Skip to content

Small snowmobiler protest at Health Unit

'They shut this down because they saw a photo of 200 people in a parking lot full of snowmobilers'
20210125 sled protest
Steven Godrey, from Parry Sound, made the trip to North Bay to Protest in front of the health unit. Photo by Chris Dawson/BayToday.

Steven Godfrey traveled from Parry Sound to voice his opinion in front of the North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Monday morning. 

The 56-year-old snowmobile enthusiast was the first protestor to arrive for a Snowmobiler Protest Against Outdoor Recreational Closures that was scheduled for 10 a.m.  

While more than 70 people indicated through social media that they would be attending, Godfrey was the lone man holding a picket sign at 10 a.m. 

See related: Snowmobile club urging sledders not to protest

See related: Health Unit closes snowmobile trails 

Godfrey is among many local snowmobile enthusiasts who are questioning the Health Unit's order last week to shut down all the region's Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Club trails as a means to stop travel to the north and curb the spread of COVID-19 in the area. 

"They shut this down because they saw a photo of 200 people in a parking lot full of snowmobilers, but they don't bother checking if they are from any other districts," noted Godfrey.  

The protest was also not supported by the local North Bay Snowmobile Club which has encouraged sledders not to protest in any way.  

However, for a local snowmobile enthusiast like Godfrey, this closure hurts and Godfrey is calling on the man who made the decision, Dr. Jim Chirico, to resign.  

"We want him to step down. He has no clue what snowmobiling is all about," he said bluntly.  

"He thinks people just climb on a snowmobile and go from point A to point B. There is more to it." 

As a widower, being on the trails has helped his mental health  Now he feels stress has been added because of the new snowmobile restrictions. 

"In this case where everything is locked down, it is also to help de-stress and get rid of anxiety," admitted Godfrey. 

He believes the closure could lead to tragedies off the snowmobile trails.  

"There are a lot more brand new snowmobilers out there due to COVID-19," he said.  

"People are locked down and they are going out to find whatever they can. You get a lot of those newbies who do not know the lakes - they are going to be riding the lakes and going through them because they don't know them and those people are going to be the ones ending up in the hospital."  

BayToday reached out to the organizer of the protest, Matt O'Reilly, who did not reply prior to publication.  


Chris Dawson

About the Author: Chris Dawson

Chris Dawson has been with BayToday.ca since 2004. He has provided up-to-the-minute sports coverage and has become a key member of the BayToday news team.
Read more

Reader Feedback