At the 91st annual Saskatchewan Wildlife Federation (SWF) Convention held in Weyburn, the River Ridge branch of the SWF received a plaque in appreciation of donating $60,000 to Habitat Trust. The majority of those funds came from donors in Canora and the surrounding area, according to Kathy Thomas, president of River Ridge.
Accompanied by her husband Hal, Thomas accepted the plaque at the convention which ran from February 20 to 22.
Thomas said the theme for the convention was, “Ensuring Our Outdoor Heritage Legacy,” with delegates in attendance from across the province.
One of the main topics of concern at the convention was Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). She said it seems to be becoming more prevalent, with occurrences in about half of Saskatchewan. As of February, 3,561 samples had been processed with 478 testing positive, including: 379 mule deer, 78 white-tailed deer, 5 elk and one moose.
The convention was told that no invasive mussels or other aquatic invasive species have been found in Saskatchewan so far, but the number of checkpoints will be increasing in the future. Anglers were reminded to “clean, drain and dry boats” before leaving a water body as a preventative measure.
SWF continues to advocate for firearm rights. Gil White, provincial firearms chair, was able to secure a meeting with Senator Denise Batters to express opposition to Bill C-71, but the bill eventually passed, with the support of three senators from Saskatchewan. SWF shifted its focus to the federal election, working to see a new government elected that “recognizes and values the law-abiding firearms community.” The Liberal government was re-elected, but Ralph Goodale, the Regina Liberal MP who introduced Bill C-71, went down to defeat.
SWF has taken over operation of the Fort Qu’Appelle Fish Culture Station. It was reported that the first stage of upgrades, which included improvements to the aging water infrastructure, drain line and raceways for breeding stock, were completed without any major issues. The next phase of upgrades, which will likely include walleye rearing ponds to bolster overall walleye stocking numbers, will take place as capital becomes available.
The 2019 annual walleye spawn camp yielded significantly higher numbers of fry for stocking than in 2018. A total of 10 million walleye fry were hatched and released into 53 waters across Saskatchewan.
For the trout program, the target numbers were met and approximately 500 trout of five varieties (lake, rainbow, brook, tiger and splake) were stocked into close to 100 waters.
Thomas said she was pleased to see the continued success of the Youth Conservation Camp, where River Ridge provides sponsorship for local campers. A total of 63 campers took part and learned how to canoe and kayak, fish, build fires, throw axes, build shelters, cook outside, identify and use plants, use a compass, tie knots and more. Organizers report they are adding and expanding programming every year.
The Fish in Schools (FinS) program continues to grow, with 38 schools enrolled this year. The program provides Saskatchewan students with a firsthand look at fish and aquatic habitats in their own classroom. The program involves raising trout from eggs to fry before releasing them in a provincially stocked waterbody. In January/February, eyed trout eggs are placed into special classroom incubators. Over the following three to four months, students care for their fish by monitoring and maintaining the conditions required for their trout to thrive. In May or June, the trout are ready to be released by the students. The cost of initial setup is an estimated $1,500, which the school or SWF branch are responsible to cover.
Now that the convention has been concluded, Thomas said the River Ridge branch is planning its 31st annual banquet and awards night, scheduled for March 7 at Rainbow Hall in Canora.
