CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR HONOURED BY PEERS

For Immediate Release
June 17, 2008

CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR HONOURED BY PEERS
McGuinty Government Congratulates Award Recipient

NEWS

Conservation Officer Gary Zacher is the Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year for 2008.

This award recognizes Officer Zacher’s assistance and excellent investigative work on covert operations and natural resources violation investigations across Ontario.  Officer Zacher has also volunteered his time over the past six years to meet with new immigrants to help them understand Ontario’s fishing and hunting regulations and the role of conservation officers.

In an official awards ceremony to take place at the annual Ontario Conservation Officers Association meeting in Parry Sound this August, Zacher will also receive the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award and the Midwest Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies Officer of the Year Award.  The association will also be nominating Zacher for the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association Officer of the Year Award.

QUOTES

“I congratulate Officer Zacher on receiving this prestigious award and thank him for his over 36 years of service as a conservation officer,” said Natural Resources Minister Donna Cansfield.   “We’re very proud to have officers such as Gary to protect and promote responsible use of Ontario’s natural resources.”

QUICK FACTS

• The Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year Award is a joint award hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Conservation Officers Association
• Ontario's conservation officers are specialists whose job is to preserve and protect the province's natural resources. Conservation officers are professional, armed peace officers trained to police standards.

LEARN MORE

• You can learn more about the role of an Ontario Conservation Officer.

For More Information

Media Enquiries

David Bauer, Minister’s Office, 416-314-2212
Jolanta Kowalski, Communications Services Branch, 416-314-2106
Dan VanExan, Ontario Conservation Officers Association,
613-478-6132

General Enquiries

Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)