Campbellford Resident Receives Prestigious Fish and Wildlife Conservation Award

PETERBOROUGH, ON--(Marketwired - March 23, 2015) - Every year, an individual who, as part of their employment has made a significant contribution to conservation and the advancement of responsible angling and hunting, is presented with the OFAH/Rick Morgan Professional Conservation Award by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH). This year, that honour went to Greg Farrant, OFAH Manager of Government Affairs and Policy, for his contributions within Ontario and on the broader national stage.

"Greg's knowledge, diplomacy and leadership on the national Hunting and Angling Advisory Panel (HAAP) have been instrumental to not only the success of this forum, but to its very creation," said Darrell Crabbe, executive director of the Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation. Crabbe also noted that Greg's role as a mentor, advisor and confidant to many within the wildlife NGO forum must not go unnoticed. "We cannot emphasize enough how Greg's knowledge and strategic talents have benefited all of our sister organizations across Canada, their members and the wildlife resources we all cherish."

Farrant was one of the driving forces behind the creation and delivery of the National Fish & Wildlife Congress, which brought together over 500 attendees representing every Canadian province and territory, 20 U.S. states, and Australia, as well as most major conservation organizations from Canada and the United States. The event was the first of its kind in Canada.

On behalf of the OFAH, Farrant has led the charge on important files such as Sunday gun hunting, discharge bylaws, animal cruelty legislation, and land claims. In one of the Federation's longest fought advocacy campaigns, Farrant represented the interests of hunters and sport shooters across Canada on the repeal of the long gun registry, a feat that was achieved in 2012.

"The OFAH values our fish and wildlife resources and our hunting and fishing heritage. Greg Farrant's skill and professionalism has enabled us to achieve landmark legislation and focus the attention of a nation on important conservation and access issues. We are pleased and proud that his colleagues have chosen Greg for this well-deserved recognition," said OFAH Executive Director, Angelo Lombardo.

The award was presented at the 87^th OFAH Annual General Meeting and Fish & Wildlife Conference held March 20 to 21 in Mississauga. For a complete list of conservation award winners, visit www.ofah.org/conference/awards.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 725 member clubs, the OFAH is the province's largest nonprofit, fish and wildlife conservation-based organization, and the VOICE of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.