INNISFAIL – For close to a century they have cared for and sustained fish and wildlife and the habitat they live in.
Now for the first time in 33 years, the Innisfail Fish and Game Association celebrated the work it does with an awards banquet at the Innisfail Royal Canadian Legion on March 10.
“Conservation is really our main focus. A lot of the members don’t even hunt or fish,” said Bob Leney, president of the association. “This banquet is a way for us to get together and celebrate the things we do.
“We’re super pleased with everybody that’s turned out tonight to support us.”
More than 200 people from around the province came out for the banquet, a fundraiser that included a dinner, awards presentations, raffle draws, guest speakers and a silent auction.
All money raised went to support the association’s conservation efforts, youth camps and programs.
“The awards are for the harvest of some animals and some resources that Alberta has to offer. We have eight awards being handed out tonight,” said Leney, noting awards for brown trout, pike, typical elk, non-typical elk, bison, whitetail deer, typical mule deer, and non-typical mule deer.
Also included were displays of several euro mounts (often known as skull mounts) and horns of some of the award recipients.
“As a club and myself personally, we feel the animals that are harvested to give us sustenance should be celebrated,” said Leney. “Hopefully we can get our ducks in a row next year and really make this more about a traditional wild game type meal.”
The local association also supports a variety of educational initiatives and programs. Last year they created an annual duck nesting tunnel project on Napoleon Lake and are currently working to set up others.
As well, they are stewards of land and now oversee two properties in Central Alberta. Both were established through the wildlife trust fund, created under the Alberta Conservation Association and Alberta Fish and Game Association.
One piece of property is known as Dickson Site 7 on the southwest side of Glennifer Lake. A new piece of property is now in their hands.
“We’ve been stewards of (Dickson Site 7) for many years,” said Leney. “The other land was just announced. It’s a brand new property for the wildlife trust fund. It’s west of Spruce View and a little south of Highway 54. It’s a half section of all native spruce forested area,” he added.
“We’re trying to start up a program this year to release pheasants into the wild and try to establish a population near the Innisfail area as well,” Leney concluded.
