LITTLE CURRENT—By the time the snow is packed enough for snowmobilers a new route to Little Current will be open and bearing a name near and dear to Manitoulin. The new Snowdusters Club Marc Hovingh Trail passes by the former Little Current landfill off Highway 540 after coming up from the North Channel along a NEMI road allowance.
“We are working on a re-route through Little Current. We’ve got a contractor on-site, E. Corbiere and Sons. Operator and owner Aaron Corbiere has made a large donation to the re-route that we have to put through Little Current,” said Snowdusters president Dave Mack, himself a sergeant with the UCCM Anishinaabe Police Service. Naming the trail in honour of Constable Marc Hovingh, who was slain while responding to a 2020 trespassing call in Gore Bay. Mr. Mack said that Lianne Hovingh, the fallen officer’s wife, was consulted about the club’s plan and gave it her blessing.
For Mr. Mack and the host of volunteers who were working diligently to clear the trail in time for the recent snowfall, naming the trail for Constable Hovingh “just made sense.”
The Snowdusters president explained that the trail is “a re-route through Little Current.” He lauded Island contractors E. Corbiere and Sons, which supplied the heavy equipment and operators who made short work of cutting the trail.
“We all knew Marc,” said Mr. Mack, who added that the trail would be a fitting tribute to the OPP officer known as an avid outdoorsman.
“I guess at the end of the day, one of the main reasons why we want to do this is, when you’re out riding on the sled, relaxing and distressing, when you see the sign telling you it’s Marc Hovingh’s trail, then it’s important for us to get the message out there,” said Mr. Mack. “It’s about keeping his name alive. It’s touching to me, being a police officer and working alongside Marc over the last 17 years, it’s very special to me.”
“This is a great tribute, I know Marc was an outdoorsman, fishing and sledding, hockey was a big sport for him too,” said OPP Sergeant Chris Wesley, who was onsite as the work was being showcased to the media. “I worked with Marc before he passed, and I know it’s going to be a great tribute to him and his family.”
“Marc was a big supporter in the OPP Youth Foundation as well and a huge advocate for safety for the youth in the community,” said Sergeant Wesley.
When complete, the Marc Hovingh Trail will run from the North Channel just north of Little Current along the road allowance past the former town landfill and onto the lagoon road where it will eventually connect up with the trail at Harbour View Road.
A formal opening of the trail will take place sometime in the new year.
