tsunami relief supplies.
It doesn't have to stop there you can get involved too just by signing up for the MyPoints program. Just Click on the MyPoints logo above. By doing so a referral fee of 100 points is made to us which we will donate back to the Red Cross. So just for signing up for the MyPoints program you won't only be building towards free rewards for yourself but you will be donating $1 to the Tsunami Relief fund.
Snowarama 2005
Come out and enjoy a great ride for the whole family through the picturesgue Ganaraska Forest on February 5th. Registration at the Long Sault Clubhouse.
For more information Click here
OFSC Press Release - Quebec Judgement
To view the OFSC press release Click here
Fall AGM
The club holds two very important general meetings open to all members each year. It is in these meetings where we decide what direction the club will take in key issues specific to the club and the snowmobiling community as a whole. Such topics as grooming equipment upgrades, event coordination and trail maintenance are discussed at theses meeting.
On the agenda for the 2004 Fall AGM at the Campbellcroft Lions Hall on Oct 24th at 7:00pm
Club bylaws revised
Family poker ride and fun day - The executive has an idea for a larger event
Any other events - Pancake Breakfast, Pizza or chili day
Landowner & Volunteer appreciation night
SOS Where has it Gotten Us
If you haven't read the SOS update in our Fall 2004 newsletter I sudgest you do. Although it's not packed full of information it does provide a bit of a background.
Since writting the article for the newsletter a very important event has unfolding at the OFSC headquarters in Barrie. As you all know the insurance carrier that handles the OFSC liablity insurance hiked their rates more than a year ago. The OFSC has been in talkes with several carriers since this time attempting to hammer out a better deal. While doing so many new policies and procedures were put in place in hopes of stabalizing the insurance problem. Thankfully these new policies and procedures have paid off in holding rates near the posted rates a year ago. A press release from the OFSC Oct 5, 2004 brings even better news
"The OFSC is pleased to confirm that effective October 1, 2004 we have obtained a new general liability policy that provides the OFSC with more manageable trail liability insurance coverage to protect its volunteers, clubs, trails and landowners. This will effectively end the roller coaster ride of sky-rocketing costs over the past three years and allows the OFSC to better control its own destiny, delivering much-needed stability to Ontario's snowmobile industry."
No further details have been released.
17th International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports Show
The 17th Annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersports show is being held at the Toronto International Centre on October 29th, 30th and 31st, 2004.
The OFSC is the World’s Largest Organized Governing body for snowmobiling catering to the largest membership. They’ll be on hand all weekend selling OFSC snowmobile trail permits, dispensing safety information and answering questions on snowmobiling in Ontario. Come meet the real stars of snowmobiling who will also be putting on OFSC Driver Training Courses, introducing the Sled Smart Team and their safety initiatives along with displaying their Sponsors messages.
Marketer Shows Inc. and Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine, promoters and sponsors of the Show have donated the space to the OFSC including the special rooms and furnishings for the OFSC Driver Training Courses. In addition, they will be presenting the OFSC with $40,000.00 cash right after the Show, which will be their SECOND cash contribution for this amount. Marketer Shows Inc. and Ontario Snowmobiler Magazine are proud of their financial commitment to organized snowmobiling. This is the ONLY Show that puts real cash dollars right on the snow to help the sport of snowmobiling. Exhibitors at the 17th Annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersport Show are proud knowing that a Show they participate in, is financial supporting their sport. New Exhibitors are encouraged to be a part of this show.
In a previous press release, Marketer Shows Inc. and ATV World Magazine, promoters and sponsors of the ATV segment of the Show have donated space to the Ontario Federation of ATVS (OFATV), for their massive corporate booth. This is Canada’s Largest gathering of ATV
Enthusiasts and is Canada’s Largest ATV SHOW – the 17th Annual Toronto International Snowmobile, ATV & Powersport Show.
For information on booth space at the Show and/or general inquiries, please call:
1-888-661-SHOW (7469) or visit our website at www.torontosnowmobileshows.com
2003-2004
OFSC Trails Across Private Farm Lands Are Not Closed
This was the headline of a news release earlier this week. The issue is the assessment of private forest lands in Ontario. The commitment from the Ontario government was to assess managed forest lands identical to farm lands - the latter grow potatoes and wheat while forests grow trees. The benefit of forests to the general public are well known ( clean air and water, wildlife habitat, biodiversity, conservation etc.) as is the low economic return from sustainably managed forests. This was the basis of the government's promise. Based on this and in good faith, over 10.000 forest owners in Ontario had management plans prepared for their forests, which commits them to longterm, sustainable managament over many years. Partway through this period the Ontario government, represented by MPAC and the Ministry of Finance, have changed the rules and since April of 2003 are subjecting managed forests to an inflated market value assessment, which is not sustainable and can not be carried by Ontario's private forest lands.
Since the ball is now in the court of the Ministry of Finance and MPAC and if you want to voice your concern about the sustainability and assessment of private forest lands in Ontario, please contact that Ministry at:
Ministry of Finance, Office of the Minister, The Honourable Greg Sorbara: 416-325-0400 or by email at greg_sorbara-mpp@ontla.ola.org
At this point in time all trails in Ontario continue to remain open until further notice.
Trail Smart Insurance Update
New Trail Smart Insurance Program Launched.
For information on the launch of the new Trail Smart program click here
Pancake Breakfast
The Pancake breakfast just gets bigger with every passing year.
Chris Perron from The Roaster and our volunteer coordinator Stan King did an excelent job serving up the Pancakes. We were glad to
see so many people out and look forward to seeing you out on the trails. Thanks to the organizers
and everyone who attended.
Happenings around the GSC Website
Thanks to everyone who have passed along their positive comments about our new site. We have built a substantial list of updates we would
like to make over the next year and near the top of our priority list is to add some local tourist information to our site, places to stay places to eat etc.
Look for these and many other additions to the site in the next year. But please if you have something you would like to see added please don't hesitate to
contact our webmaster Kevin. He can be contacted using the E-mail us link at the bottom of all our pages. If your looking to take your business to the web
follow the KevnetDeZines link at the bottom of this page.
Poker Run 2003
Thanks to everyone who attended the Poker Run, it was another great success.
Click here to see the results. Thanks again to Ken
Hill for organizing the event.
Fall Work Party
The work party was a big success. Thanks to everyone who came out in the rain
to help with the trails. Your few hours of hard work go a long way in helping to make the club
a success and make the trails a safer place to snowmobile.
The Fall Work Party takes place November 10, 2002 at 9am at the Cambellcroft Hall.
Lots of trail preparation work will be done that day such as brushing, post installation and marking
fields, Please bring pruners if you have them. Lunch will be provided
2002-2003
Poker Run Results
Shirley Stapleton was our 50/50 draw winner. Shirley has donated back half of her
winnings to the Ganaraska Snowmobile Club and the other half is to go to Crippled Kids Easter Seal
Snowarama (Durham Region).
Click here to view the results.
You must have Microsoft Excel to view the results.
Click here to view pictures of the Poker Run.
Special thanks to all participants, prize donators, The Roaster and the Ganaraska Forest Center
Ken J. Hill
Pancake Breakfast
The Pancake breakfast was another big success.
Chris Perron from The Roaster who served up the Pancakes did an excellent job. We were glad to
see so many people out and old man winter co-operated and gave us just enough snow so that we could
go out for a ride after we stuffed ourselves with those wonderful pancakes.
Thanks to the organizers and everyone who attended
2001-2002
Work Party
The Club Work Party has come and gone with huge success.
On Sunday November 11, 2001 a group of about 30 volunteers myself included piled into trucks and
headed for the trails to prepare them for the upcoming snowmobile season. Jobs varied from trail
brushing, new signage, fencing, and bulldozing. When all the jobs were complete we returned to
the Lions' Hall in Campbellcroft for a hot lunch and share stories of the days events. This was
the first time I had volunteered for a work party and plan to be back for many more.
Thanks to everyone who attended
Kevin Malley
GSC Web Administrator
Driver Training
This course is open to anyone 12 years of age and older, who do
not already possess a drivers license, but wish to drive a snowmobile. The course will be on
Sunday November 25, 2001. There is a minimal cost for the course that includes the student manual,
graduate crest, and license holder. Pre-registration is a must!! If you are interested, please
call Marlene Cunningham at 905-797-2011 to register. Class size is limited, so
register early and avoid disappointment.
Bill 101 and its Impact on Snowmobile Use in the Ganaraska Forest
Bill 101, An Act to Promote Snowmobile Trail Sustainability and Enhance Safety and
Enforcement, was passed by the Ontario Government earlier this year and will take effect for the
upcoming winter season. Its intent is to help the Ontario Federation
of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) clubs raise additional revenues by ensuring that all snowmobiles riding
OFSC trails have permits. It also improves trail safety by clarifying enforcement powers and improving
safety regulations.
The implementation of Bill 101 will have some significant effects on snowmobiling in
the Ganaraska Forest. Under this bill all snowmobilers using OFSC trails, including those in the
Ganaraska Forest, will be required to have an OFSC permit. No longer will people with a forest
membership alone; be permitted to ride snowmobiles on OFSC trails within the Ganaraska Forest.
Enforcement of Bill 101 regulations, both in the forest and elsewhere, will be carried
out by police officers (OPP, Regional and Municipal), STOP officers and Conservation officers. People
who are found snowmobiling on OFSC trails without an OFSC permit will be subject to the appropriate
fines.
While in the past the number of forest members who used the forest for snowmobiling
who did not have OFSC permits was relatively small, it is extremely important that all forest users
are aware of the impacts of this legislation on snowmobiling. The GRCA is making every effort to
inform forest users of these changes and the provincial government will be conducting an information
campaign regarding Bill 101 this fall.
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