DEER LAKE — An initiative to make Deer Lake the snowmobile hub of the province is progressing with a couple of new ideas coming out of a recent meeting between town representatives and the Humber Economic Development Board.
Coun. Sheila Mercer said the initiative calls for the creation of a way-finder map that would show snowmobilers the location of the groomed trails, as well as staging areas and other things they need to know as opposed to a town map, which would not contain those items.
“It’s not a map for finding your way around town,” she said. “The idea is to get snowmobilers to come here and they can take trips from here to wherever they want to go.”
The plan also calls for what is called super-host training in which front-line workers like waitresses, sales clerks and those who run accommodations hotels and bed and breakfasts would be trained to deal with the specific needs of snowmobilers.
“We are actively looking for partnerships, with (the facilities) and communities surrounding us,” said Mercer. “And we are getting co-operation from snowmobilers in the area.”
Another plan is to have routes that wind through surrounding towns like Cormack and Reidville clearly marked, Mercer said all involved are working with groups like Deer Lake’s Junction Trailblazers snowmobile club and Parks Canada to bring the ideas to fruition.
