Trail Volunteer Champions

Our trail community lost a dear friend and Trail Champion in January this year. Wib Sperberg was a proud member and director of the Bonfield Snowmobile Club for close to 30 years. Generosity is a defining trait among the volunteers who dedicate their time and talent to maintain the trails that we all love. Wib exemplified this spirit, spending countless hours grooming, brushing, installing signs and staking lakes to mark his beloved snowmobile trails.

Lifelong friend and fellow volunteer Ken Prescott has difficulty finding words to express his gratitude for all his dear friend has contributed to our trail network:

“Wib considered the groomers personal property. He kept the equipment in mint condition and ready to go. Woe the operator that took out a groomer and damaged something, yet he was the first guy to come repair it. If needed, he would head out in the middle of the night to help out a groomer operator.”

Bonfield Club’s Trail BF 202 running from Turtle Lake has been lovingly named “Wib’s Way” honouring the memory and spirit of a dedicated volunteer and recognizing his invaluable contribution to the trail community.

When travelling on Wib’s Way or any other local trail, it’s important to remember that trails don’t just happen. They are shaped by the hands, heart and hard work of folks like Wib. The Bonfield Snowmobile Club, like most of the area’s clubs, operate with a small handful of dedicated volunteers. It’s no small feat considering the Bonfield Club alone maintains 150 km of snowmobile trails and 8 bridges. With more frequent and extreme weather events wreaking havoc on trails everywhere and an aging volunteer base, losing volunteers like Wib threatens the very existence of the trails we love. Without a new generation of volunteers to fill the very large “snowmobile” boots, the specialized skills and knowledge developed by long-time volunteers does not get transferred to the next generation.

For snowmobile trail volunteer opportunities, visit the Near North Trails Association and select the club in your local area.

When Huguette Morin and her husband Clement moved back to Sturgeon Falls in the 1970s, they were simply looking for a place to ski with their young family. They joined the small local ski club on Chemin Leblanc near Cache Bay, and before long, Huguette found herself “volunteered”—first helping, then organizing, and eventually taking a leading role. “One day the president opened the door and left all the books in my porch,” she laughs. “I was elected by default.” That “default” position turned into nearly five decades of dedication, during which Huguette and Clement helped grow the West Nipissing Nordic Ski Club through all its many ups and downs.

One of the most difficult moments came when the trails they’d worked so hard to maintain were clear-cut by the owner of the property —trees felled with signs still nailed to their trunks. The club was forced to leave with nowhere to go. Down to only 34 members, they approached the Sturgeon Falls Rod and Gun Club who owned a large parcel of land north of Cache Bay where their trails would be protected. The partnership began with hesitation on both sides, but soon grew into a strong collaboration rooted in a shared respect for the land and love of the outdoors. By 2005, they started blazing a new network of ski and snowshoe trails, mostly by hand, fueled by a passionate team of volunteers, many of them recently retired and eager to build back what had been lost. Over the next few years, they continued to improve the trails and make new loops, built a small rest cabin and fire pit and grew the community.

Beyond trail building, Huguette found great joy hosting school groups on the trails and introducing more people to her favourite winter activity. She recalls when kids were bussed in, and how a partnership formed between local schools to share ski and snowshoe equipment. She fondly remembers the chaos of cold mornings, fitting kids with equipment and nudging them outside, for many their first real taste of the outdoors. There were moments that tested her patience, but also plenty that made her laugh, often thanks to the antics of kids just being kids. To help young families get out, Clement crafted sleighs with a baby seat that could be pulled through the trails.

COVID forced the club to limit trail visitors to members only and, due to an aging volunteer base and liability concerns, the club has not been able to welcome back the public. However, the ski and snowshoe trails continue to be maintained and the nominal membership with the Rod and Gun Club is well worth it.

Huguette is hopeful that a new generation of trail enthusiasts will find the time to give back, just as she and so many others have over the years, and discover the same joy, purpose, and deep sense of fulfillment that comes from shaping something meaningful in their community.

“Laurier Woods has been the centerpiece of our lives,” reflects David Haist. It’s a place of healing, connection, and purpose. “It gave to us, and we’ve received so much more in return.”

Terri and David Haist had visited Laurier Woods many times, but it was not until the loss of their beloved son, Michael in 2002 that Laurier Woods became deeply rooted in their hearts. “Michael was 6’7” and always hitting his head on doorways” Terri fondly reminisces, “Being outdoors suited him. He was an avid canoeist and a passionate astronomer. So, when he passed, we asked friends and family to donate to Laurier Woods in his memory.”

To their amazement, over $10,000 was raised – funds that would help build the first boardwalks. In honour of Michael’s love of nature, the Haist Lookout Platform was built overlooking the large marsh. At the platform’s edge sits a special rock with a brass plaque with a sentiment that captures Michael’s spirit: “Dreams of rivers flowing in the night, reflecting the starlight.”

Before the Friends of Laurier Woods was established in 1989, the area was quite neglected, and largely unknown. Thanks to the tireless advocacy and determination of many volunteers led by the Nipissing Naturalists’ Club – through public petition, countless meetings with city officials, the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, the Nature Conservancy, and Nipissing Rotary Club among others – Laurier Woods gained recognition and protection as a vital natural space in the heart of North Bay.

Terri joined the Board of the Friends of Laurier Woods in 2002, with David following a few years later. Slowly, the protected area grew with the most recent acquisition in 2011.  The Haist Family joined others to purchase a symbolic “Laurie-acre” to add another 100-acre parcel to the Laurier Woods Conservation Area. Fittingly, the platform built in Michael’s memory overlooks their acre of protected wetland.

Over the past 25 years, Terri and David have witnessed the transformation of Laurier Woods into a cherished sanctuary.  “It’s come of age,” Terri reflects. “During COVID, when many parks were closed, Laurier Woods remained open – and free. People gained a renewed respect for the environment because of it.”

Today, Laurier Woods is alive with birdsong and the hum of natural life through all the seasons. For the Haists, it’s deeply moving to see students and families using the platform to explore the wetlands and learn about the intricacies of the ecosystems. Educational programs flourish – salamander boxes, a dipping platform for pond studies, guided bird walks, a nature festival, a bee hotel, and student research projects are just a few of the activities taking place at this very special place.

Terri now walks the trails with her grandchildren. “Passing it on to the next generation—that’s the legacy,” she says. “Seeing other parents and grandparents bring their kids makes me feel so happy. It’s become a part of North Bay.”

Laurier Woods holds many such stories—deep personal connections that inspire protection and stewardship. Volunteers like Terri and David exemplify the spirit of care and commitment that has preserved this natural gem for all to enjoy. Their journey is a powerful reminder that with persistence and passion, and many caring hands, a community can protect a place not just for today, but for generations to come.

When Bernie Stockermans moved to North Bay in 1998, he never imagined he’d become a modern-day Voyageur, but that’s exactly how his story unfolds. Like most Trail Champions, Bernie stepped into a legacy that began long before his time – a legacy carved into the land by the indigenous peoples, and later, by fur traders and Voyageurs navigating ancient waterways for trade and travel. One of the oldest and most storied of these routes includes the La Vase Portages, a historic corridor between Trout Lake and Lake Nipissing that predates European settlement by thousands of years. Its significance was formally recognized in 2002, thanks to efforts from the Restore the Link Committee and the North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority, earning the designation of a Canadian Heritage Rivers System. But despite this recognition, the La Vase Portages continue to face threats from development and neglect with some of the original corridor located on private property.

Bernie’s path as a trail steward began, first volunteering with the Wasi Ski Club, helping to clear trails and build the chalet. In 2006, he became an inaugural member of the Friends of La Vase Portages, drawn in by his love of history and the outdoors – values rooted in his years as both a scout and scout leader. “I’m always looking for really cool outdoorsy things to do with the kids, especially if there’s history or culture involved,” he explains. The La Vase Portages offered everything he was looking for: a rich past, an outdoor classroom, and a way to give back. And the Friends goal to restore the portage as close to the original as possible resonated with Bernie.

As a career forester and safety inspector, Bernie can operate a chainsaw and brush saw – handy skills when reclaiming lost and forgotten trails! “Hey Bernie, we’re putting together a maintenance party. Can you come with your chainsaw?” is a call he’s used to getting – and one he’s always ready to answer. He finds satisfaction in cutting back brush, clearing fallen trees, and laying corduroy logs along the muddy sections of the portages. La Vase, after all, means “mud” in French. He calls this work his “shtick,” but it’s far more than that – he is a literal trail blazer.

Each July, Bernie joins fellow volunteers in preparing the portages for Canoe Day. Bernie is one of the main guides for paddlers sharing knowledge passed down from old-timers, and gained through archeological research studies and artifacts found along the route. His shared goal for the La Vase Portages is to one day have interpretive signs along the route, and signs that would enable paddlers to explore its full history unguided. As the volunteer base ages, Bernie emphasizes the importance of capturing and sharing this knowledge before it disappears. Whether helping prepare for visiting paddlers retracing the historic trade route from Montreal or clearing the portages after a storm, Bernie remains a tireless champion of the La Vase Portages.

If you’ve ever wandered the Stepping Stones Trails in Corbeil, chances are you’ve crossed paths with Chris Holmes. He’s one of those familiar faces you’re bound to see – out for a daily hike, checking the trails, planning improvements. Like so many Trail Champions in our community, Chris feels most at home outdoors. Over the years, he’s volunteered with Laurier Woods, Friends of La Vase Portages, and now pours his heart into the Stepping Stones Trails.

“Ever since I was a kid I spent most of my time playing in the bush. This is no different.” Chris is still playing in the bush.

Chris isn’t just a hiker—he’s a trail steward. He maintains a website for the trails, keeps the maps updated, and celebrates how the trails have grown to welcome everyone, from fat bikers in winter to visitors from around the world. Chris takes great pride in how much the Stepping Stones Trails get used. It’s not just locals who appreciate these paths—people are discovering them through signs, online posts, and word of mouth. Chris is thrilled that the trails have become the official venue for the annual Ride for Jack, a winter fat bike event that raises money for autism programs at One Kids Place. $16,000 was raised in 2025 in memory of Jack Lyons.

There’s a certain magic to how these trails have come together. Some donated lumber here, some scrap wood there. Trees don’t stay down for long before someone comes through with a chainsaw. Neighbours are always lending a hand to build a footbridge, clear brush, and groom the trails for winter fat biking and snowshoeing. When health issues temporarily kept Chris from the trails, he found comfort in knowing others stepped up. The trail community kept rolling. That kind of shared responsibility keeps the trails alive—and it means the world to Chris.

It’s not about one person. It never has been. But ask anyone who hikes the Stepping Stones Trails, and they’ll tell you—Chris is at the heart of them.

The snowshoe trails at the club came about from a Rotary Club of North Bay fundraiser for children with disabilities – Kilometers for Kids. A few ski club members who were also Rotarians thought a ski or snowshoe aspect might encourage more people to get involved. Only, there were no snowshoe trails at the time. So, Rotarians Don Wheeler and Dave Chamberlain laid out the initial 3 km of snowshoe trail. From there the trails grew. As time passed, Tom took the lead on the snowshoe trails at the mercy of mother nature and battling with the beavers. Every few years, Tom would go out in the fall and a beaver dam would have given way and carried one of the small footbridges downstream. Trail building and maintenance is a lot of trial and error. Tom seeks help from members of the club “who are, you know, MacGyvers. They can figure it out. They go in armed to the teeth with different tools and different pulleys and jacks and all that kind of stuff. And when they get in there, they say, okay, well, this is what we need to do.” 

Every spring and fall, Tom gets out to flag the snowshoe trail. After the first substantial snowfall of the season, he conscripts his wife and a friend and the three of them go out again and re-establish the trail. At different confusion spots, they grab deadfall and make a barrier. “We exhaust ourselves because as you know, when you’re walking through a couple of feet of snow, you get pretty tired. But it is still a labour of love. We have fun at it.”

By 2019, many of the once thriving trails had become overgrown and once again forgotten in time – almost. Rick, steadfast in his desire to keep the trail network available for others to enjoy, never leaves home without his clippers. As appointed trail steward of the Laurier Tower Trail, Rick continues to hike the trail a few times a year in every season equipped with his clippers and ready to trim back brush and undergrowth that grows up along the trail.

The Forgotten Trails have a new burst of energy and enthusiasm. Participation in outdoor activities is at an all-time high and a new generation of caring people have relocated to the area to escape the city. Holding firm to the original mission to create, maintain and promote non-motorized, ecologically sustainable trails, a small and growing group of volunteers are working to revitalize the organization and its beloved hiking trails. Find Forgotten Trails on Facebook as the organization grows again. Rick is ready with his enthusiasm and of course, his clippers!