Oscar quality performances earns the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association the O.F.A.H. Mary Pickford Award

Oscar quality performances earns the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association the O.F.A.H. Mary Pickford Award

On the red carpet scene of Hollywood, leading performances and extraordinary casts take home Oscars, but in the real world of fishing and hunting, star conservationists receive the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters’ Mary Pickford Award.

Notably, there is a distinct connection between the Oscars and the O.F.A.H. gala awards ceremony. The “O.F.A.H. conservation club of the year” award was, in fact, named after Canada’s late great Oscar-winning actress, Mary Pickford, who was also an avid angler and conservationist in her own right.

In picture-perfect academy style, members of Owen Sound’s Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association recently celebrated the O.F.A.H. Mary Pickford Award that recognizes their volunteer efforts in numerous conservation programs, including: fish stocking, stream improvement, youth education, hunter safety training, as well as the coordination of the highly successful Owen Sound Salmon Spectacular.

At the O.F.A.H. 77th Annual Conference, held February 17-19, in Toronto, members of Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association were congratulated by hundreds of O.F.A.H. members and political dignitaries, including M.P. Larry Miller, M.P.P. Bill Murdoch, and Conservative Party Leader, Stephen Harper.

Blake Smith, President of the Sydnenham Sportsmen’s Association, said, “our members truly believe in conservation, and the work we do is for conservation. Although it’s certainly nice to be recognized, we don’t volunteer for conservation projects for the awards.”

Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director, added that, “throughout Ontario, there are hundreds of O.F.A.H. club and individual members who support conservation and our outdoor traditions in their own special way. Members of the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association can take pride in earning the O.F.A.H. Mary Pickford award because they’re an incredibly active group that inspires conservation organizations everywhere.”

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