Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation 81st Annual Convention
For Resolutions Passed at Convention - Click Here
For Convention Photo Winners - Click Here
For Convention Award Winners - Click Here
For Top Membership Salespeople - Click Here
For Donations and Fundraising - Click Here
Convention Was a Huge Success
We would like to thank the Battlefords Wildlife Federation for hosting the 81st Annual SWF Convention. The team of volunteers sure helped to make it run smoothly and made the convention enjoyable for everyone.
Thank you to all the branches that donated items and money to our annual fundraising efforts at convention and for all of the extra work that you have done over the year to enable you to generously donate to our conservation programs.
Congratulations to all the award winners – recognition well deserved for a job well done!
Here are some of the highlights from the convention:
Thursday, February 11
Keynote Address
The Future is in Our Hands
Phil Morlock, Director of Environmental Affairs f or Shimano, was scheduled to provide the Keynote address on Thursday, but do to some health concerns was unable to travel to Saskatchewan. Fortunately Barry Turner, Director of Government Relations for Ducks Unlimited Canada, graciously agreed to fill in for his friend and fellow member of the Outdoor Caucus Association of Canada.
Turner delivered Morlocks’s presentation which focused on some challenges that we as hunters and anglers have in Canada and what we can do about it.
“The abundance of fish & wildlife we enjoy today and our heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping exist not by accident but by effort” said Turner.
Some of the issues Turner addressed were anti-use groups, media, Natural Resource Policy and Legislation and Marine Protected Areas.
“The greatest challenge facing the future of our outdoor heritage sports is not the animal rights groups or the environmental agenda to close large areas of water to fishing,” explained Turner.
“Elected representatives make good decisions when they have good information and when they hear from their constituents.”
Turner pointed out however, that we have a lot of good friends in Parliament who will do a very credible job of representing our interests through the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus.
“At the end of the day, the future of fishing and hunting in Canada will be determined by all of us,” Turner notes.
“We must become individual ambassadors for the positive things about our outdoor heritage sports – every time we have the opportunity to tell our story – especially to people who don’t hunt, trap, shoot or fish.” |
| |
Colin Maxwell
 Collin Maxwell, former Saskatchewan Environment Minister and former executive vice president of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, shared his views on Climate Change at the Banquet Thursday night.
Maxwell encouraged all SWF members and others who care about our great outdoors to do some research when it comes to the Global Warming debate.
“I’d like to see a wee bit more info before I make a decision,” Maxwell said.
Maxwell noted that there is a lot at stake for Western Canada, and it is our responsibility to make informed decisions, regardless of possible criticism.
“I do believe there is a human influence on the environment, but if you question climate change or global warming you are branded negatively,” says Maxwell.
With research, studies and facts on both sides of the debate, Maxwell said the best way to make informed decisions is “to follow the money”. Find out who is funding the research, who is pressing what issues and who stands to benefit financially.
“I am only looking for the truth,” said Maxwell.
|
| |
Friday, February 12
Seminars |
|
|
|
|
|
Colin Frey provided excellent outdoor survival tips. |
Jim Kroshus shared many of his tips and tricks in taking outdoor photography. |
JeanAnne Prysliak taught delegates how to get the most out of their GPS units. |
| |
|
|
| Branch Presentations |
|
|
|
|
|
Melville Fish & Game League |
Lloydminster &District Fish & Game Association |
River Ridge Fish & Game League |
| |
|
|
Friday Night Banquet
Lorne Scott, MC for the evening and auctioneer Ivan White helped us raise almost $37,000 for the Federation. The last item to be auctioned was a Salmon Fishing Trip for 2 to New Brunswick for 6 days courtesy of the NB Wildlife Federation.
“We are going to take care of you when you are down here,” said Roland Michaud, NBWF President.
“Right down to the bottle of Scotch we have lined up to leave in your room.”
The trip alone raised over $6,000.
Thanks to all that helped at the raffle tables and auction, your efforts were very much appreciated.
Saturday, February 13
Saskatchewan Ministry of Environment made presentations and opened the floor for questions from the delegates allowing for candid and direct discussions on a number of issues concerning SWF members.
|
|
 |
Almost $175,000 were donatedin the parade of checques. |
SWF Firearms Chair Greg Illerbrun always provides a riveting and motivating speech. |
Roland Michaud, NBWF President giving his visitor comments. |
| |
|
|
 Our Saturday Night Banquet Gala and Awards Night was the perfect ending to the Convention with the Honourable Nancy Heppner, Minister of Environment as our Guest Speaker. Minister Heppner announced that the Ministry is working on changes to the Natural Resources Act.
“The salaries of ministerial staff would be removed from the Fish and Wildlife Development Fund, which would free up millions of dollars for the work that organizations such as yourselves do, which is what the money is meant to be for in the first place” said Heppner.
Minister Heppner also took part in the mortgage burning ceremony. President Ray Wild, Executive Director Darrell Crabbe and Past President Brad Pattinson shared the honours of burning the mortgage to Central Office. The $327,000 mortgage was paid off in only three and a half years - almost 2 years ahead of schedule. It was the parade of cheques earlier in the day that made it official. Thank you to all of the branches and individuals that have generously donated over the past three years to help make this dream a reality.
|
