The founder of a popular ATV club in the area is stepping down from his role as president.
After nearly four years, Vince Masse announced this week that he will no longer be president of the Chatham-Kent ATV Club.
The roots of the club started in late 2015 when a proposed bylaw went in front of council that would allow ATVs and similar vehicles to be driven on most rural highways and roadways in CK. Masse was a prominent supporter of the bylaw, which was eventually voted down by council.
On the advice of councillors, Masse decided to form an official group of ATV enthusiasts. The goal of the group was to work together to bring more attention to the proposed bylaw and educate the public on it before attempting to bring it back to council. By January 2016, the Chatham-Kent ATV Club was officially formed and Masse, along with the other members, began their work.
"We put our plan together and worked hard, met with councillors showing how an ATV bylaw could work," he explained. "It went [back] to council in March of 2016. That night at council they voted in favour of a one year trial of the bylaw, giving us a chance to prove ourselves."
And prove themselves they did. In 2017, after the trial period was up, council voted in favour of approving the bylaw and implementing it indefinitely. Masse has since devoted much of his time to bringing awareness to the specifics of the law.
Besides working closely with the bylaw change, Masse also transitioned the club into one that gives back to the community. Throughout the years the group, which has over 100 members, has held many fundraisers for local people in need. According to Masse, a highlight of his time as president was organizing a "Feed the Hunger" campaign two years in a row.
"We did a GoFundMe account, we spent three or four weeks collecting food [then] we finished the day off with a food drive at Bobs Motorsport. We were able to feed eight food banks that first year and soup kitchens all throughout Chatham-Kent. Then last year, we were able to do 10," Masse said.
Another philanthropic effort by the group was done in May 2018, when they raised nearly $10,000 to replace a stolen ATV for Shawn Daley, a paraplegic resident who uses the vehicle to help get himself around. Masse said giving back was a commitment the group made when it was first formed.
"I just feel that we were gifted by getting this bylaw. The past mayor, Randy Hope, spoke to us that night at council and before it went to vote, he asked that we continue the great job we were doing of maintaining the bylaw, educating on it and continuing to give back to the community the way we were," said Masse. "That was a promise we kept and we continue to do it."
Despite going above and beyond in his role as club leader, Masse said he felt that it was just time for him to move on from his presidential duties and pass the torch to someone else.
"I just felt that I did what I set out to do by getting the bylaw, forming a club and bringing it to the level it's at now," he explained. "I just thought its time for some fresh blood to come into place and let me step back, let the next person take over and let the club go where it's going to go."
Masse said he still plans to be fairly active in the club alongside his wife, who he said has been by his side the whole time he was president. Masse is optimistic that the new president, Maurice Thibeault, will bring some new life to the club.
"We got talking and I told him I was thinking about stepping down from the role and we were looking for a leader and he showed interest," explained Masse. "He has some energy that he feels he can give to the club and help maintain it or make it... stronger than it has been."
For any ATV enthusiasts who wish to get involved with the club, Masse recommends emailing chathamkentatv@gmail.com to get more information.