New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation Federation News Volume 5, Issue 7 July 2010 Inside this issue: ATV Trail Ambassadors Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Course 2 3 Launching of 4 ATV s for New Brunswick On Saturday July 24, 2010 in Miramichi City, the New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation launched 4 ATV s: 1. Improved ATV safety training - CASI 2. ATV Trail Ambassadors 3. ATV Recreational Closed Course Parental 4. ATV Safety Campaign We will present them to you in the next few pages. Federation General Manager Jacques Poirier interviewed by Go Riding TV and Magazine ATV Safety Campaign 4 Go Riding Tour 5 NBATVF Executive Members: President - Daniel Boucher Vice-President - Herman Berry Secretary - Marc Haché Treasurer - Paul Branscombe General Manager - Jacques Poirier NBATVF Office 1925 Hanwell Road, Unit C Hanwell, New Brunswick E3C 1M4 Phone: (506) 472-5130 or (506) 459-1411 or 1-888-847-1100 Fax: (506) 472-5140 Email: nbatving@nb.aibn.com Communications Coordinator: Jacques Nadeau Improved ATV Safety Training - CASI On July 24, 2010, in Miramichi City, Federation President Daniel Boucher officially launched an Improved ATV Safety Training called CASI. Daniel Boucher, NBATVF President It comes from the Canadian AQCC Safety Institute (CASI), which is the most current ATV safety training program in Canada. The CASI training program is based on the wellrecognized ATV Safety Institute (ASI). The Canadian ATV Safety Institute (CASI) is a division of the All-Terrain Quad Council of Canada (AQCC). Your Opinion is Welcome! Viewing New Brunswick from the Inside Bob Ramsay, President of the Canadian Off- Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV) was in attendance. He stated that "Education Bob Ramsay, COHV President and training are a priority for the COHV and its member companies. Implementing the CASI training curriculum is vital to our ongoing endeavours to ensure safe and responsible ATV use in Canada." Ramsay added that, "Equally important is the fact that the CASI ATV Rider Courses has been tested and fine tuned so that Canadian instructors from the AQCC will be offering a first class training course to everyone from new to experienced riders." You may have noticed that you have an opportunity to express your opinion on various questions on our new website. The question is changed regularly. Feel free to suggest any additional questions of interest. Check the question on the top right of the Welcome page.
Page 2 ATV Safety Instructors Implement the Improved ATV Safety Training - CASI In Miramichi City on July 24, 2010, ATV Safety Instructors Heather Berry and David Lynch gave an outdoors demonstration on the new Improved ATV Safety David Lynch with adult riders Training - CASI, while Federation President Daniel Boucher was launching the program inside before the news media. Heather had a class of young riders under the age of 16 while David had an adult class. Both instructors were very pleased with their students and the new program. The classes were filmed by Go Riding TV. Heather Berry with young riders ATV Trail Ambassadors On July 24, 2010, Federation President Daniel Boucher officially launched in Miramichi City an ATV Trail Ambassadors. Dan Pugh from the Public Safety Off-Road Vehicle Unit Daniel Boucher Dan Pugh supported the program and congratulated the Federation for the initiative. Federation President invites all Federation Clubs "to embrace this program as soon as possible, it's very important." The ATV Trail Ambassadors are trained volunteer ATV riders from clubs throughout the province that collaborate on trail monitoring and education initiatives. Background The concept is popular in some States (e.g. Wisconsin) and Canadian Provinces (e.g. Nova Scotia with their Trail Wardens ). The New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation (NBATVF) is implementing a five-year Strategic Development Plan to establish networks of Provincial and Regional ATV trails. The Federation welcomes the government's initiative toward enforcement with the establishment of an Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement Unit. The Federation will complement the government's effort by implementing an ATV Trail Ambassadors. This summer (2010) the NBATVF will implement its first ATV Trail Ambassadors. This initiative is expected to have an important impact on education, safety and maintenance of the New Brunswick ATV Trail network, currently under development. The Federation's goal is that, within the next five (5) years, each Federation club will establish an ATV Trail Ambassadors to monitor its section of the provincial ATV Trail Network. Clubs are asked to prepare for this by encouraging all members to consider themselves already to be ATV trail ambassadors. Main Purposes The ATV Trail Ambassador will serve four main purposes: 1. Help ATV users through education and public assistance; 2. Help to protect ATV'ers by patrolling the trails to alert emergency services and/or to render basic aid to stranded or disabled riders; and 3. Help to protect the Provincial ATV Trail Network by patrolling the trails periodically to monitor and alert authorities to possible ATV violations. 4. Report to the club damages or dangers on the trail (objects, erosion, etc.) so that corrective measures are taken to make the trail safe. Safety Role Models and More ATV Trail Ambassadors will serve as safety role models. In addition, they will: 1. educate riders about ATV safety and the importance of protecting the environment by staying on the trails; 2. pass out trail maps and even teach novices how to read them; 3. help lost riders; 4. undertake light maintenance. While ATV Trail Ambassadors will not have law enforcement powers, they can call for help. They will not replace the Government's Off-Road Vehicle Enforcement Unit. They will be like a neighborhood-watch program for trails, while answering questions, gathering tourist information, etc.
Page 3 ATV Trail Ambassadors...continued Pre-requisites for Becoming a Trail Ambassador Individuals interested in volunteering for the ATV Trail Ambassadors must meet the following pre-requisites: Be 19 years of age or older; Be a member of a Federation Club; Possess an active first aid course certificate; Possess a valid driver's license; Possess an ATV Riders Safety Course certificate; and- Complete an "ATV Trail Ambassador" training session Qualified Club ATV Clubs interested in implementing an ATV Trail Ambassadors must be committed to outdoor recreation, ATV safety and education. Qualified clubs are Federation's clubs in good standing. Qualified clubs must be willing participants in the ATV Trail Ambassadors. A formal agreement will be signed between the Qualified clubs and the NBATVF. Club Responsibilities Qualified clubs have the responsibility to implement and manage their ATV Trail Ambassador with the assistance of the NBATVF. Clubs responsibilities include: Assisting the NBATVF in the delivery of a Trail Ambassador training session to volunteers; Providing volunteers with the necessary official vest, program information and forms, public information and education material; Providing GPS training to volunteers; and, Organizing for First Aid training for volunteers. Federation Responsibilities The New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation will support qualified clubs in the implementation and management of an ATV Trail Ambassador by: Providing Policy direction; Providing an ATV Trail Ambassador training session; Providing documentation on program overview, policies and guidelines, relevant legislation, volunteers expectation, program paperwork, trail monitoring forms, etc.; Providing information and education material for public distribution; and, Providing official vest design. Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Course On July 24, 2010, Federation General Manager Jacques Poirier officially launched in Miramichi City a Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Course. The A Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Courses is a tool to guide and assist the parents in the use of a closed course trail. A recreational closed-course is an area which is designed and managed to provide a safe, controlled environment where properly trained off-road vehicle users, 6-13 years of age, can operate age-appropriate off-road vehicles. Background Jacques Poirier A new regulation prescribing age-appropriate recreational offroad vehicles for those under the age of 16, and establishing a class of closed-courses for recreational use for those under 14 years came into effect on May 1, 2009. The New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation in its Strategic Development Plan set out the vision of a Provincial ATV Trail Network of recreational trails throughout the province including a number of recreational closed-course trails for persons under the age of 14. Parents are considered to be the closed-course officials under the program. The parent is responsible for the supervision of his/her child using the closed-course. Thus, the need for a Parental. Closed-Course Officials When a closed-course is in operation, the parent using the closed-course is designated as a Closed-Course Official and will be onsite to help supervise the trails. To be a Closed-Course Official, the parent must meet the following minimum requirements: Have an approved First-Aid Certificate; Have immediate access to a First-Aid Kit;
Page 4 Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Course...continued Have the use of a mobile cellular telephone or a 2 - way radio device to be used to call for assistance in the case of an emergency; Have completed an approved ATV safety course; Must wear a vest, armband or any other conspicuous piece of clothing, identifying that individual as a Closed-Course Official; and, Have a good knowledge of the Standards for Recreational-Use Closed-Courses. Requirement of Users One of the ways an off-road vehicle recreational closed-course can improve safety and reduce the environmental and social impact, associated with off-road vehicle use, is to manage the behavior of closed-course users. Operators of off-road vehicles on closed-courses MUST be in compliance with: The Off-Road Vehicle Act, its supporting regulations, as well as any other applicable legislation. The rules for a closed-course must be clearly displayed at entry points. The rules of use must include but are not limited to: Must not operate an off-road vehicle at a speed greater than the posted speed limit; Must obey all posted signage; Must wear additional protective equipment including eye protection, long pants, long sleeves, gloves and boots are required for riders aged 15 and under; Must not stray from the designated closed-course area; Must enter and exit the trail system at approved points only; Must stop when signaled to by a closed-course official, an off-road vehicle enforcement officer or any other law enforcement officer; Must adhere to course hours of operation as set by the operator of the closed-course; Closed-course operators may establish additional requirements to ensure the safety of all riders. ATV Safety Campaign On July 24, 2010, Federation President Daniel Boucher officially launched in Miramichi City an ATV Safety Campaign. The campaign will include posters, billboards and radio advertisements. Daniel Boucher Hon. John Foran, Minister of Public Safety, congratulated the Federation for its initiatives in ATV Safety. He is pleased with the 4 ATV programs launched: 1. Improved ATV Safety Training - CASI; 2. ATV Trail Ambassadors ; 3. Parental for ATV Recreational Closed-Courses; and 4. ATV Safety Campaign. Hon. John Foran Events and Club Boundaries Concerns have been raised with respect to clubs holding events in other club territories. In this regard, we refer you to the Federation Board of Directors' decision taken, on October 1, 2005 on events and club boundaries. It was recognized that clubs do spend time and money maintaining trails in their territory for their member's enjoyment. The consensus was that clubs should not hold events in another club's area without prior authority/clearance. Subscribe to our Newsletters Individual Club members and the public in general can now subscribe online to our newsletter. To do so, please submit your email address on the top right corner of our welcome page.
Page 5 Go Riding Tour: Viewing New Brunswick from the Inside The New Brunswick All Terrain Vehicle Federation (NBATVF) was pleased to welcome and accompany Go Riding TV and Go Riding Magazine crews on a 6-day tour of our province from July 20 to 25, 2010. This initiative was possible thanks to Tourism NB and the Canadian Tourism Commission. Federation President Daniel Boucher said that "the idea was to cover all major ATV trail tourism attractions here in NB, while capturing New Brunswick ATVers in action. Towards this end, we selected some areas of the province for particular highlighting". Boucher was determined to "show how Viewing New Brunswick from the Inside can be a beautiful experience for all!" On Day 1 - July 20, 2010 Highlights on the first day were: BroadView Power Sport - product review, dealership, rental, ATV Tour & guide; Caledonia Closed Course site and view of the ocean viewing Nova Scotia; Trestle Bridge and trail riding on Albert County Trail Blazers ATV Club trails. On Day 2 - July 21, 2010 Highlights on the second day were: ATV Covered Bridge and trail riding in Sussex; Waterfalls and scenic riverside trail ride in the Fredericton area. On Day 3 - July 22, 2010 Highlights on the third day were: Recreational closed-course and trail riding in the Edmundston Area; Visits to Chimney Rock and mountain peak (look out) in the Woodstock area were cancelled due to bad weather conditions. On Day 4 - July 23, 2010 Highlights on the fourth day were: Local trail riding in the Saint-Quentin area; Miramichi Mud Fest. On Day 5 - July 24, 2010 Highlights on the fifth day were: Launching of 4 ATV s for New Brunswick: Improved ATV safety training - CASI ATV Trail Ambassadors ATV Recreational Closed Course Parental ATV Safety Campaign; Miramichi Mud Fest Activities. On Day 6 - July 25. 2010 Highlights on the sixth were: An interview with Federation President Daniel Boucher; Visits to tourist attractions along the New Brunswick East Coast. "Our 2 crews have returned from the tour in New Brunswick. A big thank you goes to the New Brunswick ATV Federation for having us there. Fantastic place to visit and ride." from Go Riding TV Blog. http://goridingatv.blogspot.com/2010/07/atv-ride-in-newbrunswick.html Web Pages for our Clubs When the Federation Board of Directors decided in April 2010 to re-do their website, they also decided to provide a page to all our clubs who do not have their own website. We are pleased to announce that the service is now developed and ready to go. When the feature is fully implemented, all the Federation clubs will have a web link under "Our Team" section and under the "Links" section. Soon, the Federation Communications Coordinator will communicate with all clubs, currently without a website, to provide them with the necessary information to start their webpage as well as the minimum required training.
Page 6 Meeting with DNR on Joint-Use Trails On July 6, 2010, Federation President Daniel Boucher and General Manager Jacques Poirier met in Fredericton with representatives of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the agreement signed between the Federation and DNR on joint-use trails in the Saint-Quentin and Kedgwick area. A public meeting will be organized in the fall. Michel Ouellette, Director for Region 5 Resigned Michel Ouellette, Director for Region 5 has resigned. Thank you Michel for your contribution in the advancement of AT- Ving in the province. The vacant position will be filled during a meeting of Region 5. Site Visit in the Acadian Peninsula On July 6, 2010, Federation General Manager Jacques Poirier met on site in the Acadian Peninsula (Shippagan Plains) with representatives from the Department of Environment to dis- cuss environment issues related to ATV trail development. Federation's Participation in Festival Western On Sunday July 11, 2010, Federation President Daniel Boucher, Trail Coordinator Ben Cyr and representatives from the Saint- Quentin ATV Club (Club Sentiers d'amitié) participated in Saint-Quentin s Festival Western parade. This Festival Western is the largest of its kind in the maritime. Meeting with Public Safety On July 15, 2010, Federation President Daniel Boucher met in Fredericton with representatives of the Department of Public Safety. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss procedures related to the establishment of recreational closed courses for children under 14 years of age. On Site Meeting with the Department of Environment On July 21, 2010, Federation Trail Coordinator Ben Cyr and the President of Brake Water ATV Club Paul-Aimé Mallet met on site in Le Goulet in the Acadian Peninsula with a repre- sentative from the Department of Environment to discuss ATV trail construction. Meeting with DNR on Land Access Requests On July 22, 2010, Federation Trail Coordinator Ben Cyr met in Fredericton with a representative of the Department of Natural Resources to prepare requests for land access for presentation to the Technical Committee for Motorized Trails. The following land access requests were discussed: Albert County Trail Blazers ATV Club Eastern Charlotte ATV Club Rusaganis ATV Club Club VTT Chaleur Club Sentier d'amitié Victoria ATV Club Brake Water ATV Club