Ontario's Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol Program ends after 20 years

Morning North8:16Snowmobile Trail Office Program ending after 20 years

The Snowmobile Trail Office Program also known as STOP is coming to an end. The program relied on special constables who volunteered their time to patrol the trails. We spoke with Terry Appleby, a special constable with STOP for 15 years.

A lack of resources is being blamed for the end of a 20-year-old program aimed at keeping people safe on Ontario's snowmobile trails.

Ontario's Snowmobile Trail Officer Patrol Program was a partnership between provincial police and Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club volunteers who were appointed as special constables, or STOP officers, and who assisted the OPP with snowmobile patrol on OFSC Trails.

Terry Appleby decided to volunteer with the program after getting into a snowmobile accident involving a careless driver.

Appleby was a special constable with STOP for 15 years and said he's seen more people follow the rules with the program in place. 

"Everybody in the program is very disappointed," he said. "Very seldom do you find anybody without insurance, without a trail pass, without a driver's licence." 

Appleby was trained to enforce speed limits and help with search and rescue missions.

Volunteers working without safety equipment

STOP began as a pilot program in Sudbury in 1995 due to a number of alcohol-related fatalities. It has since appeared across the province in places like North Bay, Kapuskasing and Sioux Lookout.  

Sudbury OPP ​constable Don Bissonette told CBC News that STOP had undergone a number of changes over the years since it started. Police re-evaluated the program over safety concerns for volunteers. Based on their review with the OFSC, both parties agreed to end it.

A lack of resources was one reason for the program's demise, Bissonette added.

"OPP officers carry a considerable amount of equipment to protect themselves while on the snowmobile control, such as flotation suits, first aid kits, survival kits, portable radios [and] ice picks," he said.

"The same equipment is also needed to ensure the safety of the STOP volunteers and the OPP became concerned when the volunteers were working without this equipment."

Bissonette said the OPP will continue to enforce safety initiatives to encourage snowmobile safety despite the program's end.

Program 'went downhill'

Even before the announcement that STOP was being discontinued, Appleby said proper attention wasn't paid to the program. 

"The whole program just kind of went downhill over the last couple of years. There was nobody really spearheading it anymore especially at the OFSC," he said. 

"I don't think they put enough effort into keeping the program alive and didn't fight for it as much."

Even though there is no more STOP, Appleby said the work he did was fulfilling.

"Snowmobiling has a lot to do with families. They like to get out and be safe on the trails," he said. "I thought, what can I do to prevent things like [the accident I had] from occurring?"

He said he'll continue helping others on the trails. 

"I still stop and talk to people and give them directions," he said. "It's a very rewarding experience and we were glad to do it."