The warm weather has arrived, and the snow is finally gone from my front lawn, at least for now!

It has been an exciting month watching spring arrive all over the province and the members of our 42 different clubs are busy bees getting ready for the season ahead. Some clubs have already hosted a few rides and events and others are busy planning their summer schedules. I wish I had the time to visit each one of these events to meet the amazing volunteers who put it all together and explore the breathtaking terrain they cover.

I encourage you to follow our social media channels to learn more about the ATVBC affiliated club events and activities and find a way to join in on an activity during your travels this summer.

Along with rides and activities, many of our clubs are busy preparing to do maintenance and new construction on various projects with the help of the ATVBC grant funding program. This year we were able to fund over $26,000 to 10 clubs with projects around the province. What was most impressive is the total value of the 10 projects including volunteer contributions, and other funders, reaching over $245,000 in work completed by our clubs.  TRULY AMAZING!!

In addition to the ATVBC grants, we are also actively participating with the BC Power Sports Coalition to adjudicate the ORV Grant fund applications and we are very excited to see a big increase in the number of ATV club applications this year. We are happy to report we were able to recommend for funding for all qualified applications for ATV clubs that were received. While some applications did not qualify for various reasons, we will be reaching out to those clubs to assist in providing guidance and feedback to help increase their success for future funding opportunities.

If you haven’t heard already, there is a new grant funder on the block! The ORCBC recently announced a new endowment fund from the province in the amount of $10 million dollars. This is very exciting news and there is still a lot of work to be done to see how this fund will be distributed and how to qualify.  ATVBC will be monitoring this new fund on behalf of our members and passing along further details as it comes available!

Our advocacy work continues to build as our clubs grow and their needs for a voice between them and government evolve. Changes amongst the Rec Sites and Trails (RSTBC) internal staff structure has brought more capacity in some areas of the province for them and left openings in others, which have caused some concerns for clubs with partnership agreements or projects in place. If this is the case in your club, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me to assist in getting clarity on your projects and answers to your concerns. We are here for you and here to help you navigate the process of working with government.

We have some great news coming out of the Boundary area!  With the support of ATVBC, they have seen the formation of the new Christina Lake Trails Alliance with our friends at the Grand Forks ATV Club as key players including their first project of submitting a new section 57 to address key areas of concern on the TCT trail for 2023 with the goal of pursuing a partnership agreement for the area in 2024.

If your club is working on a project that you think we can assist with, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

This year’s Poker Ride and AGM event is coming up soon Jun 28–Jul 3^rd in Princeton. Registration has been strong, and we are expecting a great turnout of riders from around the province along with some great booths and displays for dealers, suppliers and sponsors alike. Don’t forget to register today!!

Last month, I reported on our new Corporate Membership package, and we are excited to announce another new member benefit provider.

AJM Summit Safety Training & Consulting Inc. offers training courses for Train the Trainer and Operator Safety Training for work or recreational off highway vehicles such as ATVs, UTVs and snowmobiles. As of May 2023, AJM Summit Safety Training is offering a 20% discount for any ATVBC member taking a one-day Operator Safety Training course. For more information on this great new member benefit, visit: Quad Riders Association of BC Directory (atvbc.ca)

Do you have an ATV related business product or service and want to offer a great benefit to our over 5000 members? Contact us to find out how we can highlight your business to our amazing membership.

We are growing, in clubs that is…. We are excited to announce we have 2 new clubs now affiliated with ATVBC and another one coming very soon!! Welcome to the 108 ATV Club and the North Shuswap ATV Club! With 42 clubs around the province there is so many options for our members to explore the province with fellow members as their guide. Check out all the clubs on our website and don’t forget to reach out if you are traveling in their area to get a chance to meet fellow members and experts in their region.

Last but not least, I am excited to share our new ATVBC summer 50/50 draw has now started. This draw will run until end of August. Support your local clubs and purchase your ticket today!!!

See you on the trails!

Kristin