Introduction

Do you like to snowmobile? Do you want to see parts of Northern Ontario and Northern Quebec that are so ruggedly beautiful that they are unique within the world? Do you want to share a week of camaraderie that will create memories to last a lifetime… and would you like to make a real difference to real kids in Brantford and Brant County in the process? If the answer is yes then you are a great candidate to join the 2008 Rotary Sled Ride, February 18th to 23rd. You will join with 80 to 100 men from out community in raising a projected $150,000 to help our community’s youth.

Getting Started

Step one is simple. Simply click here to register online to attend our 2008 Information session.

Wednesday November 14th
6:30 PM
Culligan Water
244 Lynden Rd
Brantford Ontario

At this meeting you will find out about the ride, the trails, the route we take, the accommodations and meal plan and hear from some of last years riders about their experience. You will also hear how we have raised over $500,000 in our previous seven years and get a closer look at how that money has helped our community. You will also learn that the trip can be for you even if you do not own a snowmobile, simply take advantage of one of the low cost rental units that have been secured.

If you the trip sounds like it is for you then you will be invited to attend the 2008 First Riders meeting and make a non-refundable deposit of $200 towards your trip.

First Riders Meeting

Wednesday November 28th
6:30 p.m.
Devlins Country Bistro

Many thanks to Devlin's Country Bistro for sponsoring this important evening. For those of you who have not been to Devlin's Country Bistro you will be delighted with the incredible culinary experience that awaits you. The meal promises to be spectacular.

You will also be invited to the formal kick off of the 2008 ride on:

Friday November 30th
Noon Hour
Brantford Golf and Country Club (Rotary Club Meeting) Of course lunch will be provided.

The Cost

The cost of taking part in this exciting adventure is $1500 per rider. This covers your transportation to the launch spot, breakfast and dinner every day and your accommodations. You will also receive a charitable tax receipt for the portion of your payment that does not defer costs.

The Ride

The venture begins in North Bay, as the point of departure. Transportation will be provided for you and your snowmobile to Amos Quebec, where the 2008 ride officially starts. In fact some riders will choose to pay an additional $200 and sled form North Bay to Amos – you will hear more details about this opportunity at the first riders meeting. Your equipment will be transported for you to Amos and be ready for your first day.

You will have a choice of routes to take when you launch your ride. The short route - if 1000 kilometres can be called short - or the longer trek of just over 2000 kilometres. Either way, the route will take you to the final destination of Val-d'Or, Quebec.

The beauty of our ride is that we go out in smaller groups, about ten minutes apart from each other. This allows you to stay with a group of friends or meet new people each day. We ride for about 6 hours a day, which leaves the evening hours for some amazing meals, and crazy times. It is fair to say that our group of riders will take over a town each and every evening.

The ride will take you through well-groomed trails in some of Canada’s most rugged northern territory. Be prepared to experience scenery and wild life that will create memories to last a lifetime and draw you back to the ride each and every year.

When the ride is completed you will be transported back home to share your experiences with your friends. You will also take great pride in realizing that your efforts will have made a real and vital difference to so many children and youth in Brantford and Brant County.

Where does the Money Go?

The Landsdowne Children’s Centre
Every Kid Counts
The Boys and Girls Club
The Children’s Safety Village
Help a Child Smile Foundation
Junior Achievement
Physically Challenged Children (Equipment, Ramps, Special Camps)

Our Sponsors

Please support our very generous sponsors, listed below, whenever you can. The growth and success of the Ride would not be possible without their support. From financial support, through to transporting as many as 100 sleds and supplies, from hosting amazing dinners through to designing and printing promotional tools, from providing vehicles to providing the fuel to get the vehicles to where they need to go…our ability to make the ride a reality and help kids is directly related to our sponsors generosity.

The History

It all started in February of 2001 when thirteen riders rode from Huntsville to Sudbury and back – a trip of about 500 kilometres. It originated when a group of Rotarians, led by Bob Caissie were looking for another way to raise money and deliver on the Rotarian mission to help local youth. It was a great combination of a love for snowmobile and a belief in the duty to help others. And it has grown, from the first year when an amazing $32,000 was raised to the 2007 ride that covered close to 2000 kilometres and generated a staggering $120,000. It has grown because it is truly a unique experience.” Riders return with a friend because they were looking for and received the sledding trip of a lifetime” says Bob Caissie who still takes a leadership role in making the ride a reality.

Over its seven year history the ride has covered over 12000 kilometres of snowmobile terrain. The participants have seen almost all of Northern Ontario including James Bay, the Abbittibi River, and Timmins Kapuskassing and Hurst. They have traveled through Northern Quebec including the Gaspe Peninsula and Roumoski. They have met and experienced the very finest Native Guides to help them enjoy the terrain and seen gas dropped off in the middle of nowhere to keep their sleds running. They have had the times of their lives, in fact some of them have had the times of their lives – seven times over. More importantly they have raised over $500,000 an incredible sum of money that has been generated by a small number of men and kept within Brantford and Brant County for the benefit of young people who need our help.

2008 Rider List

BOB CAISSIE - Culligan
DON LUDLOW - Ludlow Men's Wear
DAVE YOUNG - J. H. Young Fine Jewellers
DAVID GAL - David Motorfreight Inc.
RICK STERNE - Datasym Inc.
PHIL WAKELEY - Lintec Business Forms Inc.
BOB PRESTON - Global Express
JOHN DWYER - Sierra Construction
JEFF CORNWELL - Brant Auto Painting
JERRY BURYTA
CLIFF ZALUSKI - Sierra Construction
TYE WHITING - South Brant Excavating Inc.
ROD DAVIAULT - R.D. Masonry
HENRY SPANJERS - Marwood Metal Farbrication
PETER KEGELS - Bear Ice
MIKE BOOTH - Grassmere Construction
LYLE BALL - Grassmere Construction
DAVE SMITH - Shang-Hi Farming Ltd.
BOB ARTHUR - Stonehenge Acres
KYLE ARTHUR - Stonehenge Acres
BRAD VILLAMERE - Renway Oil
TYLER CHUTE - Chute Construction Ltd.
CHRIS DEVLIN - Devlin's Country Bistro
JOHN REEVES - Haggerty Bros.
BRETT COURTNAGE - Stonehenge Acres
TERRY EDE - GRT Excavating
ALEX SCHUTS - Insta Insullation
TIM TOTA - Tota Farms
COLIN COOPER - C.J. Cooper
NICK ANTONIOLLI - Stonehenge Acres

TIM SPROWL - Shadow Builders Construction
ED HENSEN - ITML Horticultural Products
KLEIS HENSEN - ITML Horticultural Products
BOB VELLENGA - Global Express
KARL RISING
PETER OVERGAAUW - Paul Davis Systems
DEAN GOUGH - Itech Precision Cleaning
PHIL ANDREE
DAVID LOWES - Kinsdale Carriers
PHIL PIGGOTT - Kinsdale Carriers
JEFF BRYAN - Bryan Trucking
ROBERT LONG - Carrier Truck Centers
STEVE HAGGERTY - Haggerty Homes
TRAVIS SMITH - Northshore Sandblasting
WILL VELLENGA - Fleetway Trucking
BOB DAVIAULT - R.D. Masonry
JOHN MULLEN - Valley City Architectural Furniture Inc.
JOHN CORNER
NEIL FAIR - Fairway Transport
TIM MCDONALD - Advantage Vinyl
DARRIN (CRACKER) SMITH - Great Lakes Offshore Serv.
GAIRIN SMITH - Great Lakes Offshore Services
JAMIE NADROFSKY- Great Lakes Offshore Services
EVERETT BAILEY - Bailey Mechanical
COLTER EADIE - Coastal Homes
JOHN KLOSLER
JEFFREY CORNWELL - Brant Auto Painting
KEN GOUD - Steelhead Fabricating Inc.
JON LECHOWICZ - Coldwell Banker Homefront Realty

SAM & ANDY VELLENGA - The Support Team

Donate to the Ride

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5. Amount *

Join the Ride

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4. Do you need a rental snowmobile? *

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2008 Ambassador - Matthew Latty



Click here to view the Lansdowne Website

Riders Past and Present

BOB CAISSIE DON LUDLOW DAVE YOUNG DAVID GAL RICK STERNE PHIL WAKELEY BOB PRESTON JOHN DWYER JEFF CORNWELL JERRY BURYTA CLIFF ZALUSKI TYE WHITING ROD DAVIAULT HENRY SPANJERS PETER KEGELS MIKE BOOTH LYLE BALL DAVE SMITH BOB ARTHUR KYLE ARTHUR BRAD VILLAMEREl TYLER CHUTE CHRIS DEVLIN JOHN REEVES BRETT COURTNAGE TERRY EDE ALEX SCHUTS TIM TOTA COLIN COOPER NICK ANTONIOLLI TIM SPROWL ED HENSEN KLEIS HENSEN BOB VELLENGA KARL RISING PETER OVERGAAUW  DEAN GOUGH PHIL ANDREE DAVID LOWES PHIL PIGGOTT JEFF BRYAN ROBERT LONG STEVE HAGGERTY TRAVIS SMITH WILL VELLENGA BOB DAVIAULT JOHN MULLEN

JOHN CORNER NEIL FAIR TIM MCDONALD DARRIN (CRACKER) SMITH GAIRIN SMITH JAMIE NADROFSKY EVERETT BAILEY COLTER EADIE JOHN KLOSLER JEFFREY CORNWELL KEN GOUD LEE DEIMLING ANDY SMITH MARKO JAIC MARK OFFENHAMMER JOHN McVICAR ROB BROUWER BOB ANGUISH TED LOWTHER PIERRE POIRIER VIC WITTEVEEN NOEL CHESTER RON WHITE DARRYN KAUFMAN CLARK MERRITT JAMIE LAWRENCE JEFF RUTHERFORD JAMES MADDOX JERRY BURYTA SCOTT WOOD RUSS MCNEISH HILTON LYONS CHRIS CLOUTIER DOUG GRAHAM ISAM ABURANEH PETER IACOBUCCI SHANE GAUVREAU STEVE GRAHAM HELDER VILANGA BRENT GARBEDIAN SCOTT SMITH BRAD LOCKHART PHIL HARRIS FRANK TOTTLE BRENT MELS DAN BRAUND JON LECHOWICZ SAM & ANDY VELLENGA

2008 Ride Images