Dale Hickox has been an avid snowmobiler for the past 38 years. He has been an active member of his local club, the Greenfield Stormriders, and has served as a dedicated member of the Prince Edward Island Snowmobile Association (PEISA) since 1999. Dale held the role of PEISA President from 2007 until 2021, when he retired from the Board. In late summer 2022, he was hired as the PEISA Trail Manager. In 2012, Dale was awarded the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations Excellence Award for Snowmobiler of the Year.
Dale believed it was important to have youth representation on the PEISA. He approached the Board with his idea, and at the 2011 PEISA Annual General Meeting, had the bylaws changed to include five youth members. These youth members, aged between 18 and 25, have since contributed greatly to Board activities.
Every year during the second week of June, snowmobile enthusiasts, manufacturers, suppliers, and representatives from state, provincial, and national snowmobile organizations from around the world meet to celebrate the sport and conduct business at the International Snowmobile Congress. In 2009, Dale was the co-chair and one of the key organizers of the International Snowmobile Congress hosted by the PEISA in Summerside, tending to over 400 delegates from Canada, the United States, Sweden, and Russia — a huge undertaking for a small association.
Dale was the main organizer and driving force behind the annual “Go Snowmobiling Ride” on PEI from 2007 to 2019, with COVID-19 forcing the cancellation of this important event for the past few years. He worked hard to encourage the participation of local media and politicians, providing them with the opportunity to experience the joy of snowmobiling firsthand.
Another notable accomplishment of Dale’s was organizing the 2014 Celebration Ride as part of the 150th Anniversary of the Creation of our Nation celebrations. The PEISA hosted 120 riders from across Canada and the United States on a three-day ride from one tip of Prince Edward Island to the other. Due to his efforts with this ride, the PEISA was awarded the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association’s top “Go Snowmobiling” ride award for Canada in 2014.
Leadership
As President of the PEISA, Dale nurtured the group of volunteers into one of the best boards of directors in PEISA’s history. He encouraged all members to voice their opinions and actively participate in all activities. In February 2014, Dale was voted by his peers as the President of the Canadian Council of Snowmobile Organizations for a two-year term. He was then re-elected for a second two-year term in 2016 and was an exceptional leader at the national level.
Safety
Dale was the driving force behind the hiring of a full-time paid Trail Warden on PEI. The implementation of the trail warden program has substantially decreased the number of injuries and impaired driving instances on Island trails. The PEISA now partners with Law Enforcement and Conservation Officers to ensure the safety of everyone using the trails.
Community Outreach
Dale worked with the local Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) campaign by coordinating trail spot checks with PEISA trail wardens, local police detachments, and MADD members. These spot checks helped raise awareness about the importance of not consuming alcohol while operating a snowmobile.
Dale consistently exceeded expectations in promoting snowmobiling as a recreational sport. His tireless efforts brought together a group of dedicated volunteer board members whose combined efforts have developed highly respected relationships with local government officials, snowmobile dealers, the membership at large, and the Island community. Without his dedication as a full-time volunteer President, the Association would not have achieved these partnerships.
Dale has a genuine love for snowmobiling, and his positive outlook is contagious. His tireless work as PEISA President involved upgrading trails, ensuring safe riding conditions, and building strong relationships with local snowmobile dealers. He also launched the first Vintage Trail Pass program, which took older snowmobiles out of storage and put them back on the trails. People have enjoyed the sport so much that many are now purchasing newer sleds.
Additionally, Dale allowed the local groomer to be stationed at his farm and donated his shop and work areas for service and maintenance of PEISA equipment at no cost to the Association.
Given all of these accomplishments, we firmly believe that Dale Hickox is a deserving candidate for induction into the PEISA Hall of Fame.
Respectfully submitted, Dhuey Pratt & Linda Constable
