Established in 1974, the FCMQ offers several services to its members and plays a key role as their representative in dealings with government and legal authorities in Québec. Its history is closely knit with the history of snowmobiling and of Québec.
The Federation’s 10 key dates:
| 1959 |
Development of the first snowmobile by Joseph Armand Bombardier |
| 1962 |
Creation of the Association canadienne de l’autoneige (ACAN) |
| 1968 |
Foundation of the International Snowmobile Council (ISC) |
| 1974 |
Foundation of the Québec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ) |
| 1975 |
First intra-provincial trail (“pioneers“ trail) |
| 1980 |
First general snowmobile trails map |
| 1991 |
Foundation of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations (CCSO-CCOM)
First Super Snowmobile Show |
| 1995 |
Creation of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations
Creation of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association (ISMA ) |
| 2000 |
First interactive snowmobile trails map |
| 2002 |
Launching of the pilot trail patrol project |
Today, the FCMQ counts 209 snowmobile clubs, that is roughly 90,000 individual members throughout Québec.
The economic impact of snowmobiling:
- Snowmobiling is officially recognized as a tourism product.
- The tourist impact linked directly to the recreational practice of snowmobiling in Québec is valued at $413 million (study by Zins Beauchesne et associés – season 1995-1996).
- The total economic spinoffs of snowmobiling in Québec are $1,260 billion per year.
Events that have made history:
- The first international snowmobile festival, held in Valcourt in 1982, has become what is known today as le Grand Prix de Valcourt
- The Manoir Richelieu hosted the Annual Congress of the International Snowmobile Council in 1988. The “Grand rassemblement de Charlevoix” continues to be held today.
- The first Women’s Ride was organized in 1989 by the Ours Blancs snowmobile club of Maniwaki. In 2007, the Kelly Shires Snow Run prompted a good number of women to rally around an important cause.
- The first Super Snowmobile Show attracted 9,000 visitors. The SSRM, organized by the FCMQ, is held every year in the fall and attracts over 20,000 visitors.
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