Sudbury police ride snowmobiles in support of Special Olympics
Dozens came out with their sleds for the chance to shred the trails with police Sunday morning.
The Sudbury Trail Plan parking lot was quite busy are community members and police prepared for the third annual Law Enforcement Torch Run Snowmobile Ride in support of Special Olympics.
"We'll be travelling to the Sudbury Trail Plan property and going to the Wolf Mountain Lookout – we're very excited,” said Constable Nolan Windle with the Greater Sudbury Police Service (GSPS).
“This is our third annual event and it gets bigger every year."
Organizers said a few volunteers leave ahead of the main group to setup a bonfire where participants can cook some hot dogs.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
Many said the event is northern Ontarian to a tee; which may be the reason that GSPS is the only police service to have a torch run on snow machines.
"This is a fantastic part of the job, you get to engage with some many members of the public, throw a leg over the sled and raise some money for a fantastic cause – like how can you go wrong, right so," said Windle.
Police Chief Paul Pedersen said the partnership between law enforcement and Special Olympics for the torch run goes back 35 years.
"Yeah this is where we have fun and we have fun for a good cause… this (event) is the extension of the Torch Run,” said Pedersen.
Also in attendance was Greater Sudbury Mayor Paul Lefebvre and his wife – who are both avid snowmobilers themselves.
"We've never had the mayor and a police board member out to any of these kinds of things..." said Pendersen.
Lefebvre told CTV News that Special Olympics is a cause that is both near and dear to his family.
"Well certainly it's a great cause - not only are we here to support the Special Olympics, everybody here, beautiful weather, beautiful trails so it's a beautiful day to participate and support," said Lefebvre.
That sentiment was shared with CTV News by many at the event.
This event is just part of a long-standing tradition police services and forces across Ontario have with Special Olympics. The next tradition for GSPS will be the polar plunge at the beginning of March where officers will brace for the chilly waters of Ramsey Lake.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6970476.1721410082!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
The CrowdStrike outage is affecting health-care services in Canada. Here's what you need to know
A global technology outage that's grounded flights and delayed border crossings is also challenging health-care services in the country, as issues with Microsoft services persist.
Quebec woman's death warns of dangers of cosmetic surgery abroad
Brian McConnell's daughter, Florence McConnell, died after a liposuction surgery complication in Morocco. Now, he warns others against undergoing cosmetic surgeries abroad.
Interior residents get ready to flee as B.C. fire tally soars past 300
The out-of-control Shetland Creek fire in British Columbia's southern Interior has more than doubled in size due to what the wildfire service describes as "significant overnight growth" and more accurate mapping.
Polar bear 'Baffin' dies at Calgary Zoo after not resurfacing from pool
A polar bear died in its enclosure at the Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo on Friday.
'I feel cheated': Here are the products hit hardest by shrinkflation
Canadians who feel like they are getting less bang for their buck at the grocery store these days might be right. A new report shows the effects of shrinkflation are real.
Tentative deal to end LCBO strike on hold as province accuses union of introducing new demands
The LCBO strike appears to be back on just hours after a tentative agreement was announced.
Woman guilty of murdering, dismembering boyfriend in Nanaimo, B.C.
A 28-year-old British Columbia woman has been found guilty of killing and dismembering her boyfriend on Vancouver Island nearly four years ago.
opinion Trump's assassination attempt not a political winner
Danger and fear are so pervasive throughout the national political ethos it is now the norm, writes Washington political columnist Eric Ham.
What a Donald Trump presidency means for Canada
The most striking thing about walking the floor of the Republican National Convention (RNC) is seeing just how much this is Donald Trump's party, CTV News' Vassy Kapelos says.