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By: Robert Janis
Quebec Federation of
Quad Clubs Galvanize ATVers into Close Knit
Community
The work of the Quebec Federation of Quad
Clubs (Federation Quebecoise des Clubs
Quads/FQCQ) is dedicated to strengthening the
community of ATV riders and enthusiasts in the
Canadian Province of Quebec. Founded in 1984,
the mission of the group is to organize ATV
riding activity in a way that respects the needs
of landowners, citizens and wildlife. It is also
the official voice for ATVers to the Quebec
government.
Today FQCQ is strictly an ATV association, but
it took time for this to evolve and for the
organization’s name to finally settle on the
Federation Quebecoise des Club Quads. According
to Carole Jolin, editor-in-chief of the
“Magazine Sentier Quad,” the official quarterly
magazine of the FQCQ, when the group was
founded, it was known as the Federation Clubs de
Vehicules Tout Terrain du Quebec (Federation of
All-Terrain Vehicles Clubs of Quebec). “A few
years later, when the federation asked for
financial help from the provincial government,
we were advised by the government that there was
only one federation that represented riders of
off-highway vehicles. It turned out that
organization was the Federation of Quebec
Motorcycles Associations (Federation Quebecoise
des Clubs de Motorcyclistes Associes/FQCMA). So
in order to get what we needed, we had no other
choice but to join the FQCMA. The organization
was founded by motorcycle racers, but they soon
started to abandon the group and by 1996 there
was no reason to keep the name of an
organization that referred to motorcycles. So
the name was changed to the Quebec Federation of
Quad Clubs (Federation Quebecoise des Clubs
Quads).”
A Member Based Organization
At the time of its founding, the FQCQ
immediately became an organization that
individual ATV riders, enthusiasts and dealers
could coordinate around. In fact, when the FQCQ
was formed ATV dealers, riders and enthusiasts
in Quebec were exploring ways they could create
trails on which they could ride. “ATVers had to
overcome the bad reputation created when
three-wheeler ATVs were involved in many
accidents due to their poor stability,”
explained Jolin. “As a result, the city of
Laval, Quebec voted to ban ATV riding on
municipal territory. This contributed to the
decline of sales of ATVs--even four wheelers.
So, two ATV manufacturers in Canada--Suzuki and
Yamaha--convinced ATV dealers to hold meetings
with ATV owners with the goal of creating local
associations or clubs that could build their own
trails and provide appropriate places to ride.”
That is exactly what happened. Also, as the
clubs were being created, many social activities
began to take place around them. For example,
said Jolin, “Many ATV clubs built shacks with
wood stoves at strategic places along their
trails so that members could warm up during the
winter. Also, since the FQCQ is an association
of ATV clubs, we began to assist by extending
trails to each of the club’s trails to provide
more interesting possibilities for rides.”
So an important element of FQCQ is to help
organize and work with local clubs. Jolin
explained that the association provides
technical support to every club. There are
already a lot of ATV clubs in Quebec. So when
people want to create a new club, the regional
association of clubs the FQCQ has to be asked to
allow a new club in the area. “This is to avoid
splitting the membership potential among too
many clubs which would make clubs weaker and
less self-sufficient. If there is no existing
club in an area or if the existing clubs agree
to let a new club form, then the FQCQ will
provide all the information required to help
that new club succeed,” said Jolin. In addition,
FQCQ provides legal documents that are necessary
for a new club to have. This includes Property
Access Rights, Signage Catalogues and how to
build trails information. Jolin pointed out that
these documents are sold to the new clubs for a
minimum fee.
FQCQ works directly with local clubs. It has one
volunteer administrator per region, and they
meet with the officers of the clubs on a regular
basis to inform them about issues and events in
which FQCQ are involved.
The FQCQ-membership connection is an important
part of the group’s success. So motivating
members to get involved is a major concern. The
FQCQ uses the media and publishes its own
quarterly magazine to serve as tools to motivate
ATVers. “We use the magazine to propose some
nice rides, vacations, and activities for ATV
riders,” said Jolin. “We also make safety and
education posters and buy publicity in other
magazines and newspapers. We also have
been investing in a popular ATV show ‘Randonnee
Quebec Quad’ for the last eleven years.”
This is truly a grass roots association. Two
administrators are elected from each club, and
they attend the FQCQ annual meeting. It is a
two-day event where plans for the future are
discussed and voted on. According to Jolin, more
than 160 voting representatives attend.
Moreover, FQCQ helps local clubs with their
events. “Local clubs organize their own rides,
and they often invite us to participate,” said
Jolin. “FQCQ also holds four events a year. A
local club provides the accommodations for the
event, and they can take advantage of it to make
money for themselves. The FQCQ promotes the
event and also help organize it.” Jolin also
pointed out that FQCQ holds an ATV show known as
the “Salon National du Quad” which takes place
in Laval, Quebec each year. This year’s show
will be held on November 13-15.
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