Update: Canadian Government Provides $1.1M in Funding for BC Snowmobile Federation Clubs
Story updated: January 20, 2023
Keremeos, BC (December 19, 2022) – The Government of Canada has increased the amount of funding that BC Snowmobile Federation clubs are slated to receive from a total of $500K to now $1.1M, through the Government of Canada’s Pacific Economic Development Canada (PacifiCan) – Tourism Relief Fund to support snowmobile infrastructure in BC. Funding will be injected into the new BC Recreational Snowmobile Trail Program used to support BCSF member club projects around the province including trail development, warm-up shelter construction, trail grooming equipment and trail signage.
The Government of Canada press release can be found here.
The Tourism Relief Fund empowers tourism businesses and non-profits to create new or enhance existing tourism experiences and products that attract local and domestic visitors. Tourism Relief Funding focuses on projects that position communities to take advantage of post-pandemic opportunities and support destination development prospects in line with objectives set out in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
The following BCSF Member Clubs have received project funding in the first wave:
- Burns Lake Snowmobile Club, Groomer Hydraulics Upgrade and Repairs
- Coquihalla Summit Snowmobile Club, Outhouse and Stairs
- Eagle Valley Snowmobile Club, Snowcat Repairs
- Fernie Snowmobile Association, Coal Creek Groomer Storage Building
- Houston Snowmobile Club, Groomer Storage Building
- Hunter’s Range Snowmobile Association, Ahston/Brash Outhouse and Trailhead Collection Hut replacement
- Kamloops Snowmobile Association, Multi-Use Facility
- Kelowna Snowmobile Club, Mogul Master Grooming Equipment
- Kokanee Country Snowmobile Club, Snowcat Groomer Upgrade
- Lumby/Mabel Lake Snowmobile Association, Re-siding Chalet
- McBride Big Country Snowmobile Association, Renshaw Brushing Project
- Merritt Snowmobile Club, Honeymoon Collection Hut and Communications project
- Mid-Island SnoBlazers, Grooming Equipment for MacLaughlan Ridge
- Nelson Sno-Goers, Meadow Mountain Cabin and New Snowcat
- North Island Snowmobile Association, Grooming Equipment Upgrade
- Northland Trail Blazers, Trail Grooming Equipment
- Penticton Snowmobile Club, Signage Project
- Powder Mountain Snowmobile & Outdoor Recreation Club, Trail Maintenance
- Prince George Snowmobile Club, Torpy Cabin Repair and Refurbishment
- Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, Generator System for Boulder Cabin, Remote Camera System at Frisby Cabin, Trail Maintenance and Brushing
- Salmon Arm Snowblazers Club, Fly Hills Groomer Upgrade
- Similkameen Snowmobile Club, Cold Weather Battery for Solar System
- Timberline Cruisers Snowmobile Club, Groomer Tracks Project
- Valemount and Area Recreation Development Society, Maintenance Machine Upgrade
- Vernon Snowmobile Club, Silver Star Chalet Replacement
- Wells Snowmobile Club, Grooming Equipment Parts, Supplies, and Servicing
- Williams Lake Powder Kings, Snowcat Groomer Engine Rebuild
Funding from the second wave will go to the following BCSF member club projects:
- Merritt Snowmobile Club, Honeymoon web camera, advanced communications at Thynne mountain parking lot, 4Corners shelter modification,
- Revelstoke Snowmobile Club, new snowcat trail groomer
- McBride Big Country Snowmobile Association, Belle mountain Lower trail repair, Renshaw safety cabin repairs, Renshaw trailhead heater replacement, trail markers
- Kelowna Snowmobile Club, snowcat trail groomer, Graystokes main chalet woodstove, trailhead shack solar power, sponsor sign repair, trailhead shack, ipads, new emergency sled, truck and plow for parking lot clearing
- Coquihalla Summit Snowmobile Club, groomer shop insulation, container roof, chainsaws, solar power for groomer shop, woodstove upgrade,
- Hunters Range Snowmobile Association, new snowcat trail groomer, repairs to existing groomer, fuel tank purchase
- Powder Mountain Snowmobile & Outdoor Recreation Club, parking lot snow plow acquisition, booth upgrades, webcam instalation
- Timberline Cruisers Snowmobile Club, tiller for trail groomer
- Eagle Valley Snowmobile Club, plow and sander equipment purchase, snowcat trail groomer purchase
- Similkameen Snowmobile Club, shelter repair
- Kamloops Snowmobile Association, new grooming equipment and maintenance
- Houston Snowmobile Club, Telkwa mountain cabin roof repair, generator
- Wells Snowmobile Club, grooming equipment storage building
- Kokanee Country Snowmobile Club, Char Creek cabin upgrades, Northstar Cabin solar power
- Nelson Sno-Goers Snowmobile Club, Giveout Cabin upgrades, new snowcat trail groomer
The Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Tourism and Associate Minister of Finance“As we move past the acute phase of the pandemic, Canada’s tourism sector is showing strong signs of growth. The Government of Canada’s investments in tourism over the last two years focused on the survival of our visitor economy. As we move to revival and the growth of the sector, we continue to provide targeted support to tourism businesses so they can keep delivering unforgettable experiences. A fully recovered and robust tourism sector is key to our government’s ongoing work in building an economy that works for all Canadians.”
From the BCSF President, Peter Doyle “It is our vision that the BCSF Snowmobile Infrastructure Program will continue to grow with new partners and a continuing investment to support our clubs across BC.
“We know that snowmobile tourism is driven by quality trails that have ample parking, maps, trails that are clearly signed, emergency shelters to warm up in and smooth trails that are freshly groomed. This fund was established to support snowmobile clubs in investing strategically together to grow our snowmobile opportunities in BC.”
The BC Snowmobile Federation is a non-profit society created in 1965 to establish, maintain and protect quality opportunities for organized snowmobiling in BC. The BCSF collectively represents 59 snowmobile clubs and 44,000 riders in the Province of BC. On the ground, our member clubs are non-profit societies maintained by caring volunteers who promote safety, stewardship and responsible backcountry snowmobile recreation.