Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year Award
 |
| Officer Bill Clark, North Bay District, was presented with the 2010 Conservation Officer of the Year Award by Minister Linda Jeffrey on August 13th at the annual OCOA meeting held in Barrie, Ontario |
The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR), Enforcement Branch and the Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) have "harmonized" the selection process for our Conservation Officer of the Year Awards.
This process allows us to select one individual to receive both the OMNR Enforcement Branch "Officer of the Year" trophy and the OCOA "Officer of the Year Award".
Since the Ministry of Natural Resources Enforcement Branch and the Ontario Conservation Officer Association harmonized the Conservation Officer of the Year Award in 2000, we have had the privilege of honouring the following eight Officers for their outstanding efforts in protecting and managing our natural resources:
2010 Bill Clark – North Bay District
2009 Jim McMullen - Upper Great Lakes Unit
2008 Gary Zacher - Aylmer District
2007 Donald J. Weltz - Upper Great Lakes Unit
2006 Gary Couillard - Timmins
2005 Dan Smith - Bancroft
2004 Al Farrer - Kenora
2003 Gerry Van Leeuwen - North Bay
2002 Dan Slater - Algonquin Park
2001 Bob Stewart - Thunder Bay
2000 Brian Morrison - Sudbury
The Officer of the Year Award is not just an opportunity to provide recognition for a fellow officer among their peers, it sets a standard of achievement for all officers to aspire to and raises provincial and international recognition for Ontario's officers and their achievements.
A Conservation Officer may be nominated for this award by any badge-carrying member of the enforcement program. It is their opportunity to formally recognize a fellow officer(s) for their dedication, hard work and exceptional performance. The selected Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year will also be nominated for and receive a number of other prestigious, international awards.
Prior to the harmonizing of the award in 2000, the OOY Program was coordinated by the OCOA. The first OOY Award was presented in Ontario in 1981.
Ontario’s First Female Conservation Officer, Margaret Reed
Receives Heritage Award
 |
| Detective Myra James, Victims of Crime Section, Hamilton Police, presented the award to Margaret. |
On May 2nd, 2008, retired Conservation Officer, Margaret Reed was presented with the Ontario Women in Law Enforcement ‘Heritage Award’ at their 10th Annual Banquet. Margaret is the first woman who is not a police officer to be presented with this award. She was nominated for the award by a colleague in a police service.
Shikar-Safari Club International Awards
 |
| Donald Weltz at Shikar-Safari award ceremony. |
In addition to the 2007 Conservation Officer of the Year Award, Donald Weltz was also presented with the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award for Ontario.
Canadian Safe Boating Awards
 |
| Jim McMullen at the Safe Boating Awards ceremony. |
Conservation Officer Jim McMullen received the 2006 Marine Professional of the Year award at the Canadian Safe Boating Awards event in January, 2006. The award recognizes an outstanding act of boating safety by a marine organization professional. In this case Jim was honoured for contributing to Conservation Officer boating safety enforcement legislation implementation.
Award of Valour
 |
| Serge Tenaglia presents award to 2003 winner Michael Binkley |
The Award of Valour was created in 2000 to recognize the men and women of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for acts of exceptional courage in hazardous circumstances involving great personal risk.
Recent award winners:
2005 - Charles Brooks and William P. Foy
On August 21, 2005, Conservation Officer Brooks rescued an individual in grave danger of drowning in Lake St. Clair. Conservation Officer Foy was presented this award for intervening in a tense situation involving a mentally disturbed individual.
 |
| Award of Valour |
2004 - Peter Gilboe
Conservation Officer Gilboe took courageous actions in saving the life of a woman attempting to commit suicide by stepping in front of a transport truck.
2003 - Michael Binkley
Conservation Officer Binkley demonstrated exemplary courage in coming to the aid of a Sault Ste. Marie Police Constable who came under attack while arresting a violent assailant.
2000 - Gary W. Caron and Clifford Rich
On September 23, 1999, Conservation Officers Caron and Rich made an extraordinary attempt to save the life of a man trapped in a submerged vehicle in Wheatley Harbour.
Crime Stoppers CO of the Year Award
 |
| In the centre Conservation Officer Rob Dietz. On his left is OPP Crime Stoppers Coordinator Dave Ferris; to his right, Windsor Police Crime Stoppers Coordinator Ken Koekstat. |
Conservation Officer Rob Dietz has been honoured with the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers' MNR Officer of the Year Award for 2005. This award, which Dietz has now received six times, is given to the MNR officer who most effectively contributes to the Crime Stoppers program by dedicating time and effort to promoting and raising awareness of Crime Stoppers.
Amethyst Award
 |
| The illegal wildlife trade is one of the top 3 illegal commodity trades world-wide. |
2001 Amethyst Award was presented to Conservation Officers: Ian Anderson, Sheri Beaudin, Gary Couillard, Lindsey Delean, David Kunkle, and Michael J. Morencie.
For special investigations to curb the illegal sale of wildlife and wildlife parts. The award recipients' investigations led to 51 charges being laid throughout northeastern Ontario and the United States. Fourteen individuals were apprehended and fined more than $100,000.
 |
| Brian Morrison and Shadow at Amethyst Award ceremony. |
Conservation Officer Brian Morrison (Badge #353) & Partner “Shadow” (Badge #352) Received the 1994 Amethyst Award
In recognition of the Detector Dog Program which Brian developed in his capacity as the first Provincial Canine Program Coordinator, and for his successful training of Shadow, a black Labrador retriever who, in her first year, distinguished herself as a first class Fish and Game Law Enforcement Agent.
