Fédération Québecoise des Clubs Quads

Fédération Québécoise des Clubs
Quads
Danny Gagnon
General manager (FQCQ)
Mission and objectives
Our organism was created in 1985, by a group on ATV riders, and was
sponsored, at the time, by the AMMQ (Motorcycle dealers association)

To better structure and manage
ATV riding in the province of
Quebec

To become a representative of the
362 076 registered vehicles when
dealing with government
authorities

To develop a four-season trail
network throughout the province

To train new drivers

Promote national and international
quad riding tourism
How did we do it?

At first, in 1985, we asked to
the Quebec government, to be
recognized as the ATV users
official representative

Called meetings with
motorcycle dealer’s customers
who bought ATVs, in order to
create clubs

Asked assistance from dealers
to identify if non federated
clubs exist in their towns

Organized meetings with these
clubs so they joint the
federation
Credibility comes first!

Impartial and neutral head-office

Administration council members not
attached to a particular club

High level of service to all the clubs
such as: how to start a club, legal
assistance, problems resolution…

Negotiated an insurance program for
the clubs responsibility

Negotiated an insurance program at
a cheaper cost for all the members
of federated clubs
What made ATV clubs succeed?

Maintenance of winter trails helps the sale of
access rights/membership (users get a
service)

Many trail officers patrollers (verify and sale
access rights 7 days a week)

Good trail maintenance

Sufficient signage along the trails

Be exhibitor at different shows and events in
order to meet and inform people about ATV
clubs
Current situation of the F.Q.C.Q.

3 500 dedicated volunteers (who built,
maintain and patrol the trails)

55,086 ATV members for 2009 (raise
of the membership of 252 % from
1996 to 2009

20,254 kilometres of trails allowing
riding all four seasons (raise of 105 %
of trail covering since 1996)

123 clubs across the province of
Quebec (raise of 100 % since 1996)
Current situation of the F.Q.C.Q.

191 groomers, own by our clubs, for trail
maintenance (average value of $150,000
each)

1642 volunteers trail officers (local patrol)

49 volunteers federate trail officers (provincial
patrol)
(on a rotating work schedule with 8 service
quads)
F.Q.C.Q. work tools

Insurance program for ATV’s owned exclusive
to our members

Financial assistance Program for quad clubs
aimed at improving safety along the trails

The "Sentier Quad magazine" to stimulate quad
tourism and to communicate with members

The “Salon national du Quad” to promote the
activity

Participation in an ATV television show to
promote the activity

46 quad driving instructors

Internet web site

On line trail maintenance (thru satellite
transponder on groomers)
Profile of our members
Average yearly incomes range
between $ 35,000 and $ 45,000

28% aging between 36 and 45

30% aging between 46 and 65

21% aging between 25 and 35

9% aging between 19 and 24

4% are older than 66
Incomes from membership sales
Trails access right: $ 160 / ATV

FQCQ and clubs membership income
$ 17 administration of the FQCQ
FQCQ
Equalization fund

$ 10 in an equalization fund

$ 133 for the clubs operations
Club operations
Incomes from Québec government programs
Yearly, $6 X 362 076 ATV annual registration fees are reinvested
by the government into our organisation for a total return of : $ 2
172 456 share out in the following 5 programs:

Trail maintenance
1,053,000$

Machinery purchase
(up to 50% of the cost)
300,000$

Trail/road signs
(up to 50%of the cost)
175,000$

Safety and environmental protection
468 245 $

ATV clubs support
201 000 $
Yearly reinvested money into the ATV activity

FQCQ
$ 936 ,462,00

Equalization funds
$ 550,860,00

Clubs
$ 7,326,438,00

Government
$ 2,172,245,00
For a total of
$ 10,986,005,00
And 14 400 ATV activity related jobs across our province
Governments benefits and Québec tourism
impact per year

Tax return to Québec government
194 M $

Tax return to Canadian government
130 M $

Quad tourism income (accommodation, restaurants…) 291 M $

Quad direct expanses (ATV, gas,…)
300 M $
Total money generated by ATVs
915 M $
The benefits of structured quad riding

Welcoming new enthusiasts throughout the seasons

Maintaining jobs in the tourism industry

Creating and maintaining jobs within the regions

Considerably reducing anarchist quad riding

Reducing the number of incidents/accidents related to the sport
The necessity of better manage quad riding

Directing vehicles into a safe trail
network

Promoting protection of the
environment and wildlife by
designating specific sites for quad
riding

Maintaining public peace through the
respect of property and citizens

Providing safe sites for all users

Promoting family practice of the
activity
Summer difficult issues we meet

Summer trails: people can go out at any place
so they don’t feel the need to become member
if they don’t get services attached

But, installing a lot of signage about safety,
localization, services available from the trails,
helps to convince summer riders to join a club
Summer difficult issues we meet

Strangely, it is more expansive to
make good quality of trails for summer
than winter. For example, may have to
built bridges

Clubs have to keep patrolling their
trails in summer and inform users they
have to get their access right to be
allowed in the trails

Noise and dust disturbing the residents
as the windows may be open or
people spend more time outside at this
time of year

Smart planning of trails network is the
best way not to disturb citizens. It is
easier to modify a plan now than
getting in trouble with the community
later.
Quebec trail network overview
You can do it too!

Determination, a lot of
volunteer work and a good
strategy of development are
the best tools to succeed

No matter how hard it can be
sometimes, always remember
that you’re doing all this for the
fun of ATV riding