BONNYVILLE – The Bonnyville Snow dusters, Bonnyville's local non-profit snowmobiling club, is getting the club fired up for the season.
Tracy Fesiuk, trail pass director, describes the group of sled enthusiasts as volunteers who maintain and promote the extensive trail system and cabins.
“We maintain our trails and three cabins and just try to make it enjoyable for people to use them through the winter months,” said Fesiuk.
Fesiuk said there is a lot of volunteer effort that goes into maintaining the trails
“We’re trying to get the club going so that everybody can use the trails, and so we can raise awareness that we have these 200 kms of trails [in the area]. You don’t have to go too far to be sledding on a great trail and get to a nice cabin where you can warm up,” said Fesiuk.
Purchasing trail passes is an important part of how the organization operates.
“Buying a trail pass equates to government grants from the Alberta Snowmobile Association. [The Snowdusters club] can’t live without trail pass [sales]. We have to buy the firewood and maintain the trails and cabins and that takes money and people buying their trail pass,” explained Fesiuk.
The $80 trail pass for the season is valid all over Alberta, and a portion of the money goes towards the Bonnyville Snowdusters if purchased from the club.
“People still use the trails with their quads during the summer months, and they still use the firewood, which doesn't get there for free, so we’re really trying to encourage everybody to buy the trail pass and support the club.”
Fesiuk commented that the $80 is a reasonable fee and compares it to a bill you would get after going to a restaurant.
Outstanding club
The Snowduster’s efforts have recently paid off, as they received the 2024 Alberta Snowmobile Association Excellence award for outstanding snowmobile club.
“We’ve come a long way with the club. We almost lost our cabins a few years ago because of lack of trail pass sales and volunteers, so we’ve really built the club back up, and in our region, we won club of the year. There are four other clubs in the Iron Horse [Trail] region, and we won in our group, so it's a big accomplishment for our group and super exciting,” said Fesiuk.
As the winter progresses, the club will be organizing some group rides.
“We want to have community or family rides to the cabin. It will be all organized where we will take everyone to a cabin and have a hot dog roast or things like that,” said Fesiuk.