MANITOULIN—With the end of the Snowmobile Trail Office Patrol (STOP) Program, which had been a joint venture between the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC), the OPP reminds snowmobile enthusiasts that the OPP will continue to patrol Manitoulin trails just as they have always done.
“All we need now is the trails to officially open and we’ll be there,” said Community Services Officer Constable Steve Hart, referring to the officers who patrol Island trails.
The STOP Program was a partnership between the OPP and OFSC volunteers from the snowmobile community who were appointed as Special Constables/STOP Officers and who assisted the OPP with snowmobile patrol on OFSC Trails.
As the program had undergone a number of changes since it began in 1995, the OPP decided to review and re-evaluate the program. Following a comprehensive review and in consultation with the OFSC, both agencies agreed that it was no longer feasible to continue the program and made the announcement of the discontinuation of the program in February of last year.
Manitoulin Snowdusters Snowmobile Club did not take part in the STOP Program as it meant a lot of time and training to what is already an overstretched volunteer base, but has a number of trail wardens within the club whose role is to keep riders safe on the trails. They will also report those who are found to be riding the trails without a permit to police, explained Snowdusters president Doran McVey. “But for the most part, people are pretty good,” the president added.
While the OPP and OFSC are saying goodbye to the 20 year-old program, the partner agencies will continue to work together to encourage safe snowmobiling on OFSC Trails.
