CNSS Chair Walter Oster, M.P. Paul Steckle and Bancoft-area students win national CWF awards

OFAH FILE: 842
June 5, 2007

For Immediate Release

CNSS Chair Walter Oster, M.P. Paul Steckle and Bancoft-area students win national CWF awards

National conservation achievement awards were presented this past weekend at the annual Canadian Wildlife Federation Conference, in Saskatchewan. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters submitted several nominations and is thrilled to congratulate these well-deserving winners.

The name Walter Oster is well known and highly respected, particularly throughout Ontario’s outdoors community. As the Chair of the Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows (C.N.S.S.), head organizer of the Great Ontario Salmon Derby and a leader on a wide variety of partnership initiatives, including the O.F.A.H./Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Ringwood Fish Culture Station, Walter Oster is a driving force in the improvement of Canada’s fisheries resources. The C.W.F. Roderick Haig-Brown Award, recognizing conservation leadership, is a tribute to C.W.F. inductees such as Walter Oster, who put their hearts into organizations and programs that improve our environment.

As Huron-Bruce M.P. Paul Steckle prepares to leave political life, he can take pride in his C.W.F. Past President’s Canadian Legislator Award — yet another testament to everything he has done to support Canada’s outdoors community. Mr. Steckle, an avid conservationist, angler and hunter, has worked tirelessly to support the O.F.A.H. advocacy initiatives and our partnership that deal with invading species prevention, particularly the Sea Lamprey Control Program delivered by the Great Lakes Fishery Commission.

The Northern Outdoors Studies Program at North Hastings High School, in Bancroft, is the well-deserving winner of the CWF Youth Conservation Award. Led by O.F.A.H. member Glen Pomeroy, this hands-on, four-credit outdoor skills development program gives young people the training they need to succeed as they pursue resource management careers. Recently, students in this class joined Get Outdoors, the flagship youth conservation initiative of O.F.A.H.

“All of these winners have special partnership connections with the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and we are pleased that, through the Canadian Wildlife Federation, the work of Mr. Steckle, Mr. Oster and students from North Hasting High School are receiving the national attention and recognition that they deserve,” said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader.

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