The picket line from Meldrum Bay to Blind River (across the North Channel), continues to be put in by the Duncansons and others. They also work on the Elizabeth Bay picket line. The South trail from Silver Water to Meldrum Bay is a relatively new trail for the Snowdusters, and several of the Clan assisted in surveying and cutting out this trail. Lumber for the beams of Maple Creek was donated by Duncanson's when they worked on building the bridge.

Ken, Murray, Gladys, Bruce & Irene started snowmobiling in the 1970's on 1968 Skidoo Olympics, and Motoskis. Joan & Dale started in 1990. Kate said she began snowmobiling the year she was born 1986. They all now own machines such as Pantera's, lndy Trails, 4 stroke Arctic Cats, Safari Skidoos and Jags. The Duncanson Clan has been involved in the deer-feeding program. 

They travel many miles each year on Snowdusters trails, across the picket lines, and sometimes to different destinations as far away as Chapleau and Englehart. Bev and Eleanor live in St. Catherines now but have helped out clearing trails, especially during the ice storm, when they came home for a holiday. 

Over the years they have had some interesting occurrences and memorable events:

Ken managed to take the track off the groomer once near Carl Robinson's. He also had an approximately 8-mile walk out the trail when the groomer broke down at Vidal Bay.

Murray remembers snowmobiling to Blind River and leaving there when all the locals were walking around in shorts while they were wearing snowmobile suits on the street.

Gladys remembers serving Matt Matheson a special treat of warm tarts and Ice Cream at 20C.

Bruce remembers a winter carnival in the 80's that they had Blair Hore come with his skidder and drag a couple of trees to help open a trail so they could use their home made drags behind their machines. More snow than we get today.

Dale remembers the completion of the new South trail from Silver Water to Meldrum Bay as a major accomplishment.

Kate remembers cousin Chris upside down on his first ride and her 4-day trip to Englehart with Ken, Murray and Gladys. 

Ken Smeltzer died this past winter and we wish to honour him for all the work he did for snowmobiling on Manitoulin. He was a past director of the Manitoulin Snowdusters for 5 years starting in April 2000, and was a trail patrol member for the past three years. His wife Annabelle supported Ken in every project he was involved in.  Ken attended the monthly meetings of the Snowdusters. He also attended several OFSC conventions with his wife Annabelle at their own expense,

Ken has just about done everything there is to do for the Snowdusters. He has been involved in brushing trails, signing, fundraising, cutting and building new trails, getting landowner permission, driving groomer operators to and from home accompanied by his wife on numerous occasions, driving to Sudbury to get parts for the groomer, opening and closing gates, putting up snow fences ordering and delivering supplies for fish fries such as strawberries, cooking oil, and bread crumbs and getting the ice cream donated by Farquhar Dairy. 

Ken was a key organizer of the fish fries in ordering and delivering supplies, and helping with cooking. His wife Annabelle was an organizer of the Rockville fish fries She set up the hall, made coleslaw, served, cleaned up and bought supplies. She also was a helper at the Silver Water fish dinners.

Ken was a key member in building the new West Bay to Little Current trail, the trail from Mindemoya to Providence Bay, very involved in building the bridge to Manitowaning. 

Although Ken did not start snowmobiling until later in life, 1997, he made up for the late start with some great trips, and many wonderful memories.

The Smeltzer's and Sheppard's were snowmobiling in 1997 between Searchmount and Thessalon. Ken was leading, Annabelle was on with Marion. Ken drove a little too close to a few trees and it broke his and Annabelle's travelling suitcase (saddle bag) open. Unaware to Ken, every bump and every comer out popped another one of Annabelle's "unmentionables". Annabelle was standing right up on the seat waving her arms and yelling trying to make Ken hear. Marion was trying to catch Ken and Charles was observing it all from behind. Annabelle finally yelled loud enough to make Ken hear. We won't talk about what was said but lets put it this way, it never happened a second time!

To summarize, Ken along with his wife Annabelle spent many many hours working for the good of the Manitoulin Snowdusters. They saved the club many dollars with their generous donation of time, gas, and energy. Our heart felt gratitude goes out to both of them. We only wish Ken could have been here to receive this honour as Manitoulin Snowdusters Volunteer of the Year.

Bert Woestenenk has been President of the Manitoulin Snowdusters for 3 years. He is also a volunteer groomer operator. Bert has spent a multitude of hours traveling, attending meetings and meeting with some landowners. He also has spent many hours grooming, doing groomer repairs, and welding rims for our orange stakes. 

Bert as President chairs the monthly Manitoulin Snowduster meetings, attends Rainbow Country meetings, and travels to Sudbury, a 3 hour trip each way, to attend District 12 meetings. He has had several meetings this year with landowners to prevent trail closure and to open a closed trail. Without Bert's efforts we could have had our main trail on Manitoulin shut down this past winter. Bert has attended 2 OFSC Provincial Conventions with his wife Bev. He also was on the District 12 Mini‑Grant Committee. 

Bert has been involved in everything there is to be involved in about snowmobiling. He has searched out trails, assisted in surveying them, supervised HRDC crews and local construction contractors in cutting and building new trails. He has worked at and supervised several culvert construction projects to raise a flooded trail or to provide better drainage. He has been a leader in brushing, signing, putting up and taking down picket fines (Elizabeth Bay 10km) and (Spanish 30km). He has been a fundraiser assisting at fish fries, at raffles, at the Manitoulin Trade Fair and helping at the B.J. Memorial Tournament which provides money for our trails. He is a volunteer groomer operator, and has saved us hundreds of dollars repairing the groomer. He drives groomer operators to and from home. He has worked on getting landowner permission slips signed and in meeting with landowners to open a trail or to keep one open, Bert has spent many hours welding channel iron onto wheel rims to put the orange posts on for trail markers.

All of his work on building and maintaining trails, helps provide safe snowmobiling for snowmobilers for Manitoulin and from across the province. These many hours of dedication also help businesses on Manitoulin by providing superior trails to snowmobiling tourists and locals. Bert is always spending many hours promoting snowmobiling.

Projects:

1) The Poplar Trail used to run down the side of or on the Poplar Road for several miles. Bert searched out a new trail, did the paper work assisted in surveying, and supervised An HRDC crew in cutting out the new trail. We now have a new safe and scenic trail.

2) The old Kagawong trail was closed because of a landowner's wishes so Bert searched out a new trail on the concession line and has a trail constructed here. The trail now provides for a safer crossing of a road as well.

3) Bert due to his "engineering" instincts has an eye for what to do when there is a problem on a trail, He has had wet areas raised or culverts put in to provide better and safer snowmobiling.

Bert began snowmobiling in 1969 with an 1969 18HP Olympic Skidoo. He now drives a XL600 Polaris. He has been on the Snowduster executive since 1991 and served as V.P. for 6 years before becoming president. 

Bert's current snowmobiling has decreased the past few years as many of his snowmobiling hours are spent on a groomer, going to meetings or working on trails. He does however get a few miles in each year just for fun and also goes ice fishing, a favorite past time.

Other Interesting Facts:

Bert is an excellent groomer operator and is an expert at fixing the groomer because of his practice at mechanical work or break‑downs on his own snowmobile eg. Like breaking the chain on the Spanish picket line, blowing a clutch near Cape Roberts and being found by his group who came back to find him upside down in a ditch on Highway 17 near Hayden. 

Our thanks' goes out to his wife Bev who answers Bert's phone calls, acts as his computer expert (meaning she does all the work) works fish fries and assists in may other ways. Bert has maintained the Snowduster tradition on Manitoulin and has managed to improve our organization and trails these past 3 years as President. The multitude of hours he spends to benefit snowmobiling is why we are nominating him as Volunteer of the Year.