President’s Update
Hello riders, spring is in the air and the sweet smell of pre-mix is sure to follow soon. We are all incredibly excited for the upcoming season and can’t wait to get out and ride our amazing trails here in Ontario.
Just before I get into my regular update, I would like to use my platform to acknowledge a past director of the OFTR who recently experienced a serious accident riding his dirt bike. Sean Robichaud (Big Iron Moto) is no stranger to the riding community in Ontario, and a very good friend of mine. He has ridden and competed all around the world and always done an excellent job representing the riding community. He recently suffered a serious accident and is fighting through his recovery with an amazingly positive mindset and attitude. Sean, the OFTR is behind you all the way and wishes you a speedy recovery.
Switching gears, if you haven’t been paying attention to our social media (which is awesome thanks to Jessica) you should check it out. You will see that the OFTR has recently spent a day at Queen’s Park advocating for the riding community and making connections while networking with various Ministers and MPPs. There were many great takeaways from this day and we were represented extremely well by our volunteers and staff. I want to extend a heartfelt thanks to those that were able to attend, we are at the table and we have a voice because of your efforts.
You may also have noticed that we posted a picture of our amazing Executive Director Lisa with Premier Doug Ford. Lisa had the opportunity to discuss issues with the Premier as well as connect with the Minister of Transportation who has expressed a desire to connect with us and maybe attend a future event! Amazing work, and if you ever questioned what the OFTR is capable of I hope this answers your question.
Lastly, I’d like to welcome our newest club, the Valley Trail Riders (VTR) out of the Upper Ottawa Valley. This club will be working to open trails West of Calabogie and East of North Bay centered on Petawawa, Ontario. So that’s 3 new clubs in the last year. Anybody else sense an irreversible momentum here?…..yeah, me too!
Keep the knobby side down,
Rob
President of the OFTR
OFTR News You Can Use
Queen’s Park Day
Ontario Federation of Trail Riders Advocates for Off-Road Motorcycle Riding at Queen’s Park
To continue to ensure the preservation and accessibility of off-road motorcycle riding in Ontario, the Ontario Federation of Trail Riders (OFTR) recently took their concerns to Queen’s Park, engaging in discussions with policymakers. With a growing interest in outdoor recreational activities, it is essential that our organization continue to advocate for our members and be the voice of off-road riders in Ontario.
Representatives gathered at Queen’s Park to shed light on the significance of off-road motorcycle riding in the Province. Our primary objective was to emphasize the importance of maintaining and expanding designated trail networks while fostering strong relationships with the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, as well as the Ministry of Transportation. We were also able to meet with the leader of the Green Party of Ontario, Mike Schreiner.
The Ontario Federation of Trail Riders’ visit to Queen’s Park underscores the significance of off-road motorcycle riding as a recreational pursuit with economic, social, and environmental dimensions. By advocating for the preservation of trail access, the OFTR endeavors to ensure the continued enjoyment of off-road riding experiences for enthusiasts across Ontario. As discussions progress, the organization remains committed to advancing its mission of responsible trail stewardship and being the voice of the off-road motorcycle community.
We thank the Minister of Natural Resources, Graydon Smith for inviting us to Queen’s Park. We also thank the Minister of Environment, Conservation and Parks, Andrea Khanjin for the great conversations, and last but not least we thank the Ministry of Transportation for listening to our concerns about the issues regarding under 150cc insurance. Thank you to all the MPP’s and Ministry staff members that came out to our reception to talk to us. We appreciate your support.
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SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT
The OFTR is proud to announce our continued sponsorship with KTM, Husqvarna and GasGas into 2024. It’s no secret we are extremely excited to show all of our members what this year has in store – stayed tuned for more details, you won’t want to miss!
Club Corner
As announced at our AGM in March, we are thrilled to have the Muskoka Off-Road Riders join the OFTR.
In the weeks to come, the group of dedicated volunteers will be hitting the forest and working on trails. Once the trails are established stay tuned to RideOFTR and get ready to explore!
SAFETY TIP OF THE MONTH
Failing safe on the trails when something unplanned happens. As a rider on the trails what protocols or conversations do you have with your fellow riders about the potential risk and hazards associated with this amazing sport. Always be prepared by having discussions about who is doing what when someone gets hurt or your bike breaks down, some examples of safeguards are, where is the first aid kit, phone, location, water and spare fuel.
We are all fallible , even the best riders make mistakes.
Safety tip by OFTR Member: Brian G
NEW SPONSOR ALERT
We are proud to announce our newest sponsor the OFTR family – Princess Auto.
Princess Auto is a Canadian-owned company providing hard-working Canadians with a unique assortment of tools and equipment through over 50 stores coast-to-coast. Princess Auto’s family legacy continues today, with Bob’s sons Matthew and Marc Tallman taking ownership of the business in 2018. They work with their team members to ensure they are constantly innovating while staying true to their roots: providing hard-working Canadians with the most unique assortment of tools and equipment, unrivalled customer service and exceptional value, for nearly 100 years.
CORRECTION: The OFTR wishes to apologize for an error made in our OFTR AGM video. The four people that started the OFTR in 1992 were: Tom Smith, Warren Thaxter, Ben Angi, and Ed Bull.
Our apologies to Ben for our mistake. We thank you for your contributions to this sport.
OFTR WANTS TO KNOW:
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UPCOMING EVENTS
ODSC
Bethany Adventure and Dual Sport Ride
April 27, 2024
LVDR
Doug Kent Memorial Beagle Bash Enduro and Trail Ride
April 28, 2024
SCORRA
Midhurst Trail Ride
May 26, 2024
Algonquin Two Day Ride
June 15 & 16
STARA
Funduro
June 29, 2024
BPORRA & DRRRA
Canada Day Ride
June 30, 2024
HTR
Soggy Boot
July 7, 2024
KORMA-
KORMA Ladies Ride
July 20, 2024
ODSC
Dual Sport Creemore Ride
July 21, 2024
NTR
Weslemkoon Trail Ride
August 4th, 2024
STARA
Blueberry Hustle
August 17, 2024
HTR
Ladies Moto Mingle & Camp Out
August 23-25, 2024
BMA
Calabogie Boogie
September 7 & 8, 2024
ODSC
St. Williams Super Sunday Dual Sport Ride
September 2024
Rally Connex Rides
(use code OFTR for discount)
Spring Training Tour by Rally Connex
May 4 & 5, 2024
Ladies Off-Road Training by Rally Connex
May 4, 2024
Spring Fling by Rally Connex
May 25, 2024
Rock Hound Rally by Rally Connex
August 16-18, 2024
Corduroy Trail Ride by Rally Connex
September 21-22, 2024
Fall Colours Ride by Rally Connex
October 4-6, 2024
- From Ontario Federation of Trail Riders
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