Posted by Peter Wood On February - 26 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
Canadian Ice Fishing Championship (CIFC) (Feb 20, 21, 2010) 160 anglers gathered to hear the rules for the big event.
They also witnessed the presentation of the 2010 Bill Bond Memorial Award – which was presented to Peter Waring, supervisor of the Lake Simcoe Team for the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR).
The Bill Bond Memorial Award is presented annually to an individual who has demonstrated a
lifelong commitment to conserving and promoting the fishery of Lake Simcoe.
Peter Waring of Sutton Ontario has always felt close ties with the 725 square kilometre body of
water in his front yard. As a kid he grew up playing and fishing in the big lake and developed a bond
with ‘her’ that evolved into a full time career with the Ministry of Natural Resources. He began
working for MNR’s Lake Simcoe Fisheries Assessment Unit (LSFAU) in 1980 and stayed until the mid
1980’s (as Unit Supervisor).
At the LSFAU he was a hands‐on kind of guy and was actively involved in fisheries monitoring and
research programs out on the lake. Some of his work involved interviewing anglers and sampling
fish during winter and summer creel surveys. He collected Lake Trout and Whitefish eggs and
sampled fish during the fall index trap netting program. There was plenty of new and interesting
work done by Peter and his staff that established some base line data that is still used today.
Peter has always encouraged programs to get kids hooked on fishing and supported the Bloorview
Kids Fishing Day each year by having the LSFAU net fish and deposit them into a netted off area at
Jackson’s Pt Government dock each year. The early 1980’s were also a time of constraint and Peter
worked hard to find other money through government programs. Somehow he managed to have
over 15 contract staff working at the LSFAU still monitoring the fisheries of Lake Simcoe during a
time when most government offices were suffering.
Some of the reports that Peter put together or co‐authored while he was with the LSFAU include:
♦ ¨ Changes in the multispecies, winter angling fishery of Lake Simcoe, 1961‐1983:
invasion by rainbow smelt, and the roles of intra‐ and inter‐specific interactions”
♦ ¨ Fall trapnetting on the spawning grounds of lake trout and lake whitefish in Lake
Simcoe, 1985‐1988.”
♦ ¨ Dissolved oxygen and temperature profiles at two Lake Simcoe limnological stations,
1981‐1983.”
♦ ¨ Preliminary stocking model for yearling whitefish introductions, Lake Simcoe.”
Most recently Peter was instrumental in helping to develop the Lake Simcoe Protection Act and
Plan. Enshrined in legislation there is now a plan to protect the lake and it’s fisheries for future
generations. Peter put together and is now the supervisor of the Lake Simcoe Team of MNR staff
who are working hard with other government agencies to implement the plan.
Peter also co‐chairs the Lake Simcoe Fisheries Stakeholder Committee – a group of dedicated
stakeholders from around the lake who meet monthly. (Their mandate is to make fishery‐related
recommendations to MNR.) Ever mindful of anglers and the important contribution they make to
the lake … Peter is making sure that in every facet of his work their interests are recognized and
taken into account.
Peter has never lost sight of how important the Lake Simcoe fishery resource is. He continues to
fish her waters and hunt in her watershed. Needless to say, throughout his 30 plus year career with
MNR, he has always been a strong advocate and ally for the lake.
Whether he is pushing for improvements to the fishery among his colleagues at MNR and other
government agencies or working with anglers who want to make a difference … you can rest
assured that Peter Waring cares deeply about this big body of water and the anglers who fish it.
Former Recipients of the Bill Bond Memorial Award:
2010‐ Peter Waring
Peter Waring (centre) from Sutton holds the 2010 Bill Bond Memorial Award trophy. He is flanked by CIFC anglers (and former recipients of the same award) 87 year old Joe Montgomery (left) from St Catherines and Wil Wegman from Bradford ON. Photo By: Tegan Leach
2009‐ Paul Nichols
2008‐ Dave Haynes
2007‐ Joe Montgomery
2006‐ Ken Hackenbrook
2005‐ Delaine Bond
2004‐ Wil Wegman
2003‐ John Power
2002‐ Charlie Johnston
2001 ‐Mike Burrows
2000‐ Cliff Perry
1999‐ John Reddings
1998‐ Teddy Pedersen
1997‐ Bob Johnston
1996‐ Jack Simpson
Posted by Peter Wood On February - 24 - 2010ADD COMMENTS
During the 2010 Spring Fishing & Boat Show Canadian Angler Hall of Fame Awards – Andy Pallotta inducted four anglers- John Kerr, Bruce Park, Angela & Reno Viola. Dave Mercer was presented with the Rick Amsbury Award.
Posted by Peter Wood On February - 24 - 20101 COMMENT
Delta Waterfowl helping to secure the future of hunting in Canada
Delta Waterfowl continues to take a leadership role in tackling the key issues facing hunters nationwide. Our work in encouraging recruitment hunts, coordinating national hunting advocacy and weighing in at the local level when waterfowl hunting is threatened, is essential to ensure that there is a bright future for hunting in Canada. While there are many organizations doing tremendous work in conserving waterfowl habitat, there is one group – Delta Waterfowl – that is uniquely focused on publicly promoting waterfowl hunting on behalf of all Canadian waterfowl hunters.
Delta Waterfowl created the first-ever youth hunting program in Canada, we started the first ladies-only waterfowl hunting program, the first program aimed at University students, the first all-inclusive national advocacy effort and the first plan and program to defend the access of waterfowl hunters at the local level. On the strength of the demonstration of these good ideas, new efforts have arisen from coast to coast, through the efforts of volunteers and partnering organizations.
All organizations doing good work on behalf of hunters deserve your support but if you are a Canadian duck or goose hunter, an upland bird hunter, in fact, a hunter of any type – Delta Waterfowl needs your support to continue our critical work on behalf of us all. If you are already part our team, please tell a friend. Get involved with our efforts at the local level through our chapter network.
Most of all – THANKS – in advance for helping us secure the future of hunting in Canada.
In 2006, the Liberal Party tabled a resolution (Resolution 42), that aimed to ban semi-automatic firearms in Canada. Like many Canadian hunters, Delta’s Dr.Bob Bailey was frustrated and concerned by the lack of a coordinated, national effort to address this kind of troublesome and misguided political policy. Dr.Bailey called a national conference call to attempt to create a campaign to stop Resolution 42 and the Canadian hunting and shooting community responded immediately. It turned out many groups were simply looking for someone to take the lead in setting up a process to coordinate efforts.
Pressure from the fledgling Outdoor Network resulted in Resolution 42 being dropped by the Liberal Party, and in the process, Canada’s first-ever coordinated national advocacy working group – The Outdoors Network – was essentially formed.
The ongoing successful defense and promotion of hunting in our increasingly urbanized Canadian society will require an effective, public and coordinated national advocacy and public relations campaign on behalf of hunters, which, until the creation of the Outdoors Network, had not existed in a substantive form in Canada. For the first time, this coalition is actively and publicly advocating on behalf of all Canadian hunters on tough issues such as gun ownership and many others.
Since 2006, Dr.Bailey and Delta Waterfowl have been recognized by outdoor organizations across the country for his groundbreaking work in creating the much needed Outdoors Network. Since inception, the Network has grown to include a combined grassroots membership of over 500,000 Canadians who are represented by the following progressive organizations:
Alberta Fish & Game Association
British Columbia Wildlife Federation
BCWF Political Action Alliance
Canadian Institute for Legislative Action
Canadian Section of the Wildlife Society
Canadian Shooting Sports Association
Canadian Sporting Arms and Ammunition Association
Delta Waterfowl Foundation
Fédération québecoise des chasseurs et pecheurs
Fur Institute of Canada
Friends of Fur
Hunting for Tomorrow
Manitoba Wildlife Federation
National Wild Turkey Federation
New Brunswick Wildlife Federation
Newfoundland and Labrador Wildlife Federation
Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
Prince Edward Island Chapter Delta Waterfowl
Prince Edward Island Trappers Association
Prince Edward Island Wildlife Federation
Ruffed Grouse Society
Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation
Wildlife Habitat Canada
The Outdoors Network (the Network) is tackling a wide variety of issues that affect the rights of Canadian hunters, fishers, trappers and gun owners, including the following (for more information on the status of these issues please contact Dr. Bob Bailey at Delta’s Canadian Head Office):
● Dismantling of the Canadian Wildlife Service (CWS) – Ongoing – there are proposed changes by the current government that would drastically reduce Canada’s waterfowl management capabilities. This is a significant issue of concern for the future of waterfowl and waterfowl hunting in Canada. The Network continues to stay abreast of developments and to communicate with government on the needs of the resource and the hunting community.
● Wildlife Habitat Canada – Federal Duck Stamp – Completed and Successful – Proposed changes could have seen Federal Duck Stamp revenue’s flow into Environment Canada’s general budget or elsewhere. An active effort by the Network, lead by Delta Waterfowl, successfully contributed to the preservation of this successful waterfowl program.
● Successful Passage of Animal Rights Bill S-203. Passage of this Bill S-203, increases substantially the fines and punishments for individuals who deliberately and maliciously mistreat animals while not affecting the rights of hunters, trappers and fishermen. An alternative and dangerous version of this Bill was defeated by a coordinated effort of Network members, lead in particular by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters.
● Proposed amendments to the Navigable Waters Protection Act – Ongoing – The Network believes that proposed changes by the Conservative government to this Act could severely restrict access to traditional hunting, fishing and trapping areas. The Network and its members are actively working to ensure this Act does not stop hunters and anglers from accessing traditional areas, such as small streams and creeks.
● National Firearms Registry – Ongoing – the Network continues to work in a coordinated way in a unique campaign to ensure key MPs (especially rural Liberal and NDP MPs) understand the wishes of hunters on this issue: to dismantle the costly and ineffective gun registry. The Registry has cost Canadians billions of dollars and is seen as a roadblock to hunter recruitment and retention with little benefit to solving ongoing issues of urban crime in large centers such as Toronto and Montreal.
From this brief sub-set of issues the Outdoors Network is currently working on, it is clear that Canada’s outdoors enthusiasts need a strong voice to influence government policy that affects our lifestyles. The strength of this working group comes from the coordination of efforts of all 24 organizations and the strategic combined lobby that can now be accomplished in Canada for the first time. Delta thanks all the organizations and the individuals who actively participate from each organization for their talent and dedication.
Delta hosts the regular conference calls and coordinates letters to MPs on behalf of all Network members nationally. As part of Delta’s new business plan for our Waterfowling Initiative, we are seeking to raise new funding to expand the capabilities of the Outdoor Network.