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Clubs Quad Matawinie
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Nov 20 2008 - -St-Michel-des-Saints Quebec: Today was a proud day for Pierre and his friends at the Lanaudiere North ATV Club. They got the keys for a brand new, bright orange Kubota trail groomer, on tracks! With this unit, they'll be spending less time and money
repairing the old tractor, and more time grooming their 200 kiometers
of ATV trails. Now everyone's going to want to volounteer time grooming
the trails!
Pierre has led the charge for the Lanaudiere North ATV Quad Club of over twelve years, and now that the club is on a solid footing with eighty members, he told me he won't let his name stand for president at the next elections. "It's time for one of someone else to take the lead." he said. "I don't want anyone to hang my picture on the wall. I had my turn, and now the next guy will take over." "There comes a time to let it go", he said, "I'll leave the job to someone else. That way I can sit back, and be a helper, but I will not take any other official position in the club." "I am leaving the club in good financial health, he said. "For a small club, we have done well, especially if you consider the job losses in our region." During the years of Pierre's leadership, the Club has hosted four or five ATV events a year, including the popular ATV poker runs, which usually draw over one hundred participants from out of town.
"It's good for all the businesses in town, when couples come to participate, and spend an average of three or four hundred bucks during their weekend stay. "We have to spread that tourist cash around, he said, so that it keeps all of our businesses healthy. "If you have no special events in a town, you have no tourism." he said.
This french logging town of about 3,500 people, is located about one hour north of Joliette Quebec. A few years ago, the Louisianna Pacific wood processing mill closed down, and put about 600 people out of work. That was a nasty hit. It kicked the stuffing out of Pierre's popular restaurant business too. The Saw Mill Restaurant is an institution among snowmobilers and outdoorsmen, a famous eating spot in the region for half a century. The tables and chairs are right inside what once was the actual original saw mill. In spite of the economic hard times, Pierre and his wife, have kept the doors open, and at the same time, he has successfully directed the local ATV club. This Weekend, the Launaudiere North ATV Club, is hosting a very important rally to mark the inauguration of another Trans Quebec Trail, in tradition of the the Trans Quebec # 3, which was organized by snowmobile Pioneer Bob Petit in 1975, the first snowmobile highway to connect many cities and small towns across the province. In that day, Petit united snowmobile trails from Mont Laurier to Quebec City. It was a historic achievement, one which was emulated all over the world, and precipitated the developement of the long distance, touring style snowmobile.
This weekend's event, celebrates a new quad trail that runs from Macaza/Labelle just south of Mont Laurier, to St-Michel-des-Saints, north of St-Zenon. An estimated 400 quad bikes will converge on the town of Rouge Matawin, from all directions, at which time the the ribbons will be cut by mucky mucks, from various participating clubs and organizations. Then finally, the beer will flow and the real party will ensue.Whopee! Speaking of good times, the Hotel Central is right down the street from Pierre's Saw Mill in St-Michel, and there is a big Pub Style Restaurant on the main drag. When Pierre's boys throw a party, the hospitality industry as well as surrounding businesses, like Dorval's Esso, all benefit. Pierre believes the tourists should buzz around and spread the prosperity. He knows that trying to keep them all locked up in own his yard, riding loops around his parking lot, only drinking his beer in his bar, only eating his food, and only sleeping in his motel rooms, would be suicide for his business. "The more riders we can get enjoying all the businesses in our region, the more eventual success there is for everyone." he said. "That's the whole idea behind a Trans Quebec Trail" said Bob Petit.
Pierre has worked hard in his own restaurant for abut ten years, and his eating establishment is a hit with both snowmobile and ATV businesses. Well done Pierre! Your town and your tourism region has prospered greatly from your work. I'm sure others who have been watching, will continue in your footsteps. To contact Pierre for the ride this weekend, or for other planned ATV events, call the Saw Mill Restaurant (Le Moulin a Scie) in ST-Michel-des-Saints Quebec. 450-833-6656. zw See Inauguration Day pics Here
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