The KSC was established in 1968 and has one of the largest trail systems in BC (over 300 km). Our trail system connects with Graystokes Park, Big White Ski Hill, and the Buck Hills area. Riders also come south from Lumby across to our trails. We also tie into the Joe Riche, Idabel Lake, McCulloch area, Kettle Valley Rail trail, Canyon Lakes, Little White, and south to Greyback Lake and the Carmi / Penticton areas. Our trails are on 99.9% Provincial public land and encompass about 1200 square kilometers of forest, meadows, lakes, and recreation activities. As the KSC is a snowmobile club, we have very little effect on sensitive areas as they are usually under 4 to 8 feet of snow. The KSC holds valid operating permits with the Provincial government and BC Parks and Recreation, to maintain the trails and safety shelters that are in place on these lands. Members have volunteered tens of thousands of hours to provide the environmental stewardship necessary for continued usage of the Crown and Parklands. We are enjoying some 3rd and 4th generation members! We have local Band members as active Club members who sled the Graystokes and McCulloch regularly. The KSC is a non-profit organization, and we work to ensure that the sledding community respects the rights and rights-of-way of the local logging industry.
For more than 30 years, Whiteway volunteered his time with various snowmobile organizations. He started snowmobiling in 1970 and joined the Kelowna Snowmobile Club in 1974.
Whiteway, the 1977 British Columbia oval racing champion, became president of the club in 1988 when it had just 45 members. By the time his presidency came to an end seven years later, membership had risen to more than 500. The Kelowna Snowmobile Club had become the largest in British Columbia, responsible for more than 300 kilometres of trails.
In 1994, the British Columbia Snowmobile Federation (BCFS) welcomed Whiteway as an associate director. After a couple of years, he became the president of the BCFS recreation division. He later took over the role of executive director, leading the organization for nearly five years.
In recent years, Whiteway has also served in many positions for the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations, including the president, and the International Snowmobile Congress.
“Pat was pretty well an ambassador for our sport, and he was an icon in British Columbia,” BCSF general manager and Whiteway’s close friend Les Auston told Snowmobile.com.
Whiteway, who dedicated thousands of hours of his time to snowmobiling, was honoured in 2004 as both British Columbia snowmobiler of the year and Canadian snowmobiler of the year.
The snowmobiling community in western Canada suffered a loss on Christmas day with the passing of Pat Whiteway. He was 63.
Story by Snowmobile.com Jan. 08, 2008
Uncle Tom's Cabin is named after a legacy member of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club. Tom donated materials etc. more than one time for the cabin. The Cabin Burnt at least once. Tom was a resident of east Kelowna and a pillar in the community.
Al Horning amongst other accomplishments was co-founder of the Kelowna Snowmobile Club and BC Snowmobile Federation. He also became a provincial champion snowmobile rider and participated in organized snowmobile racing as far back as the late 1960s
Al is an honorary lifetime member of the KSC we are sure his generosity and involvement with government both provincial and federal is a good reason why we are able to Snowmobile in Kelowna and the Okanagan today.
Al was last at a club meeting in September of 2020 and shared many stories. He will be missed.
1939-2023
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.