WAKAW — Snow coverage is good but icy, and snowmobile rally fundraisers are in full swing. The northeast region of the province has a long history of snowmobile enthusiasts, as can be attested by the growing number of groomed trails that are available for a day of sledding. Snowmobile rallies of the past introduced riders from all over the province to the joy of sledding, and many of the long-running rallies see the same riders return year after year.
The volunteer organizers know firsthand that one can never predict what will happen on the day of the rally. The weather forecast can say one thing, and the opposite happens, or it can be ‘bang-on,’ and the snowmobilers will show up ready to ride and help raise some money. So, no matter the weather, the rally goes on, because the need for funds does not disappear if the weather refuses to cooperate.
In small communities all across Saskatchewan, the community centre is a vital part of the infrastructure and heart of the community. These centres are often repurposed buildings whose first life became financially unsustainable as children grew up and moved away, leaving a declining and in many cases, aging population behind to keep the hometown going. In some instances, the community centre takes up only part of a building, as in St Benedict, where the former school building has become the village’s hub; in others, like Tway, a relatively new building serves the community as its centre. However, be it a first life for relatively new structures like in Tway, or second-life structures, there are still expenses and upkeep, and that is the challenge small rural communities face.
For years, varying locales around Wakaw, such as St. Benedict, Lepine, St. Julien, Tway, and Crystal Springs, have held the ever-popular snowmobile/poker rallies to raise funds for various causes, be it community centres or parish halls. Each had their established weekend which they held to. The various groups worked together in a way to make sure that they did not compromise another event by holding rallies on the same weekend and thereby splitting the potential number of snowmobilers. Volunteers who have stepped up for years to make the event successful know without asking what needs to be done, and strive to involve and encourage new volunteers to help the event to come off without a hitch.
The joy people have in getting out of the house in the winter and spending time riding their sleds quads, or side-by-sides is undeniable. Being able to ride their sleds and possibly win some money for doing so just adds to the lure of snowmobile rallies. However, the enjoyment of the winter activity is not restricted to snowmobilers. Non-riders can also support the event by purchasing a poker hand at anytime during the day, buying raffle tickets, participating in the silent auction and of course buying something from the canteen.
While some rallies establish a route specific to their event, others follow designated trail systems, while still others do a little of both. Following a designated trail system means that organizers don’t have to track down individual landowners to gain permission for the rally to cross their land, nor go out and mark the trail prior to the rally taking place. The bonus for riders is that they know they will not encounter unexpected hazards underneath the snow on these groomed trails.
As there are no organized snowmobile clubs within the direct vicinity of Wakaw, the local rallies rely on volunteers to contact landowners and secure permission for the rally participants to access their land, as well as ensuring the trail is adequately marked.
For information about upcoming rallies, individuals can reach out to the following contact people.
Crystal Springs rally on Feb. 7: Tyler at 306-749-7520
Birch Hills Sno Posse rally on Feb. 14: Logan at 306-749-7707 or Matt at 306-749-7010
St Brieux’s rally on Feb. 14: Dan Clifford at 306-921-4943 or Paul Boyer at 306-921-7350
St. Julian’s rally also on Feb. 14: Terry at 306-233-4710
Tway’s rally March 7: Maurice at 306-233-8197 or Richard at 306-491-8055
Yellow Creek’s rally March 14: Keith at 306-921-8934, Kelly at 306-279-7636, or Kyla at 306-279-7799
