O.F.A.H. applauds volunteers, cheers growth

O.F.A.H. applauds volunteers, cheers growth
Volunteers across Ontario contributing to fish and wildlife conservation

More than five million people in Ontario volunteer their time annually to benefit a charity or cause. Thousands of O.F.A.H. members are among those who spend countless hours working on youth outreach, and conservation initiatives. Recently, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) honored individual and club volunteers whose peers nominated them for recognition. The award winners were chosen by a panel of judges and presentations were made during the 82nd O.F.A.H. Annual General Meeting and Fish & Wildlife Conference.

Lynn and Angel Holmes of Prescott are the 2009 recipients of the Larry Wallace Memorial Volunteer Award, which is given to O.F.A.H. members who have best ensured the future of conservation by sharing their knowledge and love of the great outdoors with youth. Lynn and Angel are long time members of the Grenville Fish and Game Club, and their work to engage young people in community clean-up drives, fishing derbies, goose calling, fundraisers and a children’s camp has been noticed and appreciated by their fellow O.F.A.H. and club members.

Jeff Johnston of the Fort Frances Sportsmen’s Club was named the winner of the Gord Blake Memorial Conservation Award. The honor is given to the individual O.F.A.H. member whose efforts have done the most for conservation in the preceding year. Jeff chairs the Rainy Lake Fisheries Charity Trust and organizes clean ups, tree plantings, water quality monitoring and other stewardship actions. He is also active in land use issues that threaten a local walleye fishery.

O.F.A.H. Zone B was recognized with the Bob Pope Memorial Award for having the largest proportional growth in their O.F.A.H. region. O.F.A.H. Zone B Executive Chair Glenn Rivard and Secretary/Treasurer Deb Rivard of Thunder Bay, accepted on behalf of the zone.

“It is important to thank people like Lynn and Angel Homes, and Jeff Johnston for the years of invaluable volunteer service they have given to conservation and outreach,” said Mike Reader, O.F.A.H. Executive Director. “My congratulations also go out to members in O.F.A.H. Zone B for their continued success in engaging new members in conservation initiatives.”

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 660 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

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