What is Snoman?
Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Inc. is a non-profit organization representing 53 member snowmobiling clubs that maintain and groom over 13,000 kilometres of Manitoba’s scenic trails. Member clubs are financially supported through the sale of Snopasses.
Our Mission
Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Incorporated is dedicated to providing strong leadership and support to its member clubs to develop and maintain safe and environmentally responsible snowmobile trails to further the enjoyment of organized recreational snowmobiling throughout Manitoba.
Our Vision
Snoman is dedicated to being an organization with a strong volunteer base, the safest trail system in North America, and sustainable funding.
Values
Communication
We strive for open and effective communications within our organization and the public and readily share information to keep everyone informed.
Teamwork
We promote cooperation and support among staff, board members, and partners to enhance our combined knowledge and achieve common goals.
Accountability
Through sound judgment, ethical behaviour, and fiscally responsible administration of resources, we are accountable to our members for decisions made, policies implemented, and actions are taken.
Transparency
We are transparent in the way we communicate with others, providing timely, relevant, and accurate information, and we encourage and promote participation in decision-making by all members of our organization.
Collaboration, Partnership, and Cooperation
We recognize and appreciate volunteers and partners that assist with the operation of our clubs, and we seek opportunities to form alliances with others to maximize our resources.
Change and Innovation
We are open to change and look for creative new ways to fulfill our vision, mission, and goals.
President’s Message
What a tremendous season! As of March 21, there are still twenty clubs with trails open and there have been 153,400 kilometers groomed. It was incredible to see the final link connecting all of Manitoba with Trail #14 from Snow Lake to Cranberry-Portage. This was a long time in planning and a dream realized for riders and clubs up north.
There were pristine riding conditions reported throughout the province and a big thank you goes out to club volunteers and landowners for making this a banner season.
In mid-February, we hosted the Making Tracks ride and had Minister Wiebe (Justice & Attorney General), Minister Moyes (Environment & Climate Change) and Minister Bushie (Natural Resources & Indigenous Affairs) join us on the trails. This gave us the opportunity to showcase this sport that we are all so passionate about and talk to the ministers about the future financial sustainability of the trail network in Manitoba. I would like to thank those who made this ride a reality.
2025 marks the 50th anniversary for Snoman and the celebration will be kicked off at our annual Congress in Gimli in November, and for 2026 you’ll be asked to celebrate with rides on the snow. More details will be shared at your club meetings so please make an effort to attend.
Our Staff
History
Snoman (Snowmobilers of Manitoba) Inc. was incorporated and registered under the ‘Companies Act’ on November 13, 1975. Snoman Inc. was established to:
- Advance organized snowmobiling in Manitoba;
- Coordinate matters of mutual interest for organizations that relate to snowmobiling;
- Develop snowmobile trails and associated facilities;
- Promote snowmobile safety;
- Consult with representatives from the public sector, private sector, and other provincial snowmobile associations across Canada;
- Assist with protecting the environment; and
- Perform desirable and lawful functions in the general public interest.
In 1994, Snoman Inc. and the Province of Manitoba entered into an agreement that enacted the Snopass, under the Crown Lands Act, Provincial Snowmobile Trail Regulation. The Snopass provides clubs with revenue to maintain designated snowmobile trails. Designated snowmobile trails provide:
- The safest alternative for riders to enjoy snowmobiling;
- Trails that help reduce trespassing on private property;
- Winter travel links to communities throughout rural and northern Manitoba;
- Dollars to businesses reliant on winter tourism;
- Tax revenue for both the federal and provincial governments;
- Increased revenue to snowmobiling related industries; and
- Economic benefit of more than three hundred million dollars annually to the Manitoba economy.
The Snopass system was created to provide a user-pay system. It ensured that riders who use the trail system were helping to fund its ongoing operating costs by paying into it. It provided Snoman Inc., its Regional Snowmobile Associations, and its member clubs a more stabilized funding base to help finance the operations and administration associated with snowmobile trail maintenance.
