It was a rare feast, to be sure, but the prime reason for the function was to focus attention on sportsmanship and conservation, and in this regard along list of awards was presented to hunting and fishing enthusiasts who have promoted these qualities during the past year.

Emery Gillan, Souris, won the major award, the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation's "Sportsman Of The Year" award; the county winners were: Lowell Huestis, Prince Co. Jamie Gallant, Queens; and Emery Gillan, Kings. Several others received special awards and life memberships, including Lt. Gov. Gordon L. Bennett; Tommy Harris (Kings) ; Frank Howatt, Bedeque; and Edwin Gallant, Rustico.

The guest speaker. Hon. Pat Binns, talked about the importance of improving the "habitat" for animals and fish which is the starting point for improving fish and game resources, and his words struck a responsive chord with the large gathering.

from the Evening Patriot, December 1, 1979, written by Bill Ledwell.

LT.-GOV. Gordon L. Bennett, RIGHT, presents sportsman- conservationist award for 1979 to Joseph Emery Gillan of Souris. Lorne Yeo, president of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation, looks on. The award is sponsored annually by the Federation to honour an Island resident in the cause of wildlife.

Joseph Emery Gillan of Souris has been selected sportsman-conservationist of the year in a contest sponsored annually by the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation. His candidacy for the award was submitted by the Kings County Branch of the federation for .what he did in his branch and for wildlife generally during 1979. The plaque honoring Mr. Gillan was presented during the second annual wildlife dinner and awards night sponsored by the Queens County branch of .the wildlife federation, presided over by T.L. Fitzgerald, branch president, last night.

MAKES PRESENTATION

Making the presentation to Mr. Gillan was federation president Lorne Yeo, who commended Mr. Gillan for his time and dedication in the cause of wildlife and related educational programs.

Mr. Gillan has been an active member of the Kings County branch for the past two years. He played a role in establishing Rollo Bay Flats as a wildlife management area and has been active in surveillance of the area to ensure its protection.

He has played an active role in gun safety courses sponsored by his branch and is lending his knowledge in a branch project to reestablish a pheasant population in eastern Kings County. He was also chosen sportsman of the year by the Kings County branch.

Judges for the provincial award were William Ledwell, Charlottetown; Roy White, Souris, and Don Maxfield, Summerside.

Guest speaker for the evening was Environment Minister Pat Binns who spoke on the importance of habitat management and protection, He was introduced by wildlife biologIst Randall Dibblee and thanked by Lorne Keizer, past president of the wildlife federation.

The Queens County and Prince County branches of the wildlife federation also honoured their sportsmen-conservationists of the year with presentations. They were James Gallant of North Rustico wIng of the Queens County Branch and Lowell Huestis, Summerside member of the Prince County branch. Both men were cited for their activeness in the organization.

The dinner portion of the program featured fish caught and geese and ducks shot during the seasons by the membership of the Queens County branch. The dinner also was supplemented by rainbow trout from the provincial department of fisheries trout rearing project.

SERVE PHEASANTS

Pheasants procured from the P.E.I. Springer-Spaniel Club, deer meat and roast beef rounded out the menu which featured three vegetables, all prepared by the cooking class of Holland College's Royalty Centre under supervision of Bert Kelly.

"It was a challenging task and just as exciting as last year when many prepared game forthe first time,"said Mr. Kelly.

"The only problem we had was picking pinfeathers and extracting buckshot from some of the meat."

Branch president Fitzgerald said the dinner was an 'unqualified success.'

From the Charlottetown Guardian, December 1, 1979.

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Souris Branch of the P.E.I. Wildlife Federation

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