Cape Bretoners recognized
Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters hands out awards
Two Cape Breton groups and a former MLA have been recognized for their wildlife and conservation-related efforts on the island.
The Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters announced recipients of awards during its annual general meeting and banquet.
“This year represents the 87th year of operation for the federation,” said Ian Avery, federation president. “It was a big milestone for us.”
Avery said of the 12 awards presented this year, three went to the Cape Breton area.
The Port Morien Wildlife Association received the Valley Shield for its efforts in conjunction with freshwater sports fishing and the Isle Royale ATV Club received the Knickle Award for efforts to further the aims of the federation.
“Some of their policies and work would line up with federation policies. They were doing some stream enhancement work including removing car parts in the waterway behind Cape Breton University.”
The Fairn-Hickman Award went to Dave Wilton, who at the time the awards were determined was the MLA for Cape Breton Centre.
“’It goes to a legislator for their work in conservation and wildlife.”
Avery praised the recipients of the three awards.
“The Port Morien association goes back 50-60 years and maybe even further. Their work has impressed the federation, they are consistently one of our ‘go to’ clubs in Cape Breton for doing all kinds of work, whether it’s lake enhancement or wildlife programs or fishing derbies.”
He said the association always has events and projects on the go including most recently a fishing derby and a loon platform-nesting project.
“For a smaller club they certainly are very busy which is great to see,” he said.
The federation is made up of about 33 clubs from across the province.
“Our strength comes from those clubs.”
Jeff McNeil, the eastern regional director of the federation, said the Port Morien association was nominated for its award by the federation and the Port Morien association was nominated by the Isle Royale ATV Club.
Wilton was nominated by Bob Cross who is a member of the federation and on the awards committee.
He said the two groups and Wilton were instrumental in having a truck removed from a water area behind Cape Breton University in November.
McNeil, who is also a member of the Port Morien Wildlife Association, said their group was proud to have been nominated by the federation.
“Our group was ecstatic our efforts … have been recognized yet again due to our membership and our members involved,” he said. “It shows that our great work is noticed in the community and outside the community.”
McNeil hopes to see the federation bring its AGM to Cape Breton in 2019.