‘Ottawa’ Rob Harris, Founder of Online Motorcycle Magazine, Killed in Crash
A Sackville man, who was the founder of one of the leading online motorcycle publications in Canada, was killed in a motorcycle crash in Ontario over the weekend.
Robert James Harris, 49, died on Saturday after his motorcycle collided with a pickup truck on Old Hastings Road in the township of Wollaston, the Ontario Provincial Police said in a statement on Monday.
Wollaston Township is about 250 kilometres southwest of Ottawa.
Police and ambulance attended the accident scene shortly before noon and provided first-aid and CPR to Harris. But he was non-responsive and was declared dead at the scene, the statement from the Bancroft detachment said.
No charges are being laid, following a study of the scene by an OPP collision investigator in conjunction with a coroner’s investigation, according to the statement.
No other details have been released.
Tributes pour in
Harris was the founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of Canada Moto Guide (CMG). Tributes to Harris have been pouring in on CMG’s website and Facebook page since his death.
“The riding community has lost one of our ambassadors forever,” Adam Stiles posted on Facebook.
Other posts describe him as a “warm and engaging gentleman,” with a good sense of humour. “A fantastic fella,” wrote Dave Shepherd.
“I can’t say enough about the instigator of a thousand adventures,” wrote John G. Willden.
“Ride in Peace,” wrote Todd Tanner.
CMG confirmed Harris’ death in a post on its website on Sunday. “Thanks for the support we’ve already received from the community and friends,” it states. “We’ll be back with you in a few days.”
Harris was a displaced Brit, who answered to the name “Editor ‘Arris (in honour of his English ‘omeland),” according to the website.
CMG Online, launched in 1998 with a goal of “keeping motorcycle enthusiasts informed and entertained,” was Canada’s first web-only motorcycle e-zine, it states.
In 2007, an English daily news spinoff site was started and a French version followed in 2012.