What started out as only a handful of people from the Westlock, Alberta, area getting together to promote safe family snowmobiling in the area has now become an active group that was named the Alberta Snowmobiling Association’s Outstanding Snowmobile Club of the Year for 2012.
“The annual snowmobile club of the year award is voted on by members of the board of directors after the name has been entered by a club,” said Lyle Birnie, president of the ASA, who’s also a member of the Driftbusters. “It is very gratifying for the club members to be awarded this honour. Our volunteer members put in many hours clearing trails and this makes them feel good about their hard work.”
Taking care of sledders and the community
Through fundraising efforts and government grants the club was able to purchase its own groomer and now grooms and maintains 145 kilometres of trail north of Westlock. Members have also raised the funds and provided the manpower to build two warm-up shelters along the trails.
The Driftbusters boast a membership that has remained steady and active around the 70 to 90 member mark throughout their 27 years. Each December the club “adopts” a family through the Family and Community Support Services organization. Spending an evening together off the trails as a club, they jointly shop for food and gifts, then wrap and deliver the presents as a way of making their adoptive family’s Christmas a special one.
They also support their community emergency services and local RCMP with any snowmobile and ATV related incidents, and purchased a “rescue boggan” that is stored at the local fire station. Should an emergency situation arises that requires the aid of a club member, the RCMP have the the phone numbers and cooperation of the entire club.
Showing hospitality
This level of commitment and cooperation that is seen for snowmobile-related events as well. Each year the club hosts an annual snowmobile rally that is a family-friendly event for both novice and experienced riders. Checkpoints are manned by volunteers from the local car club, and the snowmobilers return the favour each year by helping the car club out with their annual car show.
The Driftbusters also stepped up in 2012 when the lack of a host threatened the Alberta Snowmobile Association’s annual Jamboree.
“Over the past years the clubs would apply to host the event a year or two in advance, but no one came forward to host last year’s and we didn't want to see it die,” said Birnie.
The club volunteered to host the event and were able to it pull off because of a dedicated group of hardworking volunteers, great support from local businesses, and their experience hosting the event three times previously.
“Denise England, our president this year, was the co-chair,” said Birnie, “and she worked her butt off with the help of a small core member group. In the end, the event was well-received and everyone enjoyed themselves. The only setback was the lack of snow we had that year, but everyone still rode and had a great time.”
