Claire Voyant
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Posts posted by Claire Voyant
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8 hours ago, scottyr said:
I hate to sound all negative but after 3 crappy winters in Southern Ontario I cant see a lot of people getting their kids into sledding. Probably different in Northern Ontario though.
Had to respond. This is something we discuss in our class: you never know where you'll have an opportunity to go Snowmobiling. What conditions you might experience in one part of the province can differ from what you're used to. The course teaches the kids a lot about making smart choices in different situations.
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Here in Kapuskasing we normally do two classes a season of 25 students each. We just graduated the first class of 24 (one no-show).
Info on the on-line version was offered to every parent during registration and every single one said "No Thanks".
We've started a list for the next class (January sometime) and expect we'll have another 25.
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2 hours ago, manotickmike said:
Education is key. If that fails, the local government has to jump in.
What I notice on the Quebec side, the routes from the trails to the pumps and restaurants and scenic spots are WELL looked after. LOTS of signage.
Snow is moved during the shoulder seasons to ensure that people will not damage their sleds on the way to spending their money.
If a business owner is too thick to understand that those noisy wallets on skis and tracks are the key to prosperity, they either need to step aside or maybe be coerced into understanding by the local and beyond levels of government who WILL benefit. If one gas station owner is non-compliant, all the other small businesses in the area may suffer.
When viewed on a larger scale, such as the Quebec model, this becomes very apparent.
To be fair, some businesses are hit up repeatedly for "sponsorship": District Trail Guide ads, club sponsorship trail signs, rally prizes, our calendar, etc. etc. so I think they should be able to say "No" occasionally.
The gas station situation is simple: there will be no grooming to their business.
As for "local" government, they have been an uphill battle for as long as I've been involved with the club. Every year the same lack of support and cooperation. There is a completely new club executive so time will tell if they are able to develop a constructive, mutually beneficial relationship.
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More importantly: it's friggin' cold and we're making ice.
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43 minutes ago, Denis007 said:
I'm not sure what the reasons are ... I think arrogance and/or ignorance play a part. One must think that if you own a restaurant and/or motel up here, a relatively isolated area (talking anywhere North of Kirkland Lake or New Liskeard for example) people travelling are more than likely to do the legwork of researching their destinations for food, fuel, accomodations, garages, etc on their own time. Perhaps it hasn't occurred to the business owners to make the connection and contact the OFSC (or Google) to have their establishments added to the maps. It might be as simple as sending an e-mail, I'm not aware what one would have to do in order to get added.
If someone on here that's in the know can give me simple and direct instructions on how to have their business added to the OFSC map, I might consider preparing a generic e-mail for all the fuel/food/accomodation/repair establishments with instructions on how to have their businesses included, if they should desire.
As far as I know, solicitation for spots on the ITG happens at the same time as the District Administrator solicits for the District Trail Guide. Getting the ITG updated for our district has been an issue for a few years now for reasons I won't get into. Most businesses up here don't see the point in spending dollars for ads. One gas station refuses to pay for advertising because "the snowmobiles come here anyway"....on a trail groomed by their local club. The highway and ditches through Kap have been re-done and when the club approached the town about filling one remaining deep spot, the response was "f*** the tourists". Seriously.
We're grooming our trails as best we can for ALL riders, locals and visitors, but that doesn't necessarily mean we're being supported in what we're doing.
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The Mister tells me he met up with you at the show.....and was able to discuss the signs. Good stuff
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Hubby back from the Powersports Show last night. Snow on the ground this morning. Coincidence? Hmmmmm.
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2 minutes ago, Denis007 said:
I'm thinking he's referring to the lineup of individual signs just getting into town at either end of the A trail. It is very impressive to see.
They had some similar signs here but are all but gone now.
Yes, I re-read the post. My bad. There are a few changes on the board of directors this year, so I'm trying to nail down the body responsible for the "trail sponsor" signs. I've never actually took any pics of those ones, but they are all the same size and are blue and (reflective) white, as per OFSC signage guidelines. These, too, are done by Northern Signs here in Kap.
I'll post with more info as soon as I know.....
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Is this the sign you are talking about?
In years gone by, there were individual sponsor signs mounted on either side. Now those signs are posted on-trail as you enter town from the east or west. There is an annual cost for the sponsor for each sign (about $100 a year, I think).
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Are you referring to the map board with the "you are here" pointer? These signs were a local initiative by the club, created by a local printing company and paid for with sponsorship dollars from a local business owner.
PM me and I'll send you the name and number of a club rep that will be able to give you more details.
I'm still in my jammies, so you'll have to wait for a picture.
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Driver Training now available on-line. I'd be interested in hearing from other Driver Training instructors their thoughts on this initiative.
Personally, I can think of many adults who would benefit. I see nothing wrong with Mom or Dad working through the on-line course with Junior.
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On 10/3/2019 at 8:43 PM, IQ TURBO said:
Well said. I am all for the enforcement. Other then on certain L series trails in the NCDN, which i do not want to be bothered on..
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Just stay on your side of the trail......
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On 9/23/2019 at 5:35 PM, sledjunk said:
The feeling was certainly mutual! Hope you are still in Kap this winter. Not sure when you are moving.
We won't be moving until next spring....or summer (depends upon selling our house), so we've got one more glorious winter to enjoy. Hoping to make the most of it!
I'll be parked on the L125, waiting to kick interlopers off of it. LOL.
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Well, this was a relief. Thought I had been locked out or my new phone was not cooperating.
I really enjoy the exchange of info and pics and contributing when I can.
It was a real pleasure for hubby and I to meet Nunz and Sledjunk at AGM.
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Heading to Mississauga tomorrow. Shameless club promotion: we'll have some calendars to sell...
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Thanks for sharing.......and well-deserved by all!
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1 hour ago, Nunz said:
Awesome!! Mrs Nunz will be around and at the Dinner Saturday night as well, I will look for you guys, Shoot me a message and lets plan for a beverage or 2 on the Friday night. See you then.
Sounds like great plan! Got your number now. Look forward to it!
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11 minutes ago, Nunz said:
Thanks very much for all your efforts, I would love to meet up with you guys this winter and personally say thank you, enjoy your move out west, I wish all the new Executive of the club all the best in the future.
Chat soon and again thank you.
Thanks, Nunz! Hubby will be at OFSC AGM in Mississauga. I'll be there as one of the "Real Housewives of the Northern Corridor" (LMAO) Our paths will cross for sure!
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That's very nice to hear. Thank you.
We hope we can meet up too. It's so rewarding to hear positive comments about our trails. It means a lot but, honestly, we do the signage and stuff simply because we enjoy it....every one of us who volunteers for the club.
Hope other clubs are feeling the same.
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We've all read about Nunz's new club position....congrats and THANKS FOR STEPPING UP.
I just wanted to give a shout out to my home club on their AGM last night and the election of some new Officers and Directors. The Kap Sno-Rovers have elected a new President, a new VP and have welcomed some new people onto their Board of Directors. I'm sure you'll see details soon on the club Facebook page. Convincing people to get involved and step-up has been very frustrating for a long time but I think maybe that tide is turning. The District AGM is happening this Saturday and I understand that there has been some interest shown in filling the 2nd Vice position. Again, another positive move. Congrats to all!
Hubby and I will continue our volunteer duties for the club this winter but this will be our last, as we're getting ready for a move out to Beautiful British Columbia.
Happy Trails to all!
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1 minute ago, IQ TURBO said:
The negativity is that, no announcement from OFSC, no details to Northern Clubs, Districts etc. There is Already great trails connecting New liskeard to Hearst. Give the money to the people on the ground towards improving grooming, trail maintenance etc. Claire Voyant has stated stuff well enough. I applaud any of OUR tax money making our sport better, but you would think this would be coming from the OFSC?. Like wtf.
Thank you. I'm not negative. I'm not anti-Francophone. I just think that the volunteers with boots and equipment on the ground know what's best for our trails. We are confident that the "World's Best Snowmobile Trails" have already been built.....and we know best where money is needed,
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So for now we reserve judgement and just assume that the announcement was an extremely poor translation from the original French and that the plan to put in a snowmobile trail along Highway 11 from Hearst to Temiskaming actually makes sense.
Just curious: anyone know how many swamp, creek, and river crossings there are on the proposed route? Seems to me we've spent considerably more on some bridge projects in our District alone.
But if this Tourism group had bothered to consult the Districts involved, they'd know this. I guess I missed the big announcement from the OFSC about this new source of Federal funding.....
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A few self-serving individuals are behind this. Big announcement; no details; no involvement with OFSC, districts, or clubs.
Stinks to high heaven.
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So many questions...
$160,000 to "develop" a trail along Highway 11 all the way from Hearst to Temiskaming. Seriously? Who's grooming this?? Is this trail exclusively for use by the Francophone tourists???
It's another cash grab by yet another Tourism entity. In these parts there seems to be lots of money for the Francophones. With all due respect....
I call bulls**t
Driver Training Classroom Numbers Dropping
in Main Clubhouse
Posted
Nope. Nope. Nope. The child MUST be 12 years old, on or before the course date. We personally inspect the birth certificate or passport or health card of each student during registration. Have sent parents home to retrieve them if necessary. No proof of age, no registration.
We take the responsibility of Driver Training extremely seriously. There is NO fudging of any kind. Certainly not with our club.
We're teaching kids about following the law, FFS. Very disappointed to read that not all instructors are as compliant as we are.