International Snowmobile Council (ISC)

The CCSO is one of the founding members of the International Snowmobile Council (ISC) along with the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA). Current membership allows for participation in ISC by “Non-North American” organizations such as Russia or the Scandanavian countries.

The International Snowmobile Council or “Council” is a non-profit organization established to provide coordination of policies and actions on issues affecting snowmobiles and/or snowmobiling in which there are mutual interests and/or objectives. The objectives of the Council are to consider and make recommendations on actions the member organizations deem advisable and to encourage the following:

1. Promotion and fostering of snowmobiling as a family recreation and means of tourism;
2. Promotion of the best snowmobile safety and education programs available;
3. Promotion of courtesy, good conduct and sportsmanship with all winter recreationalists;
4. Promotion of snowmobile programs in conjunction with increasing environmental awareness;
5. Enactment of sensible legislation governing snowmobiling and related activities;
6. Promotion of snowmobile trail development, signing, mapping and other facilities requested by snowmobilers; and
7. Cooperation and coordination in snowmobile safety standards and use practices.

Membership of the Council consists of provincial, territorial, state, regional, national and international snowmobile associations and is organized into “Chapters” based on geographic area with current Chapters being Northeast, Midwest and Western. Membership is renewable annually and every Canadian province or territory that is a “member in good standing” of the CCSO is entitled to have one (1) voting representative on the Council Board of Directors where “member in good standing” is defined as having paid their associated CCSO annual membership fees.

While the Council has a number of Committees acting on its behalf throughout the year, the Council meets annually at the International Snowmobile Congress. This multi-day meeting is the premier event for the organized snowmobiling community and facilitates meetings of major snowmobile associations as well as featuring workshops, general sessions, keynote speakers, a trade show, an off-site event, fundraisers, hospitality venues and an awards banquet.

International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA)

The CCSO maintains a very strong and important partnership with the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA), an organization that represents the four major manufacturers that build snowmobiles:

• Arctic Cat, headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota – www.arctic-cat.com
• Bombardier Recreational Products (Ski-Doo), headquartered in Valcourt, Quebec – www.ski-doo.com
• Polaris Industries headquartered in Medina, Minnesota – www.polaris.com
• Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA, headquartered in Cypress, California – www.yamaha-motor.com

ISMA maintains an office in Haslett, Michigan. ISMA coordinates committees within the industry to handle concerns such as snowmobile safety, the promotion of the lifestyle activity of snowmobiling, keeping accurate statistics, reporting the growth of the industry and the positive economic impact of snowmobiling throughout the world. ISMA maintains an excellent website which provides extensive resources that can be accessed by anyone involved in snowmobiling.

These resources include:

• The “Safe Riders!” campaign
• Action Manual for Snowmobiling Safety Week available for downloading
• Photos and videos
• Posters and projects
• Advertising and PSAs

ISMA encourages everyone to “Connect with Snowmobiling” and supports the Go Snowmobiling and Take a Friend Snowmobiling campaigns.

ISMA is currently a major funding partner of the CCSO and also provides advisory services to the Board of Directors. ISMA also provides support to CCSO member organizations through an annual grant program. Visit ISMA.

National Trails Coalition (NTC)

The CCSO is one of the founding members of the National Trails Coalition along with the Canadian Trails Federation (CTF) and the Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV). Through their affiliates across Canada, all three of these parent bodies represent trail building, operating and maintenance organizations in every province and territory. Most importantly, they provide trail infrastructure and tourism products used by millions of Canadians and visitors to Canada.

The NTC was formed in 2007 to bring the broad spectrum of trail-based activities together in a collaborative manner to build, maintain and promote trails and trail use across Canada. One of the founding principles of the Coalition is building new partnerships between trail disciplines; fostering more multiple-use trail development; and providing a trail-based platform on which private enterprise and volunteer groups alike can generate economic activities.

The Coalition was formed out of the recognition that collaboration rather than exclusionary practices is where the future of trail development is headed. Coalition members cut across all disciplines of trail use and are working together to break down the old stereotypes. By working together, and with the Government of Canada as a key partner, the Coalition members are confident that trails can rise to the level of a national icon worthy of promotion around the world. At the same time, a growing network of trails will provide Canadians with safe places to enjoy outdoor recreational activities, economic opportunities and an improved environment.

The members of the Coalition look forward to a long and prosperous partnership with the Government of Canada to make “United for a Stronger Trail System” a reality.

The affairs and activities of the Coalition are managed by a Board of six (6) Directors with two (2) representatives from each of the founding members of the NTC. The objects of the Coalition “to enhance the recreational trails network in Canada” include:

1. Developing a voice for national organizations working on recreational trails;

2. Providing a forum for research and best practices regarding recreational trails;

3. Encouraging collaboration and co-operation among a variety of trail users;

4. Supporting projects that are developed by its members; and

5. Seeking a broad range of stakeholders to participate as associates in the coalition for the overall betterment of the trails system in Canada.

Please visit the National Trails Coalition for more information.