In addition to significant membership growth (over 5,000 members), the Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia and its partners achieved several milestones in 2021.
While the past year has been tough for members and clubs due to the pandemic and wildfires, members and affiliated clubs have continued their support for ATVBC through membership, engagement and feedback. Your support is appreciated and keep the feedback coming!
Club President’s Meetings
Past ATVBC President Ralph Matthews re-instated bi-monthly club president’s meetings and current ATVBC ATVBC President Chris D’Silva will continue with the program, with the next meeting scheduled for November 23, 2021. Club presidents – watch for your email invitation for the Zoom call soon.
Topics of discussion are at the direction of club President’s and the calls provide a platform for clubs to learn about common initiatives, issues and strategies. The calls sometimes include presentations from speakers.
Trail Ambassador Program
ATVBC’s safety committee, reviewed and revised the former Trail Patrol Program, changing its focus to rider education around safety, environmental sustainability, and trail reporting.
Several members from across British Columbia completed Trail Ambassador Program training, and regularly ride trails in their region. In addition to greeting trail users, Ambassadors will, upon request, provide information to users on safety, trail navigation, and local club information. Ambassadors document trail conditions and information about trail users (horse, hiker, biker, quad / SxS, etc.).
Information is provided to their local club and ATVBC, and is used for trail maintenance, repair, and signage planning, advocacy efforts for mixed use trails and in funding applications to show economic and tourism benefits of trails.
Interested in becoming an ATVBC Trail Ambassador? Email [email protected] . TAP lead, ATVBC Director Dave Mackintosh is excited to bring more Ambassadors on board and encourages current Ambassadors to submit reports regularly.
The Off-Road Vehicle Trail Fund (BC) provided partial funding for the Trail Ambassador Program, towards Trail Ambassador manuals, safety vests, and program development.
Trails Strategy for British Columbia
Wayne Mercer, ATVBC’s representative on the Outdoor Recreation Council (ORC) and the Provincial Trails Advisory Board (PTAB) reports that the 2013 Trails Strategy for BC update has been drafted and is under review by various levels of government. The process included considerable effort to involve public consultation. While the document undergoes various reviews and approvals, PTAB is proceeding with next steps.
BC Trails Day
The Quad Riders ATV Association of British Columbia is a member of the Outdoor Recreation Council (ORC), who initiated the first BC Trails Day in June 2021. ORC provided event funding, and information about BC Trails Day events happening across British Columbia. The day was deemed a success. We hope to see this become an annual event and thank the Outdoor Recreation Council for their ongoing work representing outdoor recreation users and user groups.
ATVBC Budget and Banking
ATVBC Director Lance Anderson’s first year as Treasurer was a busy one. The annual budget process was reviewed and improved, ATVBC’s chart of accounts were updated to reflect its current income and expenditures, and new monthly reporting practices were developed.
To improve efficiency and reduce the workload of ATVBC affiliated club treasurers, ATVBC moved to paying dues via Direct Deposit. In addition to reducing costs and improving workflows, this gets club dues to clubs faster.
