Without question, the recreational sport of ATVing has grown incredibly over the last 10 years. That growth has led to the development of a number of ATVing organizations in Canada. Provincial associations and federations have been formed and incorporated to secure land access, build government relations and develop infrastructure. These in turn enable members clubs and their volunteers to build trails, provide training and establish the vital connection with local enthusiasts and related stakeholders. Individually the provincial organizations were really limited to what their own provincial governments were willing to provide in terms of support and even recognition to the sport of ATVing. That was, until the establishment of the All Terrain Quad Council of Canada (AQCC). The idea of a national ATV/Quad association was born at the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV) National Conference in 2001 called "meeting of the minds". The difficulty in moving the idea forward at that time was that most of the provincial rider federations were in their infancy and lacked the financial strength to move the idea forward. After several years of challenging times and dedicated efforts by key provincial ATV representatives from Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia, the All-Terrain Quad Council of Canada was finally incorporated with seven members on October 06, 2006. It’s President and quarterback through all of the developing years was and is still today, Ray Gouthro. These founding members set the direction for the role of the organization, which has since grown to 10 members. All share a passion to help build the rider federations through the sharing of ideas and relationship building. The AQCC is not a governing body: however, by sharing information among the provincial federations, the COHV and the National Off-Highway Vehicle Conservation Council (NOHVCC) in the United States, we can fulfill the mandate of AQCC: "to improve the sport of All Terrain Vehicle/Quad riding nationally". The Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council, which is made up of the ATV and motorcycle manufacturers, provides a national perspective and more. Without the detailed industry data provided by the COHV, the AQCC would face a huge challenge to provide the wealth of resources and information to our members. Financial support from the COHV helped the AQCC establish itself and continue to grow as the Canada-wide voice for recreational ATV’ing. These partnerships truly reinforce the importance of a national representative organization for ATVing. The manufacturers, collectively through COHV, recognize this and provide opportunities for AQCC and its members to fund new development, training and safety initiatives that will improve and grow the recreational riding and trails across Canada. For all ATVing enthusiasts, it is good to know that a qualified group is representing our interests at a national level. The most recent announcements of a $25 million grant to the National Trails Coalition for trail development across Canada is one example of why we need the AQCC to represent the enthusiasts and organized ATVing. Land access, improved trail systems, safety/training, membership growth and increased sales are all aspects that impact ATVing. These are all priorities shared in the partnership between the AQCC and provincial organizations, the COHV and NOHVCC. A solid team with a united approach means a prosperous future. Watch for future issues of the newsletter with the latest news and views from our provincial members. This newsletter will be an important source of information for anyone who needs to stay aware of issues and information on organized ATVing in Canada. The next issue is coming soon! |
