INNISFAIL – After an absence in the community of more than 30 years, the Innisfail Fish and Game Association is reviving its outdoorsmen dinner and awards banquet.
The last awards banquet was held in 1985 at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion. This year’s banquet will be held on March 10 at the Iegion with animal scoring held Feb 10 at the same location.
"The banquet is meant to showcase some of the great natural resources, and opportunities that are available for Albertans in Alberta to enjoy,” said Bob Leney, president of the association, adding the banquet is also being held as a fundraiser and to celebrate the previous year’s harvest of fish and game. "Only fish and animals harvested legally in Alberta are eligible to enter for awards, however, everyone is invited to attend. The club only supports the ethical and legal harvest of fish and game.”
The local association was established in 1929, and is an affiliate club of the Alberta Fish & Game Association.
In 1962 the local association leased more than 50 acres of riverfront land from Brian Kelly for a period of 99 years, which he intended to be used as a reward for people who give back to fish and wildlife, said Leney.
He said the club has used this property as a campground to raise funds to support the association’s conservation efforts and youth programs.
"Due to high water over the last few years the river has changed course, resulting in the loss of roughly one-third of the property, which has affected our access to the wilderness area, loss of campsites, and walking paths,” said Leney.
The Innisfail Fish and Game Association currently has 154 members, whose mission is to promote, through education and programs, the conservation and utilization of fish and wildlife, and also to protect and enhance the habitats they depend on.
"Innisfail Fish and Game are the stewards of Dickson Site 7, part of the wildlife trust fund, which is the largest untouched native aspen land in Central Alberta,” noted Leney. "In recent years the club has initiated a duck nesting tunnel program, where we placed 25 nesting tunnels around the Innisfail area with 25 more to be placed in February, and maintain them on a yearly basis.”
Leney said the club has also been active in the Red Deer Fish and Game Association’s youth pheasant program where members mentor youth on hunting ethics and safe gun handling.
Tickets for the March 10 Innisfail dinner and awards banquet can be purchased at Double D Trailer sales and rentals (next to Kal Tire) or by contacting Kim Leney at 403-357-8512 or [email protected] . Those citizens interested in attending or learning more about the local association are invited to visit the group’s Facebook page -- Innisfail Outdoorsmen Dinner
Bob Leney, president of the Innisfail Fish and Game Association
"The banquet is meant to showcase some of the great natural resources, and opportunities that are available for Albertans in Alberta to enjoy. Only fish and animals harvested legally in Alberta are eligible to enter for awards."
