MANITOULIN—This Family Day long weekend snowmobilers are encouraged to bundle up and hit the Island trails. Once again the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) is celebrating the long weekend with a free test drive of its trails, including trails here on Manitoulin.

Those with a valid licence, registration and insurance are encouraged to register their snowmobile online at www.ofsc.on.ca and print out a Try Our Trails permit, which must then be affixed to the windshield before heading out.

Manitoulin’s trail network is groomed and ready for action thanks to the hard work of Manitoulin Snowdusters volunteers, who have also ‘staked’ the ice trail from Little Current to Killarney as of Tuesday this week.

The Snowdusters will also be hosting their annual cookout along the Honora Bay trail at the ‘warming hut’ this Sunday, February 14 and encourage all sledders to come and join them for some free hot dogs and hot chocolate between 11 am and 3 pm.

Also, this Family Day presents an opportunity for Canadian residents to fish Ontario waters without the otherwise mandatory fishing version outdoors card. The Ontario Government designates two periods throughout the year as license-free, February 13-15, 2016 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Monday) and July 2-10, 2016 (12:01 a.m. Saturday to 11:59 p.m. Sunday). During all other time periods, Canadian residents between the ages of 18 and 64 years must purchase a valid fishing license to legally fish in Ontario.