Outdoor clubs across British Columbia are getting almost $200,000 in funding to enhance tourism opportunities and support off-road recreation.
A handful of provincial groups and associations received funding including the B.C. Off-Road Motorcycle Association, the B.C. Snowmobile Federation, and the Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia. As well, a number of local groups got funding from the B.C. Government including the Cranbrook Snowmobile Club and the Kootenay Rockies ATV Club.
“22 clubs are receiving funding to improve trail riding and to promote rider safety,” said the B.C. Government. “The next intake of applications to the Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Trail Fund will begin in early 2020, with at least $200,000 available to fund applicants.”
The ORV Trail Fund was established in 2017 and is mainly funded from a portion of registration fees collected under ICBC’s Off-Road Vehicle Act.
The B.C. Government said about 10,000 kilometres of ORV trails are managed by the Recreation Sites and Trails Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, alongside community partnerships with ORV groups.
Here’s the list of ORV funding that’s impacting both provincial and local groups and where the money is going:
- B.C. Off-Road Motorcycle Association: $8,157
- Educate B.C. off-road motorcyclists to improve awareness of off-road motorcycle riding “best practices” through a 15-week BCORMA “Safety through Education” public awareness campaign.
- B.C. Snowmobile Federation: $10,000
- Complete a comprehensive review of all course curriculum (hands-on and online) for the Safe Operators Program. This will involve clarifying program policies and creating an online portal for instructors to communicate and receive updates.
- Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia: $4,910
- Supply and distribute trail safety, caution and regulatory signs for use on ORV trail networks throughout B.C. to ensure ORV trails are properly signed and safe for all users.
- Cranbrook Snowmobile Club: $2,250
- Ensure proper signage is displayed for riders on the Lumberton Trail, as well as accurately detailed maps for riders.
- Kootenay Rockies ATV Club: $6,358
- Clearing four sections of existing trails totalling 6.9 kilometres of alders and other debris on the Semlin Lamb Trail.
