Board of Directors

Wade Short

President

Wade’s passion for outdoor living began at the age of 11 when his grandfather purchased a 1969 Ski-Doo Nordic—an iconic two-cylinder, 24-horsepower snowmobile. Its primary purpose was practical: snaring rabbits to provide food for the family and acquiring firewood alongside his father and brothers. While joyriding wasn’t common at the time, Wade found endless enjoyment riding in circles around the yard for hours. Later in life, he shared the same passion with his two children, and to this day, he still rides with his son on long day trips, exploring the Goose Arm area and the Northern Peninsula, taking in all the beautiful scenery it has to offer.

Since those early days, the sport has evolved tremendously. In the 1990s, Wade became involved with the newly formed Junction Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club, initially serving as a director and later as president for a brief period. Wade and his wife have always embraced an active outdoor lifestyle in and around the Deer Lake area, which eventually inspired them to re-engage with the club and contribute to the outdoor community they cherish.

After serving as a director in recent years, Wade is now honored to lead the club once again as president. Alongside a dedicated executive team, he is committed to giving back and enhancing the outdoor experience for future generations.

When not working with the club, Wade can likely be found at his cabin in the Goose Arm area, where he spends much of his time riding, hunting, and fishing—constantly appreciating the stunning scenery and views. One of the most rewarding aspects of volunteering in this role is connecting with fellow outdoor enthusiasts who share the same passion for off-road adventure, whether by snowmobile, ATV, or UTV.

Jonathan Andrews

Vice President

Coming soon.

Theresa Short

Secretary

Theresa’s passion for the outdoors began at a young age, growing up surrounded by the beauty and adventure that nature has to offer. Some of her fondest childhood memories are of camping trips, snowmobiling, skiing, hunting, and fishing—experiences that sparked a lifelong love for outdoor activities.

That passion has remained with her, and today, Theresa and her husband are avid outdoor enthusiasts. For them, living on the West Coast feels like being in a vast playground, offering endless opportunities for outdoor adventure. They take every chance to explore the incredible multi-user trail network in the area, enjoying everything the sport has to offer. One of her most memorable rides was a snowmobile trip to the Woody Point/Bonne Bay area on a freshly groomed trail with a group of friends. The breathtaking scenery and unforgettable views are forever etched in her mind. With so many amazing trails across the province, Theresa encourages everyone to get out and experience them—there’s nothing quite like discovering where the trail will take you.

Theresa first became involved with the JTB executive in the mid-1990s, serving as Public Relations and Secretary. After some time away, she returned and is proud to once again serve as Secretary. For Theresa, being part of JTB is a way to give back to the community she loves. It provides a platform to connect with others, share her passion for the outdoors, and encourage people to explore the trails that link people, places, and communities.

The most rewarding part of being a JTB member for Theresa is the community engagement and the opportunity to meet fellow riders—both local and visitors—and hear their stories, experiences, and love for the outdoors. It’s a reminder of how special the trails, sport, and Province truly are—it’s paradise!

Brendan Ropson

Treasurer

Meet Brendan – a passionate rider, dedicated volunteer, and community supporter. Brendan has always been drawn to the freedom and tranquility that nature offers. Snowmobiling and ATVing have been integral parts of his life, which led him to join JTB. Through the club, Brendan finds the opportunity to give back to the community by doing what he loves, all while spending quality time with his daughter. In addition to his involvement with the club, Brendan enjoys traveling and exploring new places, both locally and internationally.

Brendan became a member of the Junction Trail Blazers in 2024 and was soon elected as the Club Treasurer. In this role, he works closely with his fellow trail enthusiasts, all of whom share a commitment to making a positive impact within the community. Brendan is dedicated to ensuring that the club remains strong and continues to fulfill its mission of maintaining a trail system that can be enjoyed by all.

For Brendan, it’s about more than just the ride—it’s about preserving the trails for future generations to enjoy.

Garry Pinksen

Director

Garry is serving his first year as a director of the JTB executive and is excited be a part of a team with a shared vision of optimizing and maintaining the trail system to its full potential. An avid snowmobiler with 45 years of experience, Garry has enjoyed the sport with his family here on the West Coast. In addition to snowmobiling, he started riding ATV/UTV 13 years ago, a hobby that continues to fuel his passion for outdoor adventure.

Residing in Deer Lake, Garry feels fortunate to live in an area that offers excellent trails for both winter and summer, all of which are well-maintained. While there is always more work to be done, he is eager to contribute to the continued success and growth of the trail system.

Darrold Williams

Director

Coming soon.

Kerri Williams

Director

Kerri has always felt most at home in the outdoors. No matter the season, you’ll find her in the woods – exploring backcountry trails in the winter, hunting big and small game in the fall, or scouting new routes through hiking/ATV in the warmer months. An avid hunter and lifelong outdoor enthusiast, Kerri thrives where the air is crisp and the trails stretch for miles.

She grew up riding snowmobiles, learning the ropes at a young age and quickly developing a passion for the sport. What started as weekend family rides turned into a lifelong love for snowmobiling. Not being from the area, every winter, she would make multiple trips across the province with her family just to experience the trail systems and significantly more snowfall on the western side of the island. The well-groomed trail network and reliable winter conditions kept calling her back year after year.

In 2022, Kerri decided to make it official — relocating to the Deer Lake area to be closer to the riding she loves. Now, with direct access to some of the best snowmobiling terrain around, she spends her winters exploring fresh powder, enjoying the challenge of varied terrain, and putting on miles.

Kerri is a strong supporter of maintaining and improving the trail system and backcountry shelters that riders rely on throughout the season. She understands firsthand that these trails and warm-up shelters are a major reason people travel from all parts of the island (and even other provinces) to ride here, and she’s committed to helping preserve and strengthen that experience for future generations.

Kevin Hayden

Groomer Coordinator

Kevin has been snowmobiling for over 40 years, with his passion for the sport ignited by a group of friends and his first snowmobile, a Citation 4500. Since then, he has developed a passion for riding, particularly in the Goose Arm area and backcountry. Kevin also enjoys exploring the expansive network of trails in the area on his ATV.

Over the years, Kevin has turned snowmobiling into a family tradition, often hitting the trails and passing down his knowledge and passion for the sport to his children. His love for snowmobiling goes beyond just riding—he takes great pride in maintaining and improving the trails, ensuring they stay in top condition for fellow riders to enjoy year-round.

As the Groomer Coordinator, Kevin plays a key role in managing grooming operations to keep the trails smooth and safe for all riders. He has been involved with the club on and off for over a decade, dedicating his time and expertise.

Gordon Toope

Race Director

Gordon has a lifelong passion for snowmobiling, having been riding since he was a child. His father introduced him to the sport by bringing him home his first snowmobile, sparking a love that has lasted ever since. His favorite riding spot is White Hills, a true winter playground for snowmobile enthusiasts.

As a member of JTB’s board of directors, Gordon thrives working with a dedicated team, all united by a common love for the sport. With years of experience racing snowmobiles, he was naturally driven to take on the role of Race Director for JTB. Now, he’s passing down his passion for the sport to his children, who have already participated in the club’s two race events.

As Snowmobile Race Director, Gordon oversees all aspects of JTB’s races, including planning, organizing, promoting, and executing events. He ensures the safety of participants, spectators, and volunteers, while helping to create successful events that align with the club’s goals.

Hillary England

Assistant Race Director

Hillary grew up in Kings Point, Newfoundland and Labrador, where her love for the outdoors began at a young age. Snowmobiling quickly became a passion with her parents and younger sister. Since then, being on the trails and enjoying the outdoors has remained a big part of her life.\

In 2024, Hillary and her family relocated to Reidville on the West Coast.   After moving to the area, she quickly admired the passion and dedication behind the Junction Trail Blazers. The club’s commitment to improving the trail system while giving back to the community stood out to her, and she was inspired to become involved. For Hillary, being part of JTB is an opportunity to share her passion for the outdoors while encouraging others to explore the incredible trail systems and natural beauty the region has to offer.

Hillary has also been part of the snowmobile racing community for over 13 years alongside her husband, who is a racer and avid supporter of the sport. Through the years, she has spent countless hours at race tracks and events, developing a strong appreciation for the excitement, dedication, and community that snowmobile racing brings together.

Spending time outdoors as a family is something Hillary values deeply. She and her husband share a strong passion for snowmobiling and outdoor adventure, and they are now passing that love on to their eight-year-old daughter. Their daughter began riding her own ATV at the age of four and got her first snowmobile that same year. Today, she rides alongside her parents on many adventures, no matter the terrain or distance. Whether it’s snowmobiling in the winter, stopping for a boil-up along the trail, or exploring the backcountry on their side-by-side during the summer months, the trails are where they spend much of their family time together.

Outside of snowmobiling, Hillary and her family enjoy camping in their travel trailer, hunting, fishing, and spending time in the outdoors. Both Hillary and her husband are avid big game hunters, and their daughter is quickly developing the same passion and it’s some of their favorite ways to spend time together.

As Assistant Race Director with Junction Trail Blazers, she looks forward to supporting Race Director Gordon and the team in continuing to grow the club’s race events and helping establish one of the fastest-growing and most exciting snowmobile races on the island.

Katelyn Osmond

Junior Director

Katelyn’s love for the outdoors started at a young age with her family. Her father introduced her to ATV and snowmobiling and she instantly fell in love. Some of her best childhood memories revolve around nature and outdoor activities. Camping, hunting, fishing and more outdoor activities have been present in Katelyn’s life for as long as she can remember.

Katelyn experienced all these activities in Ontario where she was born until 3 years ago. Her family is originally from Newfoundland and decided it was time to pack everything up and move home. Since moving to Deer Lake, Katelyn has become actively involved in school extracurricular activities and volunteer opportunities in the community.

Katelyn joined Junction Trail Blazers in 2024 when she was a volunteer for many activities hosted. She even participated in her first ever snowmobile drag race with us at our Race On The Humber. Katelyn shares the love of interest in snowmobiling, atv, and nature with the rest of the directors. Being the youngest of the directors at the young age of 17.

Katelyn enjoys working alongside all of JTB’s directors and bringing new ideas to the table. Ensuring the love and passion for all things outdoors is passed onto youth in the community is super important to Katelyn.