June 25, 2025 – St. Andrews, MB

Safety Services Manitoba (SSM) was proud to take part in an off-road vehicle (ORV) safety media event hosted by Manitoba Public Insurance (MPI) at SSM’s ORV training site in St. Andrews.

The event featured remarks from the Honourable Matt Wiebe, Minister of Justice, Satvir Jatana of MPI, Dr. Lynne Warda, pediatric emergency physician at HSC and professor at the University of Manitoba, and Terris Baran, SSM’s Senior Manager of Road Safety Programming. Following the media conference, Minister Wiebe had the opportunity to experience a short ride on the course, underscoring the real-world context of the safety messages shared.

The event emphasized the importance of youth safety on off-road vehicles—highlighting the need for training, proper safety equipment, and supervision when children are involved.

Quote from Terris Baran, Senior Manager of Road Safety Programming, Safety Services Manitoba:
“All-terrain vehicles (ATVs) are powerful machines, not toys. Children under 16 often lack the size, strength, and judgment to operate them safely. That’s why we urge families to keep young riders off adult-sized ATVs and instead focus on supervised use of age-appropriate models, certified training, and proper safety gear, especially helmets. Our goal is to protect young lives and prevent tragedies before they happen. At Safety Services Manitoba, we deliver off-road vehicle (ORV) safety presentations, funded by Manitoba Public Insurance, to youth in schools, First Nations communities, and local community clubs across the province. In partnership with ATV Manitoba, we also offer hands-on training to ATV riding clubs and deliver customized ATV training for companies throughout Manitoba.”

 

View Article Here: Global News: Manitoba urges safety for kids using off-road vehicles