Blackburn's own Chris McLeod gets to christen the first every ATV simulator in Canada at its unveiling Wednesday. Aug. 29, 2018. (Photo by Greg Higgins)Blackburn's own Chris McLeod gets to christen the first every ATV simulator in Canada at its unveiling Wednesday. Aug. 29, 2018. (Photo by Greg Higgins)
Chatham

CK Gets First ATV Simulator In Canada

Kids attending camp at the Children's Safety Village in Chatham-Kent will get to know what it's like to ride an ATV without getting on a real one.

The first ATV simulator in Canada was unveiled Wednesday in CM Wilson Conservation Area to teach kids what to expect when they start riding for real.

According to board president of the Children's Safety Village, Gary Patterson, the idea actually came from the New Mexico Fish and Wildlife Federation. Patterson said members from the board saw it in January and had to create one of their own.

Patterson said the hope is to reduce injuries from ATVs by teaching kids what to expect when riding in various terrain.

"It helps them shift the weight," Patterson said. "It will go up and down, side to side. It could go a lot faster, but for safety standards we keep them going fairly slow. Blackburn's Chris McLeod was on it and we didn't want to buck him off because that wouldn't be good."

Patterson said the minimum age for kids to ride the simulator will be 8-years-old and they will be provided with all the proper safety equipment as well.

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