In memory of past Ontario Conservation Officers and Game Wardens
12-01-2024 Update
Researched, prepared and updated by Donald J. Weltz
Retired Conservation Officer #328 (1975 – 2007)
Please contact dweltz@ocoa.ca if you have additional information.
(Return to our CO History page)
| Surname | Given | Location/Links | Service | Badge | Born | Passed | History Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ackert | Eric Edward (Ted) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Ackert_%20Eric%20Edward%20_Ted_%20.JPG | 30+ | 29/Sep/1935 | 17/Mar/2013 | Worked as a Conservation Officer out of Owen Sound. Peacefully at Kelso Pines in Owen Sound, on Sunday, March 17th, 2013. Eric Edward “Ted” Ackert, of Owen Sound, in his 78th year. | |
| Arbour | David Blair (Dave) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Arbour_%20David%20Blair%20_Dave_.PNG | MNR 087 | 15/May/1951 | 09/Dec/2021 | From Retired CO James Abbott: I had the opportunity to work with Dave on the implementation of Crime Stoppers (CS) in the MNR. We were the second province in the Dominion after New Brunswick to have a natural resource agency embrace the program. Dave and I ran the gambit of nearly 40 boards in the province. We ran seminars at Provincial Training Conferences from Thunder Bay to Cornwall. We hosted heavyweight speakers like the Director of the Canadian Wildlife Federation. There were times that we had to improvise when speakers were no shows and Dave would pull a proverbial rabbit out of his hat. It wasn’t all work though, at hospitality nights and banquets Dave could be heard laughing and entertaining small groups of people and that’s not to overshadow his line dancing prowess. Different times someone would start some Western music, hooting and hollering and there would be Dave in the middle of it, pants rolled up, cowboy boots, front row, line dancing and laughing. There was never a dull moment. He had a gift of hospitality. Little did we know that some folks were watching and between our supervisors and Mr. Winterton we were nominated for the Shikar Safari Wildlife Officer of the Year in 1996. It was a brighter moment for us considering that 1996 Mr Harris pulled the trigger on OPSEU and we were in the middle of the first strike of the civil service. So down to Toronto we went and there was Dave grinning from ear to ear, met by Guy (in full uniform) at Whitney Block. It was a great day. Dave worked hard and played hard. He was a great guy to share a project and an award with. Rest In Peace Buddy. | |
| Armstrong | Jack | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Jack%20Armstrong%20-%20Sioux%20Lookout.JPG | L&F 552 MNR 149 | 14/Jul/2011 | From Bob Easton - Worked in the Kenora District - Sioux Narrows area. From Rich Henry - Jack Armstrong worked out of Sioux Narrows when I started in Kenora and retired around 92 or 93 and passed away a couple of years ago. From John McDonald - worked as a C.O. in the Swastika District (Kirkland Lake) and then moved to Sioux Narrows about 1968-69. Jack retired there and he and his wife had a successful restaurant business. Jack passed away about 2010. | ||
| Ashdown | John Northway | 30 yrs. | L&F 653 MNR 310 | 10/Dec/1945 | 31/Aug/2018 | From Will Samis - John was a graduate of Ranger School, Dorset in 1967 and worked as a CO in Cochrane and Blind River. He retired in 1997 | |
| Attard | Benjamin (Ben) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/9Attard_%20Benjamin%20_Ben_.JPG | MNR 67 | 19/Jun/1905 | From Bob Easton - Ben served faithfully on the board of the OCOA. A great organizer who played a big part in some of our biggest convention for OCOA and NAWEOA. From Al Giesche - Ben graduated SSFC in 1971 and then went to the Ontario Land Inventory Group. Started in the late 70s as a CO when their Unit folded. Ben went to Maple as a CO and then the SIU in the 80s. His specialty was surveillance and photography. He passed in 1997 after a long battle with cancer. There is a Patrol Boat named after him I believe. | ||
| Bailey | Harold James | 26 years, started with L&F 1937 | L&F 157 | 22-Aug-1893 | 12/Jul/1977 | BAILEY James Harold, 22 August 1893, Burpee Township, Manitoulin. Appointment of Harold Bailey - Little Current. Mr. Harold Bailey, Dear Harold, At a meeting of the Executive Com. for the Island last night the Committee recommended to W.L. Miller that you should be appointed Game Warden for Manitoulin Island. Let this be your authority for getting in touch with Mr. Miller. Sincerely yours G.E. Baxter Secretary of the Committee. Dorothy Hopkins Addison Scrapbook (green ledger) transcribed by Marilyn Irish Photo Party for Harold Bailey (handwritten 1963) A stag party was held on Wednesday, September 11th in the Gore Bay Community Hall in honour of Harold Bailey, of Gore Bay , who retired this summer after twenty-six years of service as a conservation officer of the Department of Lands and Forests. Friends, neighbours and colleagues of Mr. Bailey from Thessalon, Sudbury, Espanola, Killarney and Manitoulin Island together with the Department of Lands and Forests, Wildlife Branch, Sudbury district, presented the honoured citizen with a TV set and a purse. Mr. George R. Boyd, of Gore Bay, made the presentation. Among the guests were Charles Bibby, fish and wildlife supervisor, Keith Acheson, regional forester, and John Fullerton, MPP. | |
| Baldwin | Rick | MNR 173 | From Bob Easton - during the time that I was associated with him worked as a C.O. in Parry Sound in the mid 70’s before transferring to Terrace Bay area with a promotion. From Rusty Rustenburg - Rick Baldwin was the Enforcement Supervisor in Terrace Bay. From Al Giesche - Rick graduates SSFC in 1971. His street name at college was Black Duck. Not sure why. Ian Anderson and him were close in college. His career as a CO stared in the east Tweed 1974. He was based at White Lake Fish Hatchery at Sharbot Lake. His career ended in Parry Sound where he died unexpectedly. Not sure there were posts in between. | ||||
| Barnett | George (Curly) | L&F 24 | |||||
| Baswick | Brian Philip | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Baswick_%20Brian%20Philip%203.PNG | Aylmer District | MNR 078 | 18/Apr/1955 | 03/Mar/2021 | Brian began his career with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources as a Fish and Wildlife Technician in the Aylmer District. He worked at the Wildlife Management Areas in Aylmer and Fingal, and assisted Conservation Officers as a Deputy Conservation Officer. In the fall of 1977 Brian accepted a position as a Conservation Officer in Aylmer, patrolling Oxford County. In the spring of 1979, Brian returned to the family farm near Wyecombe in Norfolk County growing tobacco. After retirement from tobacco farming, he and his wife Bonnie travelled to many destinations around the world. Brian was an avid hunter and angler and one of the highlights of his life was guiding duck hunters at a Long Point Conservation Authority property known as the Brown Marsh. |
| Batterick | Robert J. (Bob) | North Bay to Parry Sound | L&F 111 | ||||
| Beange | Douglas Blake | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Beange_%20Douglas%20Blake%20_2_.PNG | 138 L&F 257 MNR | 21/Feb/1946 | 29/Jan/2021 | From Mark Robins: Blake Beange was a gentleman and a gentle man. I feel fortunate to have had him as my Coordinator in the early 80’s. I will never forget the Twin Otter flight to Armstrong from Thunder Bay that was part of the Nipigon District interview process led by Blake. I remember stealing a map from the pilot so I could navigate on the way up – I could not believe the landscape we were flying over and that the patrol area I was seeing would go to the successful candidate. I am sure Blake expected the whole lot of us to withdraw from the competition immediately on landing at the Armstrong airport. But not me, I had found my place in the world. I still remember my Armstrong days as some of the best of my career with the remote canoe patrols as icing on the cake. I remember one patrol in particular where Blake and I had just set up camp on an island at the north end of Smoothrock Lake. The sun was setting blood-red across the dead-still waters and I had the feeling that I would never forget that perfect moment and I never did. As my supervisor and mentor Blake showed me how important it was to know the bush and to be comfortable in it. I was always in awe of how much he knew and was always grateful for his calm and respectful approach to enforcement work. He truly was a man who led by example. From Roy Brown Badge # 268: My family was greatly saddened about the passing of our friend Blake Beange. We were expecting this sad new as Gwen, Blake’s wife, was keeping us informed of Blake’s battle with his health. I was fortunate to be stationed in Atikokan in Jan. 1966 when Blake was posted to the area to replace Robert Holiday who had retired. Blake was the rookie, and he and I attempted to bring law and order to the booming mining town and to Quetico Provincial Park. It was a big job with lots of unpaid overtime. We worked hard, but with a great partner as Blake we had fun. I transferred to Fort Frances in the spring of 1967 and I was pleasantly surprised a year or so later when Blake also came to the Fort. Blake met the love of his life and married Gwen Hill. My family already knew and loved Gwen and her family and she had babysat our kids. Blake and I again worked together out of the District office for several years until he was promoted to CO Coordinator and transferred to Nipigon. By this time Blake and Gwen had started a family. Blake was a great Conservation Officer. He was well liked by fellow officers, other staff and the public. He will be greatly missed by his wonderful family and his friends. I was proud to be a fellow officer and friend. Sadly missed by Marilyn and I and our family. | |
| Belanger | Joseph Romauld (Romeo) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Belanger_%20Joseph%20Romauld%20_Romeo_.JPG | 30 years | L&F 134 MNR 242 | 15/Feb/2010 | Senior Consevation Officer. Passed away at the age of 90. From Gary Tupling - He was in the Kemptville District Office when I worked there in 1968. When Kemptville became a region office in 1971, I think he stayed on maybe as law enforcement coordinator. I seem to remember him still being there when I returned as Fisheries Management Officer in 1972. From Bob Easton - served as C.O. in the Hawkesbury area for years after service with the RCAF in WW2 I believe. He was promoted and worked in Kemptville as Wildlife Management Officer and later became the District Enforcement Specialist. He retired to his new home on the St. Lawrence river at Johnstown where he enjoyed perch fishing. Died at a senior home in Ottawa. From Jim Ballantyne - Regional Enforcement Specialist for the Eastern Region Kemptville office in 1974. From Rick Dodd - When I was 14 or 15 years old, a friend & I were walking along a railroad track near our home of Hawkesbury in eastern Ontario; we were out crow hunting in the summer. I recall I was carrying a double barrel 12 gauge shotgun with double hammers and damascus barrels. As we arrived at a road crossing, Romeo, the local C.0. pulled up in an unmarked station wagon. He got out to talk to us and asked us our names; as soon as I revealed the name Dodd, he immediately acknowledged knowing my brothers. I still recall his words to me;he said "I want you to turn that big double barrel gun around and follow it home & I expect to see you at my Hunter Safety course in September at my home". Needless to say, I showed up for the course in the basement at Romeo's home; I subsequently passed the test & got my first hunting licence. Romeo was a WWII veteran - RCAF | |
| Berthelot | Joseph (Joe) Adeland | 1949-early 1980's | L&F 18 MNR 20 | Conservation Officer, Sultan (Chapleau District MNR and L and F) – I think he was in the Chapleau District his entire career probably from the early 50’s to the early 1980’s. I am sure that he is now deceased. | |||
| Bibby | Kent | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Bibby_%20K.%20E.%20_Kent_%20_1965_.PNG | ? Years | L&F 37 MNR 41 | 01/Jan/1974 | The exact date of Officer Bibby's death is unknown. Conservation Officer Kent Bibby collapsed and died in 1974 while he was checking night anglers on Agimak Creek, near Ignace, during the spring pickerel run. Bibby, the son of long-serving warden Charlie Bibby, was a particularly hard-working officer with ten years experience. He suffered from diabetes and had been diagnosed with a brain tumour about five years earlier. From Dave Kenney - Charlie Bibby is buried in Seguindah, Manitoulin Island beside his son Kent who was also a CO. From John McDonald - was Charlie's son and was a C.O. in Ignace from 1966-1974. Kent suffered from diabetes and passed away in 1974 in Ignace at approximately 35 years of age. | |
| Bibby | Charlie (Charles Frederick) | L&F 156 | 28/Oct/1999 | From Dave Kenney -Charlie Bibby only ever worked in Sudbury. I seem to recall that he began his career in the early 1940's during WW Two and was F&W supervisor almost from the very beginning. From John MacFie - "Charlie" Bibby was Senior Conservation Officer for the Sudbury Dist. during the 1940s to 1960s. From John McDonald - worked his entire career in the Sudbury District. I worked for Charlie from 1967-1969. Charlie was the best supervisor I ever had in my entire career. He never attended Ranger School even though Lands and Forests tried to get him to go. The only course Charlie ever attended was the Ontario Police College in Alymer. Also, Charlie was the only Fish and Wildlife Supervisor in Ontario who had all of the "game wardens" report directly to him. No officer was ever going to report to a Chief Ranger or a Deputy Chief Ranger. We were his boys and he looked after us. Charlie retired in 1973 (re-organzation) and lived his retirement years in Lively. I exchanged Christmas cards with him and also visited with him if I was in the area. He died in approximately 1997. | |||
| Billings | John | http://ocoa.ca/tributes/fallen-officers/game-warden-john-billings/ | 08/Jan/1926 | Warden Billings, age 47 had made his plans known to his brother Mark. He and a guide Joe Stringer were heading to an area south of Whitney to search for a Whitney trapper who was poaching in that region. They expected to be gone for three or four days. After a week had passed, Mark Billings was dismayed to learn the two men had not even returned to Whitney. He contacted the Department of Lands and Forests and the police in Pembroke and began to organize a search party. Several theories were posited: the men might be lost or delayed due to a mishap; they might have fallen through the ice and drowned; or they might be the victims of foul play. According to the reports of the day, the trapper that Jack was pursuing had threatened his life after an earlier arrest. The search party left Whitney on the morning of January 20 and within a short time discovered a grisly scene on Birch Creek, 13 miles south of Whitney; a burnt cabin and charred human remains. Underneath some bones, a ring of keys, a wristwatch and a revolver were discovered and identified as Jack’s. Other items were found which were positively identified by Stringer’s widow. A shell casing of the same type sold by a Whitney storekeeper to the illegal trapper was discovered among the ruins. Also, several snares were found under Stringer’s remains. Footprints led from the clearing to another cabin some miles distant on Hay Lake, which was known to be frequented by the poacher. A native trapper in the vicinity claimed to have seen flames in the sky on the night of January 9. As a result of these discoveries, the police suspected a double murder and issued a warrant for the arrest of the Whitney trapper. A native trapper in the vicinity claimed to have seen flames in the sky on the night of January 9. As a result of these discoveries, the police suspected a double murder and issued a warrant for the arrest of the Whitney trapper. Six days later, as Police Inspector Stringer was leading a search for the suspect deep into the bush, the wanted trapper reappeared in Whitney where he was arrested, without a fuss. The suspect claimed he had been in Whitney on the day of the deaths, a story which was corroborated by the testimonies of his grandmother, his uncle, and a Whitney resident who had seen him at Post’s store on January 9. He then left for the Sand Lake area where he spent a week tracking two fishers, and at the time of his arrest was able to present the two pelts. He claimed that he knew nothing of the deaths of Billings and Stringer until he found a note left by his father at a cabin on Sand Lake. Realizing that he was wanted on murder charges, he returned to Whitney where he was arrested on January 26. The suspect was detained first at the hotel in Madawaska where he was questioned by Police Magistrate Crown and later at a Whitney boarding house where he waited for the inquest. The inquest was concluded on Friday, February 5 with Magistrate Chown giving the Whitney trapper his freedom. Twelve witnesses had given depositions at the inquest. Some witnesses were certain the deaths were a result of foul play but Police Inspector Stringer and others felt the deaths had been accidental. The inquest determined the evidence for foul play was inconclusive and the suspect’s alibi was sufficient. The Pembroke Standard reported on February 11 that this double tragedy would "go down in history as one of the many unsolved mysteries of the woods." | |||
| Bilmer | Charley Richard | 14/Nov/2009 | His passion for nature led him to many years of dedicated service as a Conservation Officer before retiring in 2004. From Allan Hyde - Charlie worked many years as a CO in Algonquin Park. I know that he was respected for his dedication to the Park's natural environment and for his commitment to serving the Park's patrons. This was a CO working circumstance that occurred in a very limited way throughout the province, because Algonquin Park was a very special place to be as a CO. I know that Charlie would have been an ambassador for the park. Charlie came to the Pembroke District with the re- organization and creation of the Enforcement Branch in 1996. I met Charlie when I came to Pembroke as supervisor. (Much to the chagrin of most I suspect) Charlie quickly became a work partner and a confidant. Charlie met my expectations of effective field patrols. He could be relied on him to conduct thorough investigations, particularly in program areas that others had limited interest. He investigated a theft of timber in which he locked up the largest penalty that I ever prosecuted. I was happy to see Charlie begin to enjoy a much deserved retirement. Charlie unfortunately was one of those who got to enjoy too little of it. He was a great family man with a caring family. He was also a friend. | ||||
| Bittle | Bill | Tweed District | |||||
| Black | Gord | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Black_%20Gord.JPG | L&F 168 MNR 90 | 13/Apr/1905 | 15-Sept-2006 | From Bob Easton - during the time I knew him was the Regional Enforcement Specialist in Kemptville and moved to the Rainy River area.I think he worked in the Shining Tree area before Kemptville. From Michael Kindree - Gord Black was Enforcement Supervisor in Kirkland Lake (Swastika) in 1979. Gord worked at one time for Dale Gartley. From Rick Dodd - The"reverend" Gord Black was my mentor in Gogama district when I moved there from Ottawa in the fall of 1972. Gord served at an outpost in Shining Tree. Gord had a reputation as being a tough guy & I must admit he looked the part too. I was out on a road check with Gord on the 560hwy leading to Shining Tree; we were stopping moose hunters on the way in the road for the opening of the moose season the following day. We stopped a vehicle at night & found an unencased rifle with no clip; the man got out of the vehicle & when questioned by Gord about the missing clip; he told Gord he didn't have the clip; however, in his nervousness the gun owner put his hand in his pocket and Gord heard some coins making contact with the metal clip. Gord told the man to produce the rifle clip in his pocket or Gord would be forced the take the man's pants off. This poor bastard made the mistake of challenging Gord; the next thing I knew Gord's flashlight came up and smucked the guy on the side of the head. In the end, Gord got both the gun and the clip. Eddie McGregor was our fish & wildlife management officer and Craig Jessop was our supervisor.Gord & I spent quite a few hours in Beaver aircraft and helicopters doing fish stocking & moose surveys. Gord & I were also responsible each fall & winter as liaison with a Cree family from Rupert House, Quebec by the name of Diamond. Gord moved on to become the C.0. co-ordinator in the northeast (I can't recall the district). He was replaced by Norm Brown. I got along well with Gord & his wife Audrey. Gord retired in the Head Office & golf became his passion. From John McDonald - I first met Gord Black in 1967 when he was working as a C.O. in the French River. Gord was an excellent officer but unfortunately he had to report to a Deputy Chief Ranger and they did not get along. The District Forester in North Bay wanted to fire Gord. Charlie Bibby heard about it and he said he would hire him. Gord went to work in Shining Tree (near Gogama) and then moved to Kirkland Lake and then to Chapleau as Fish and Wildlife Supervisor. Gord was then promoted to Provincial Enforcement Co-ordinator. After retirement, approximately 1995, Gord and his wife moved to Rainy River to retire and planned to spend the winters in Arizona. | |
| Blackman | Ed | L&F 401 | From Mike Hart - Ed Blackman was a CO in Leeds County, I think he worked out of Gananoque, old Kemptville Districk died in or around 1970. - Addition -Ed Blackman, worked out of the Gananoque office and died on the job. Truck stuck in snow and had a heart attack while trying to shovel out. | ||||
| Blackstar | Edwin | L&F 628 MNR 204 | From Dave Kenney - He is buried on the Moosomin First Nation Cemetery north of North Battleford Saskatchewan. From Lorne Punshon - Ed Blackstar was a C.O. who worked in Thunder Bay and patrolled the Armstrong areas . I understand that after his death that a local lake in his area was renamed in memorial to him. From Klaas Oswald - Ed Blackstar was a Cree from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan. He was hired into the old Port Arthur/Thunder Bay District of the Department of Lands and Forests in about 1971 to work out of Armstrong Chief Ranger Base, situated at the NW corner of Lake Nipigon. When the TB District got advance notice of the major reorganization of 1973, they pulled Ed out of Armstrong and re-assigned him to the Spruce River Road patrol area. I know of this because I then became the CO responsible for the area from Nipigon to Dorion, then north in the whole Black Sturgeon and Armstrong patrol areas including all the fly-in country north of Lake Nipigon. Ed stayed in the Spruce River Road patrol until he contracted cancer a few years later, which unfortunately he did not survive. | ||||
| Blahut | Don | https://www.baytoday.ca/obituaries/blahut-don-james-1949-2004-61374 | 31 years of service | MNR 358 | 00-00-1949 | 26/Dec/2004 | Don was President of the Nipissing Trappers Council and dedicated his services in the protection of Ontario's natural resources with the Ministry of Natural Resources. He was the proud winner of the Jules Perron Award, presented by Fur Harvesters Auction for contribution to the promotion of the trapping industry and to the conservation of all fur bearers and their habitat. Mark Downey of the Fur Harvesters, where Blahut worked after retiring from the MNR, said Blahut was a "loyal, true friend" who was deeply committed to his family and whatever job or challenge facing him. "I never once heard him complain about anything," Downey said, describing how Blahut would find a way to get something done no matter how tough the situation. |
| Bompass | Bill | Lanark & Carlton Place Districts | MNR 244 | 0/0/2004 | From Peter Aunger - Bill was a WW2 vet he flew anti submarine patrols of the east coast of Canada to Bermuda until the wars end. His family owned a large farm in what is mostly Bells Corners in Ottawa where he worked while doing what he loved trapping. He also shipped prize cattle from the farm by air to Argentina and once took enough beaver pelts to Eva Peron wife of the president for a coat she requested. He started nuisance beaver trapping and this lead him to his CO job in Kemptville Lands and Forest in the early 60s. Never married he love his job,trapping and his "prondarosa" near calibogue Ontario. Bill worked his entire career in Lanark and Carleton Place District and was a coach officer to many young COs. He retired mid 90s and passed away during the deer hunt in 2004. Once Bill locked on to a poacher he never let go,he always got his man. | ||
| Boothby | Rhodes Grenville | Matheson & Kirkland Lake | L&F 197 | 09/Apr/1905 | 13/Jul/2010 | In loving memory of Mr. Rhodes Boothby, of Charlton, who passed away at Englehart & District Hospital, on Tuesday, July 13, 2010 at the age of 84. Rhodes started work with the Department of Lands & Forest in 1946. He was game warden in Matheson & Kirkland Lake areas until he became assistant manager of the Hill's Lake Fish Hatchery. He retired from the Ministry of Natural Recourses after working 35 years. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman & storyteller. | |
| Borutski | Max F. | http://images.ourontario.ca/hcmpl/105697/data | 23 | L&F 120 | 18/Jun/1908 | 16/Aug/1987 | From 1942 to 1949 Max worked for L&F fighting forest fires and maintaining telephone lines in the Whitney area of Algonquin Provincial Park and later that year became a Conservation Officer. On January 8th 1950 Max became a permanent employee of L&F and served in Stonecliffe until his retirement in 1973. Max was an expert carpenter, dog team driver, axeman, cook, woodsman and a man of many other talents. By Gary Johnston: I am not sure how many cabins Max had a hand in building, but I do know that a directive came out that the government wanted to burn most of these cabins. A number of issues arose with regards to conflicts with campers who figured they had a right to stay in them plus of course the liability issue as the government was not maintaining them and basically did not want anybody using them. Max was very reluctant to burn these down and the Chief Ranger at Stonecliffe (Frank Mitchell) had a delicate task pleading to Max to “at least burn one down so I can tell Main Office”! I think the last one Max burnt was at High Falls on the Nippissing River. He went by himself one day on snowmobile in the early spring when the crust was good. He wouldn’t take me with him. He was not a happy CO when he returned. There was finally some blow back by the public when they discovered this campaign and burning stopped as these were now historic buildings. There is a book called “A Few Rustic Huts” giving some detail about a number of these cabins authored by Stan R Gage. Max’s cabin is on the front cover and there is a quote by Max about the forest fires in Algonquin Park plus a photo of him live trapping a beaver on page 26. Reading the quote is exactly how Max talked. |
| Bouchard | John Joseph (Ivan) | https://www.lakesuperior.com/travel/ontario/saganaga-saga-love-affair-with-remote-border-crossing/ | 30+ yrs. | MNR 466 | 24/May/1934 | 28/Oct/2018 | John was 84 years old when he passed away along with his daughter in a tragic house fire in Thunder Bay on 28 October 2018. John was quite an artist and is responsible for the artwork on the reciever of the CO centennial rifle. Even more devistating is that his daughter who was living ther with John to help him also died in that fire. From the Thunder Bay Cronical: (Ivan) John Joseph Bouchard, age 84 years, resident of Thunder Bay, ON, passed away unexpectedly at 2:00am Sunday, October 28th, 2018. Born 24th May, 1934 at Falconbridge, ON. John led a very colourful life as an author, teacher, commercial and fine artist, farmer and bushworker in Mexico and the United States before returning to Canada to serve as a conservation officer in Northern Ontario until he retired in Thunder Bay. Retired CO Dave Kenney has passed along the web link under location /links to the left which tells a bit of history of the early times of John Bouchard. |
| Bousquet | J. W. (Web) | Sudbury | 1937 | L&F 158 | |||
| Bowcott | Steve | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Bowcott_%20Steven.PNG | MNR 182 | 06/Jul/1965 | 17/Oct/2010 | From Michael Kindree - C.O. in Niagara District in 1984 for a few years before heading to NER including Folyet (NER); Enforcement Branch, Ptbo, passed away in Peterborough while working for Ontario Parks; his wife Marnie still lives in Lakefield. From Rick Stankiewicz: Steven Ross Bowcott born July 16, 1955. Steve graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College as a F&W Technologist in 1977, worked in Minden and started as a Conservation Officer in Foleyet, then Port Colbourne, Geraldton and Cochrane and started at M.O. in Peterborough, May, 1995 . He retired after working as Project Manager, Species at Risk Program (M.O. Ptbo) and died after a short battle with cancer. His wife Marnie now lives in Innerkip, ON. | |
| Bowes | Fred | Maple | L&F 55 MNR 118, 337 | From Mike Thede - Fred worked the north end of Maple District (Midland area) and may have been moved to the Angus or Orangeville area. From Richard Manley - worked with Fred in the late 60's out of the Coldwater office. I believe before that he was in Kenora. In the 70's transferred to Maple. I believe he is buried with his 1st wife in Waubaushene. | |||
| Boyd | Tim | Midhurst and Fonthill | MNR 224, 512 | From Jim Ballantyne - Conservation Officer Niagra District, Enforcement Co-ordinator Huronia District. From Michael Kindree - Tim Boyd, worked as Enforcement Supervisor in Fonthill (Niagara District) in 1984 | |||
| Branscombe | Lee | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Branscombe_%20B.%20Lee.PNG | 2 yrs. | L&F 65, 146 | 00-00-1922 | 10/Nov/1955 | Nov 10th 1955. Officer Branscombe had only been a Conservation Officer for about two years when he set out with Deputy Warden Arthur Noble in a motor-powered skiff to cross Collins Inlet channel, near Killarney, on a windy November evening in 1955. The officers were planning to check deer hunters at a camp beyond the commonly choppy waters of the channel. Hours later, the empty skiff was washed up on shore and a search began for the missing men. Although the waters of the channel were dragged for several days, the effort recovered only a lever from Noble's rifle and a boot belonging to Branscombe. The wardens were swept out into Georgian Bay, or so it is surmised. Their bodies were never found. 33 years old |
| Brown | Barry William | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Brown_%20Barry%20William.PNG | L&F 407 | 26/Jul/1949 | 08/Aug/2021 | ||
| Buck | Ed | Tweed District 1964 | L&F 593 | 23/Mar/2017 | Graduated Dorset Ranger School in 1963. From Bill Tye - I knew him when he worked out of White Lake, in the Tweed District, from Aug 67 to late 69(?) when he transferred to Parks... superintendent of Bon Echo Park. From Blake Simpson - I have him working as a CO, out of the Palmer Rapids office during the period of 1965 - 1967. This was Tweed District prior to re-organization. Palmer, although geographically within Renfrew County was, as I understand it, part of the Tweed District and administered from the Bancroft Chief Ranger Office. His L&F Conservation Officer badge was #593. | ||
| Bull | Joseph Roy Clifford (Roy) | Sioux Lookout | MNR 70 | 00-000-1944 | 04/Jun/2022 | From Retiree Paul Brinkman: Roy’s first posting as a Conservation Officer was in Pickle Lake for three years. Then to Sioux Lookout for the remainder of his career. Retired I believe in 1998 or 1999 He was a member of the Lac Seul First Nation. From Retiree Rick Maw: I have very good memories from working as a DCO with Roy the Sioux in the summer of 1986, Especially a couple day trip I got to do with him up the Windigo Road, north of Pickle. He was one of those quiet COs that a smart young guy would listen to every time he spoke. Not sure I was smart enough then to realize that. A very effective CO that just quietly racked up good charges. A Great Guy. | |
| Caldwell | Bruce Johnson | 1953 - 1984 Fort Frances | L&F 273 MNR 270 | 24/Apr/1926 | 03/Aug/2022 | ||
| Campbell | Ronald Wesley | L&F 417 MNR 148 | From Mike Hart - Ron Campbell was a CO out of Mattawa, North Bay District. Never got to retire, died while the Wildlife Manager, North Bay District. | ||||
| Cantelon | W. H. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Cantelon_%20Harold.JPG | L&F 605 | Wingham 1946 | |||
| Carswell | Gord | Bracebridge | 34 yrs. | L&F 190, 462 MNR 182 | 00-00-1926 | 23/Jun/1905 | From Bob Easton - Gord Carswell - was the C.O. Co-ordinator ( could have been actually a F&W Deputy under the old Chief Ranger system in Bracebridge ) I remember a call from him late one fall on a Sunday morning. He asked if I felt like doing some diving for him. Seems he chased a guy right through his cottage and down to the dock where the scoundrel through a paper bag into the lake. Stated it was just some bullheads he decided he did not want to take home. Gord directed me out about 50 feet and said dive so I did and found a paper bag with some out of season trout. Gord said it was worth the overtime he paid me for a part day off. From Richard Manley - knew him well. Gord started in White River & later in the 60's & 70's as co ordinator in Bracebridge where he is buried. His son Doug lives in Gravenhurst. From his son - Gord was in the Canadian Army during World War II. He began his work as a Conservation Officer in Whitney in 1947. then posted to Wawa from 1951 until 1960 then moving to Bracebridge. He worked as a C.0. until 1973 and was promoted as a CO Coordinator. Gord retired in 1981 and continued to live in Bracebridge and passed away at the age of 75 in 2001. |
| Carswell | Joe | L&F 56 | 27/Oct/1918 | 10/Jul/2011 | It is with sadness, the family of Joe Carswell announce his death on July 10, 2011 at Pinecrest Home for the Aged with his family by his side. Joe was born on October 27, 1918 at Whitney, Ontario. Then came WW2 and he joined the Canadian Air Force and spent 4.5 years overseas in England, Italy, Africa, France and Germany. Upon returning home, he worked in Hamilton, Ontario for a year and then went back to Temagami and spent a couple of years at Keewaydin Camp. He then joined the Ontario Lands and Forests and spent a year at Ranger school in Dorsett, Ontario. He then worked as a Conservation Officer out of North Bay and Temagami area. In 1951 he came to the Kenora District and was stationed at Sioux Narrows for 4.5 years. From John Macfie - Gordon Carswell was a CO in White River Dist in the 1950s, and attended Forest Ranger School in 1954. In about 1960 he transferred to the Parry Sound Dist., working out of Bracebridge, where he was stationed for the remainder of his career. | ||
| Carter | Tommy | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Retired%20CO%20-%20Tom%20Carter.JPG | L&F 64 MNR 52 | ||||
| Catcher | John Brina (Jack) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/9Catcher_%20John%20Brina%20_Jack_.JPG | L&F 46 MNR 114 | 00-00-1922 | 11/Jan/2016 | 92 years old and a WWII Vet. From Dave Montgomery - At the end of Jack's obituary they mention that they will plant a tree in memory of Jack at the Island Lake Conservation Area. The significance to me of this is Jack and I trapped and banded many ducks together there. We also released 46 Giant Canada Geese and started one of the first Giant Canada Goose populations in Ontario ....also building and placing many goose nesting platforms out there. The goose population later grew to thousands of birds. We also released 3000 Coho salmon yearlings together at the Forks of The Credit which led to the first introduction of Coho Salmon into Lake Ontario. From Gerry Haarmeyer: I started with L&F in Maple in Lake Simcoe District On Jan 2 1968 and there was a new classification for Officers whose main duties was to be the new Hunter Safety Program Examiners they had a higher pay classification. Jack Catcher was one of these Officers. He and Harry Tuvi were the Hunter Safety Examiners in the District. I worked alongside Jack assisting him with exams and also on the rainbow trout runs at Collingwood and the area. Jack also had Peel County as his regular patrol area and I had the western part of York so we touched base often. I left Maple for Sudbury in 1976 and only saw Jack sparingly after that. | |
| Ceolin | Walter | http://ocoa.ca/tributes/fallen-officers/conservation-officer-walter-ceolin/ | 25+ years, Sault Ste. Marie | MNR 48, 50 | 21/Jan/2003 | Officer Ceolin was working as a member of a crew conducting aerial moose surveys in a remote location approximately 80 km north of Sault Ste. Marie when their helicopter encountered system difficulties. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing, however the helicopter rolled over and crashed into the bush a short distance from a railroad siding. Loggers working nearby witnessed the accident and were on the scene almost immediately, but there were no survivors. Also killed in the crash were two Resource Management technicians, Bruce Stubbs, 39, Chantelle Walkey, 27, and the chief helicopter pilot, Michael Maguire, 50, all from MNR Sault Ste. Marie. Officer Ceolin had come in to work on his day off to fly that day. Officer Ceolin had 25+ years with Ontario Ministry of Resources. Officer Ceolin is survived by his companion and a son. From Don Weltz - I went to the old SSFC in Lindsay at the old convent with Walter in 1970-1972 | |
| Chenier | Bruce Valentine | MNR 444 | 00-00-1951 | 27/Mar/2020 | Napanee | ||
| Clemens | George Jesse | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Clemens_%20George%20Jesse.PNG | 30+ | L&F 404 MNR 53 | 26/Jun/2017 | 87 years old and with L&F &MNR for 30+ years. | |
| Comfort | Al | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Comfort_%20Al.PNG | 2 yrs. - Cochrane | L&F 388 | 00-00-1943 | 11/Oct/1967 | The exact date of Officer Comfort's death is unknown. Al Comfort suffered a miserably cold and lonely death on the shore of Shipsands Island, a bird sanctuary at the mouth of the Moose River. Aged in his mid-20s, Comfort had made for the island to collect crippled geese, an annual task undertaken by C.O.s to relieve the suffering of birds wounded by hunters. There, he beached his canoe, but a fast-moving tide swept in and carried the craft out to sea. Comfort made a desperate bid to get it back. Once his race against the tide had failed, Comfort returned to the shoreline to sit beside the willows along the bank where - cold, wet and without footwear - he died of hypothermia. An extensive land and air search soon located his canoe in the Moose River, but it was another two weeks before his frozen body, covered in seaweed, was discovered. Just after freeze-up, a nearby resident gathering driftwood along the shore noticed a gun barrel sticking out of the ice. On closer inspection, he found the gun cradled by Comfort's body, which was huddled in the fetal position. |
| Cook | William John (Bill) | https://www.keremeosreview.com/obituaries/willliam-john-bill-cook/ | Appointed 1965 | MNR 004 | 13/Dec/1943 | 04/Dec/2018 | From Retiree Kevin Barber - Bill was my first Fish and Wildlife Supervisor as a CO in Geraldton, I was there 82-84 but know Bill was there well before that, and was there after that, he was a pilot with his own float plane, pretty sure it was a Cessna. Bill was one of the good ones, no doubt about that. From Retiree Ted Swift: I had a long & great connection with Bill. He was a F&W Sr. CO in Geraldton District and was involved in our Night hunting work in the Fort Frances District. He attended OFAH meetings and I had a few "barley sandwiches" with Bill( solved lots of world problems within the MNR). He was involved in moose tagging in the Geraldton District and had pilot licence as well. He worked out of Toronto in a senior enforcement position prior to his retirement. He was a common sense great guy and sad to hear of his passing at that early age. From Retiree Bob Jackson: As far as I know Bill's first job was as CO in Nakina (Geraldton District) around 1964. Then became CO Co-Ordinator in Geraldton, and then F&W Supervisor in Geraldton. I took his Co-ordinators job when he moved to Supervisor. He spent his whole career in Geraldton District until his move to Enforcement Specialist at the Cochrane Regional Office in 1987. Not sure of anything after that. I believe he is the first or one of the first CO's to do moose tagging and/or collaring from a moving helicopter. He was featured on one of Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom episodes. From Retiree Dave Kenney: He went to Ranger School with the class of 1965 and I knew him there. He was Fish and Wildlife Supervisor at Geraldton in the 1980's. Nice guy. From Retiree Klaas Oswald: When I worked in Nipigon from 1971-1975, Bill Cook was a CO in Geraldton, at least for the last half of those years. I think he later became the Fish and Wildlife Enforcement Co-ordinator in Geraldton. From Retiree John Todd: When I got transferred from Red Lake in 1969 to Geraldton District MacDermid Chief Ranger Division Bill was CO in Geraldton Chief Ranger Division and his Patrol Area bounded mine around Jelicoe. Hob Middleton was CO in Longlac which was on the East side of Bills Patrol. If I remember Bill was one of the CO’s that tagged swimming moose from a Helicopter and a CO from Nipigon whose name escapes me at the moment. Bill went on to become Regional Enforcement Specialist. |
| Cook | Charlie | L&F 144 | Worked out of Sudbury with Jim Sheppards father ? | ||||
| Cool | Rheal Joseph Edouard | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Rheal%20Cool.JPG | L&F 466 | 11/Feb/1937 | 29/Jan/2023 | Cochrane | |
| Cote | Len | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Cote_%20Len.JPG | L&F 109 | Conservation Officer, Marten River (North Bay District); Len retired in 1969 and I think spent his entire career with Land F and the Game and Fish Commission in the Marten River headquarters. Len died in the late 1980’s/ | |||
| Cousson | Ted (Bear) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Cusson_%20Ted.JPG | L&F 171 | Worked out of North Bay | |||
| Crich | Melvin (Mel) H. R. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Crich_%20Melvin%20_Mel_%20H.%20R..PNG | Cambridge District | MNR 214 | 06/Sep/1946 | 09/Mar/2022 | |
| Crichton | Vincent (Vince) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Crichton_%20Vincent%20_Vince_.PNG | Chapleau District - 1933 - 1969 | 017 L&F | ?-?-1906 | ?-Oct-1977 | Submitted by Retired CO Brian Morrison, Vince Sr. had a huge influence on me and my career choice. I patrolled with him when I was still in public school. I spent a lot of time with him in the L and F office above the Dominion store in Chapleau, learning all the tree seeds and minnows from samples in laboratory bottles! A tribute in an article in the Chapleau Sentinel following his death in October 1977, said that Vince “devoted his life to the preservation of this beautiful rugged land and the animals that roamed it.” One of the poachers he caught was Archie Belaney aka “Grey Owl”, who trapped in the Biscotasing area. Vince immigrated from England in 1913, age 7. Appointed a game warden with the Department of Games and Fisheries in 1933. In 1948, appointed Inspector of the Chapleau District. In 1955 chosen by the Ontario government to work for a year at Winisk on polar bears, blue geese, caribou and seals. Retired in 1969 as the Fish and Wildlife Supervisor, Chapleau District. One project Vince was known for was bringing Indigenous families from the James Bay area down to the Chapleau Game Preserve to trap furbearers. He also established an experimental trap line to live trap marten and beaver for re-introduction in northwestern Ontario. A history buff who wrote the book Pioneering in Northern Ontario, which is about the history of Chapleau and the surrounding area. The above info is from notes his son Dr. Vince Crichton (deceased) shared in the book Chapleau Trails, The Pioneers and History of Chapleau, and in an article from the Michael J. Morris Report from July 2010. |
| Croskery | Peter | MNR 184 | From Bob McGillivray - Peter Croskery was a Biologist at Chapleau and moved to Ignace in1973 – 74 as District biologist and F&W supervisor. | ||||
| Curtis | Bernard Ernest (Bernie) | http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ctpost/obituary.aspx?n=bernard-ernest-curtis&pid=162728329&fhid=14847 | L&F 483 MNR 183 | 4-Nov-1926 | 26-Jan-2013 | Bernie was born in Hastings, England and emegrated to Canada in 1951. He worked for the L&F and then MNR in several communities in Northern Ontario and the Parry Sound Bracebridge area. Bernie was WW II merchant marine. | |
| D'Agostini | Dino | Hired 1947 L&F-Sudbury | L&F 159 | 02/Apr/1917 | 06/Aug/2014 | The family and friends of Dino D’Agostini sadly announce his passing on August 16, 2014 at the age of 97 in Fort Frances, Ontario. Dino was born in Toronto on April 2, 1917 to Teodora and Filippo D’Agostini. The D’Agostini family later moved to Espanola and then settled in the Gatchel area of Sudbury where they lived in a house that had no basement, toilet or running water. It was in Sudbury, where Dino worked as a Conservation Officer, that he met the love of his life, Gertrude McMullen. Gert and Dino were married on June 15, 1951. Dino’s career took them from Sudbury to Thunder Bay and then to Fort Frances where he retired as the District Manager of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Throughout his career, Dino’s fairness, character, and common sense approach earned him the respect of peers, the industry, and members of the public alike. Dino was the ultimate outdoorsman and shared his passion for fishing and hunting with generations of friends and family. Many stories of the Manion Lake moose hunts, Rainy Lake duck hunts, and limits of fish on secret lakes have been shared over a glass of Dino’s homemade wine. To all he met, he left an impression as large as his size 14 boot print. He was also a generous member of the Fort Frances community; many local organizations have benefited from his benevolence over the years. | |
| Daniher | William (Bill) Earl | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Daniher_%20William%20_Bill_%20Earl%20_1_.PNG | 38 yrs. | MNR 313 | 14/Jan/2018 | In 1992 Ontario celebrated 100 years of Game Wardens/Conservation Officers in the Province and Bill Daniher was chosen as one of the officers to wear the replica 1930's uniform, the first uniform issued which he is pictured wearing when you click on his photo link to the left. | |
| Davison | R. J. | Flinton | 1946 - 1962 | L&F 176 | From his son John - Right after the war where dad was wounded at Juno Beach in Normandy, he came back to Flinton Ontario where he was born and joined the L&F (MNR) as a Game Warden for the Tweed District. This was in 1946. He remained a game warden in that area until 1962 when he was transferred to Parks and we moved to Picton where he was the Superintendent at the Outlet Park, (now Sandbanks) North Beach and Lake on the mountain until we moved to the Outlet Park. I still have his old badge #176 fastened to an old L&F canoe paddle here in Sault Ste Marie as well as his snow shoes made for him by a first nations friend from the Golden Lake Reserve. | ||
| Dawson | John Blair | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Dawson_%20John%20Blair.PNG | L&F 290 MNR 418 | 13/Oct/1931 | 02/Nov/2021 | ||
| Deedo | Elmer | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Deedo_%20Elmer%20-%201950qus.JPG | L&F 549 MNR 103 | Hired in Kenora in 1939 | |||
| DeGroot | D.C. (Dick) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/de%20Groot_%20Dick.JPG | 30 yrs. | MNR 10 | 17/Feb/1955 | 22/Aug/2013 | |
| Denyes | Nelson | Niagara District | 26 years service | MNR 392 | 0-0-1957 | 29/Jun/2005 | NELSON DENYES (1957-2007) CO Badge #392, Agricultural Investigator Badge # 1008. Graduated from Sir Sandford Fleming College, in Lindsay on May 14, 1977. Contract position in Red Lake doing lake surveys 1977, 1978, 1979. Contract position doing moose surveys (Geraldton). Deputy CO Position at Napanee 1980. Full time Conservation Officer position in Toronto (Maple Office) 1981 for Ministry of Natural Resources at Hudson Bay Co. (Fur Harvest, Fur Management & Conservation). Conservation Officer/Intelligence Officer in Guelph (Niagara District) 1982 - 2007. Agricultural Investigations Officer in Guelph (Niagara District) 2002 -2007. In 2006 he was presented with plaque for pioneering work in the establishment of the Wildlife Forensic DNA laboratory by Dr. Bradley White founder of the lab at Trent University, Peterborough. (Nelson was at a presentation at an OCOA meeting in Owen Sound in mid 80s by Dr. White, where Dr. White gave a talk about his then new lab and the potential use of DNA technology for fish and wildlife enforcement. Nelson was the first field officer to contact Dr. White and use DNA to help solve a deer investigation.) In 2003 Nelson was one of the Agricultural Investigators involved with the Alymer meat probe into tainted meat. (Illegal processing of dead stock at Aylmer Meat Packers Inc.) In 1990s Nelson fought forest fires in the north during the summer. |
| Devost | Reginald (Reg) Michael | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Devost_%20Reginald_%20_Reg_%20_1_.PNG | 35+ years | MNR 433 | 18/Aug/1953 | 25/Nov/2022 | From Retiree Pete Gilboe: Dennis was a lifelong Temagami CO starting in the early 70s until his retirement in 2001 ish. Reg was appointed as a CO in New Liskeard the early 1990s after working in Chapleau District as a field technician. He then moved to North Bay in 2000, where he worked until his retirement. He worked the first half of his career out of the old Temagami office, then moved up to New Liskeard. Reg and Denny worked together out of the New Liskeard office from roughly 1990 when Reg transferred here from Chapleau until he transferred to North Bay in 2000 where he retired. I took Reggie’s position in 2001 and Mike Schenk arrived a year later to fill Denny’s spot. |
| Dorer | Cyril | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Dorer_%20Cyril.JPG | L&F 479 | From John MacFie - Conservation Officer Cyril Dorer was born in England and came to Canada as a 'home boy," about 1930. He worked as a labourer at a variety of jobs before joining the seasonal staff at Killbear Park, as the park was being developed. In the 1960s he was taken on F&W staff where he acted as engineer on the Georgian Bay patrol boat "Karanne" in the summer and to oversee deer range improvement projects in winter. In the process, he was appointed as a conservation officer, and at certain times conducted regular enforcement patrols. All of Cyril's service was in the Parry Sound Forest District. From Bob Easton - Cyril Dorer - was one of many youths shipped to Canada by heir parents who could not support them. He worked in many logging camps for long hours and low pay. He coached minor hockey teams in Parry Sound and at one time coached Bobby Orr. Cy was “engineer” on the old L7F patrol boat Karanne which had Harry Walker as it’s captain.They both were functioning as Conservation Officers although neither had been to OFRS. Cy was classed as a ranger because of his lack of education. In a union job evaluation program the union fought for and got him classified as a Co. After all, that was the job he was doing. He also was heavily involved in winter deer range management.He always appreciated how life had treated him. He and his wife Zella had three children - Arthur, Ron and Aileen. He looked forward to many hunting and fishing trips with his wife when he retired at age 65 but heart problems permitted only a short retirement. He was a prince of a fellow to work with. He and I were heavily involved in the spring with walleye research work with Guy Winterton, the fisheries bio. |
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| Dorey | Dave | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Dorey_%20David%20Edward%20_Dave_%20_1965_.PNG | 28 years | L&F 256 MNR 94 | 0-0-1942 | 06/Jul/2013 | Started in Wawa and worked there his entire career until he retired in 1994. From Bob Easton - Dave Doery - spelling of surname is Dorey. I went to OFRS with Dave in 1965 where he was was affectionately known as “ two draft “ Dorey. We worked together during the summer of 1965 out of the Blind River Chief Ranger office and were doing regeneration survey of part of the Mississaugi burn area north of Elliott Lake. Worked out of the Portelance Lake Junior Ranger camp. He served as a C.O. in Franz ( a little drop of nothing on the northern rail line.) Last I saw Dave he was a C.O. in White River or Wawa. From Klaas Oswald - Dave Dorey (not Doery) began his work as a CO at the Franz Deputy Chief Ranger Base of the White River District of the Department of Lands and Forests, about 1968 or so. The base, located at the intersection of the main line CPR and the Algoma Central Rly was shut down shortly after, and he moved to Wawa where he completed his career. He was not well in his later years, having contracted leukemia. |
| Dornan | Hugh | Tweed | L&F 119 | ||||
| Drolet | Len | L&F 376 MNR 88 | |||||
| Dube | Alvin | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Dube_%20Alvin.JPG | L&F 195 | Hired in Parry Sound in 1948 | |||
| Duffy | Sharon | 03/Aug/2015 | Sharon was a former Conservation Officer in Quetico Provincial Park and Parry Sound, and was an accomplished lawyer, more recently working in the Department of Fisheries at the Peterborough MNR. | ||||
| Dungavell | W. James (Jim) | http://www.ferrisfuneral.com/fh/obituaries/obituary.cfm?o_id=292875&fh_id=10615 | MNR 444 | 09/Aug/1950 | 21/Nov/2008 | From Richard Manley - Jim was a CO in Simcoe in the late 70's & early 80's. Went to Parks as Supt of TPPP in the early. 80's. late 80's/early 90's because supply/assets manager in Simcoe. | |
| Dunne | Patrick George | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Dunne_%20Patrick%20George.JPG | 1931/1932-1934 | 02-Sept-1872 | Patrick George Dunne, born 02 September 1872 worked out of Sault Ste Marie in 1932 and worked with Warden J. Bussineau trapping nuisance beaver on St. Joseph Island. Local records show Dunne living in the Sault in 1917 and working for various lumber companies from 1918 through 1930. Unconfirmed records show Dunne being hired as a Warden in 1931 and working as such through 1934 when the newly elected Hepburn Liberal government fired all wardens. After that, information shows employment was an intermittent affair for Patrick as times were tough and jobs scarce although he was listed as working for a lumber company from 1937 through 1941. | ||
| Dyke | Robert (Bob) Davey | 30 years+ | L&F 172 MNR 281 | 30/Jan/2017 | By Don Weltz - I knew Bob when I worked for Lindsay in the summer of 1971 on the Kawartha lakes Fisheries Management Unit. He was a great guy, very dedicated and always had a smile and an easy and friendly manor about him. I was able to track him down in August 2016 in a nursing home in Lindsay and with the help of his nurse was able to speak with him on the phone. I was amazed he remembered me but the nurse said his long term memory was very good still but his short term memory was failing. Bob spent his entire CO career in the Lindsay District. From Al MacFadyen - He must have started with L&F around 1956 as I remember talking with him and his wife and sometimes looked after his children at the time. Believe he originally started in a Fish Hatchery in southwestern Ontario. I took the Ranger School Course at Dorset in 1961 and I know he went before me. I was on a Special F&W Course in 1965 with Bob and it was a law enforcement &/or management course. |
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| Eklund | Glenn | http://www.fftimes.com/obituaries/glenn-eklund | L&F 328 MNR 273 | 29/Nov/2009 | Glenn, 70, of Thunder Bay, Ont., passed away peacefully at St. Joseph’s Hospice on Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009 with his loving family at his side. Glenn was born in the Nestor Falls, Ont. area and lived there until moving to Thunder Bay to attend Lakehead University. After graduating with a diploma in forestry management, Glenn went to work for the Ministry of Natural Resources as a conservation officer. After brief stints in Timmins and Nestor Falls, he and his family settled in Atikokan, Ont., where they spent the next 15 years. In 1984, Glenn and his wife, Lorraine, purchased Canadian Haven fishing resort in Nestor Falls, which they ran until retirement in 1997. | ||
| Eliuk | Michael | L&F 570 MNR 150 | 25/Dec/1938 | 04/Jun/2009 | . Honour guards were members of the Sioux Lookout Fire Fighters, Knights of Columbus, and conservation officers of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Wednesday, Jun 17, 2009. It is with great sadness that the family announces the sudden passing of Michal Eliuk, 70, on Thursday, June 4, 2009 in Sioux Lookout, Ont. Michal was born Dec. 25, 1938 in Stuartburn, Man. to the late Steve and Annie Eliuk. He started his working career with the C.N.R. as a newsy for a short period of time, and Rusty Myers Flying Service, then was employed with Lands & Forests in Fort Frances. He later was transferred to Sioux Narrows and then Rainy River, where he continued his career with Ministry of Natural Resources for more than 35 years in fish and wildlife. He was very proud to be a conservation officer, and wore the uniform with pride, respect, and dignity. He enjoyed fishing, and especially hunting, with relatives and friends. When he lived in Fort Frances, he was involved as a volunteer fireman, in Sioux Narrows he helped organize the first ambulance service, and in Rainy River he was on town council. Having lived in Sioux Lookout for more than 30 years, Michal enjoyed being a part of the community by being a volunteer fireman, snowmobile instructor, F.A.C. instructor, safe boating course instructor, and trapping course instructor. | ||
| Ellerington | William (Bill) Charles | Bracebridge (Dorset) | Hired in 1946 - L&F | L&F 112 MNR 186 | 31 May 2008 | By Don Weltz - I remember Bill when I was stationed out of the Burk's Falls Detachment in the Bracebridge District 1979-1981. Bill was very knowledgeable in Fish and wildlife and respected by the people in the area. I do remember Bill telling me a story of tracking some poachers in Algonquin Park where he had to go back and snowshoe in and spend days until he got the men he was persuing. I had a lot of respect for Bill as he was a fair and honest man and I would not have wanted to go up against him in his younger years when he was an officer. From Doug Marshall - Conservation Officer Bill Ellerington was overseas during the second World War. He returned with a war bride in 1945 from Belgium.Her name is Jerry and she is still living in the same house next to the old Lands & Forests headquarter in Dorset,.She is sharp as a tack and is in her nineties. Bill started his carreer as a CO in 1946 working with Bob Batrick out of Burks Falls. In 1947 he was posted to Dorset and was the CO there until he became the Fisheries Management Officer in 1973 working out of the Bracebridge office and retired in 1982. |
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| Ellis | J. S. (Sandy) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Ellis_%20Sandy.JPG | L&F 77 | Hired in Maple 1945 | |||
| Elsey | C. A. (Charles) | http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/chroniclejournal/obituary.aspx?n=charles-elsey&pid=174132000 | Hired in 1947- L&F | L&F 318 | 28/Nov/2009 | Charles Allan Elsey former Regional Biologist for the Ministry of Natural Resources and respected member of the community passed away on November 28 2009 at the age of 92 in Burnaby British Columbia. Allan first completed Normal School (teacher's training) and briefly taught in one-room schoolhouses in small communities in Saskatchewan. He then enrolled in the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon where he completed a Master's Degree in Fisheries Biology. For the next 37 years he worked for the Ministry of Natural Resources, where he served for many years in small communities around Northern Ontario as a conservation officer. The last 17 years of his career were spent in Thunder Bay, ultimately as Regional Biologist. He turned down promotions to Head Office in Toronto to provide his family with stability during their high school and university years. He was known internationally for his leadership in the area of wildlife conservation, having started the first moose conservation program in the world. Although he was valued for his management and leadership, Allan's first love was field work. In his waning years, some of his clearest memories were of his work with First Nations communities in the far north. In a generation before feminism, he recognized the value of women in the workplace, hiring and supporting female conservation officers for field work, and encouraging his daughters to pursue the careers of their choice. | |
| Emo | Jerry | L&F 106 | From Gary Tupling - Jerry Emo—When I worked along the Ottawa River in the early 1970s, I seem to remember that Jerry left L&F and went with the Canadian Wildlife Service or possibly the Quebec wildlife to work in Quebec. | ||||
| Emond | Gerry | L&F 58, 216 | served somewhere in N. Ontario and transferred to Hawkesbury until the mid 60’s when he went to work for Indian Affairs specializing in trapper management. | ||||
| English | Gerald, Robert (Gerry) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/English_%20Gerry.JPG | L&F 589 MNR 44 | 17/Jan/2001 | 57 years old. For 31 years he worked for the MNR as a Conservation Officer, Fish & Wildlife Supervisory and Enforcement Specialist. He thoroughly enjoyed his career especially the many strong friendships he formed over the years. Being retired for the past 7 years, Gerry often commented that it was the best job he ever had. He love going hunting, fishing and being outdoors with his family and friends. | ||
| Espaniel | Rene Albert | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Espaniel_%20Rene%20Albert.JPG | L&F 492 | 12/Jun/1930 | 03/Feb/2019 | Rene worked for Lands & Forests and became the first Indigenous Game Warden in Sudbury District in 1962, he was 88 years old when he passed away. He was a member of the Sagamok Anishawbek First Nation. Rene was a decorated veteran of the Korean War. | |
| Evans | Blake Murray | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Evans_%20Blake%20Murray.PNG | L&F 484 MNR 231 | 04/Mar/1940 | 29/Mar/2020 | ||
| Evans | Garfield David | Thunder Bay | From Rusty Rustenburg - Very close friend of mine was Nipigon CO in 1950's Took him on patrols and he help me run the Peregrine Falcon release. I have some stuff he gave me, but he passed away over 12 years ago | ||||
| Faubert | Wilfred (Wilf) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Faubert_%20Wilfred_%20Game%20Warden%20.jpg | Hired 1926 | 01/Nov/1955 | Warden Faubert was run over by a train on the Canadian National tracks east of Minaki. His death poses many unanswered questions. "The suspicion was," said Charlie Bibby, former fish and wildlife supervisor for Sudbury District, "that Faubert was getting too close to operators in the illicit fur trade, that he was murdered and his body laid on the tracks so that people would think he had killed himself." Proof was elusive and no one was apprehended. | ||
| Finch | Roy | Aylmer | L&F 66 | ||||
| Forrester | David John | Fort Frances | 1970 | L&F 396 MNR 274 | 0/0/1992 | SUBMITTED BY HIS SUPERVISOR AND FRIEND ROY BROWN, RETIRED CONSERVATION OFFICER: CONSERVATION OFFICER DAVID JOHN FORRESTER WAS WORKING FOR THE FORT FRANCES CHIEF RANGER IN 1970 BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT AS A CO. ONE OF OUR FIELD CO’S RECEIVED A PROMOTION AND WAS TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE DISTRICT. DAVE HAD MADE IT KNOWN THAT HE WANTED TO BE A CO AND HE WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND GOT HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE FALL OF 1970, BADGE 274. DAVE WAS SINGLE, BUT HE WENT BACK HOME AND MARRIED HIS SWEETHEART AND THEY BUILT A HOME ON FROG CREEK ROAD JUST SOUTH AND WEST OF THE FORT FRANCES AIRPORT. DAVE LIKED WORKING WITH DOGS SO HE AND HIS WIFE BUILT AT DOG KENNEL AND STARTED A BUSINESS. IN DUE TIME THEY HAD ONE SON, SCOTT. WHEN SCOTT GREW UP HE MARRIED AND HAD A DAUGHTER. DAVE MET A MINNESOTA CONSERVATION OFFICER WHO ALSO HAD A KENNEL AND WORKED WITH DOGS. DAVE’S PATROL AREA INCLUDED A LARGE AGRICULTURAL SECTION WITH ABUNDANCES OF WILDLIFE. THE RAINY RIVER SPLIT DAVE’S PATROL AND HIS MINNESOTA BUDDY’S, SO LOTS OF JOINT PATROLS. THERE WAS LOTS OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL HUNTING NIGHT AND DAY. DAVE LOVED HIS JOB AND WAS EXTREMELY GOOD AT IT. UNFORTUNATELY, DAVE’S CAREER ENDED ABRUPTLY, AT A YOUNG AGE, DUE TO A STOMACH ORGAN MALFUNCTION, WITH PNEUMONIA BEING A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. DAVE PASSED AWAY AT HIS RESIDENCE ON MAY 7TH 1992. ON MAY 12TH 1992 FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT THE FORT FRANCES UNITED CHURCH WITH RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND APPROXIMATELY 45 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES IN ATTENDANCE. SINCE DAVE’S PASSING, BOTH DAVE’S FORMER WIFE, BARB, AND THEIR SON, SCOTT HAVE ALSO DIED. | |
| Forman | Henrick William (Bill) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Forman_%20William%20_Bill_%20.JPG | WWII Vet. | L&F 374 | 00/00/1924 | 15/Apr/2018 | CONSERVATION OFFICER DAVID JOHN FORRESTER WAS WORKING FOR THE FORT FRANCES CHIEF RANGER IN 1970 BEFORE HIS APPOINTMENT AS A CO. ONE OF OUR FIELD CO’S RECEIVED A PROMOTION AND WAS TRANSFERRED OUT OF THE DISTRICT. DAVE HAD MADE IT KNOWN THAT HE WANTED TO BE A CO AND HE WAS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME AND GOT HIS APPOINTMENT IN THE FALL OF 1970, BADGE 274. DAVE WAS SINGLE, BUT HE WENT BACK HOME AND MARRIED HIS SWEETHEART AND THEY BUILT A HOME ON FROG CREEK ROAD JUST SOUTH AND WEST OF THE FORT FRANCES AIRPORT. DAVE LIKED WORKING WITH DOGS SO HE AND HIS WIFE BUILT AT DOG KENNEL AND STARTED A BUSINESS. IN DUE TIME THEY HAD ONE SON, SCOTT. WHEN SCOTT GREW UP HE MARRIED AND HAD A DAUGHTER. DAVE MET A MINNESOTA CONSERVATION OFFICER WHO ALSO HAD A KENNEL AND WORKED WITH DOGS. DAVE’S PATROL AREA INCLUDED A LARGE AGRICULTURAL SECTION WITH ABUNDANCES OF WILDLIFE. THE RAINY RIVER SPLIT DAVE’S PATROL AND HIS MINNESOTA BUDDY’S, SO LOTS OF JOINT PATROLS. THERE WAS LOTS OF LEGAL AND ILLEGAL HUNTING NIGHT AND DAY. DAVE LOVED HIS JOB AND WAS EXTREMELY GOOD AT IT. UNFORTUNATELY, DAVE’S CAREER ENDED ABRUPTLY, AT A YOUNG AGE, DUE TO A STOMACH ORGAN MALFUNCTION, WITH PNEUMONIA BEING A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. DAVE PASSED AWAY AT HIS RESIDENCE ON MAY 7TH 1992. ON MAY 12TH 1992 FUNERAL SERVICE WAS HELD AT THE FORT FRANCES UNITED CHURCH WITH RELATIVES, FRIENDS AND APPROXIMATELY 45 ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM VARIOUS AGENCIES IN ATTENDANCE. SINCE DAVE’S PASSING, BOTH DAVE’S FORMER WIFE, BARB, AND THEIR SON, SCOTT HAVE ALSO DIED. |
| Forson | C.J. (George) | Parry Sound | hired on in 1947 | From John Macfie - George Forson, also a WW2 Vet. George didn't live to retire; he died of cancer maybe at around 50, while still on the PS staff. | |||
| Francis | George | Maple District | 1961-1965 | 0-0-2011 | CO – Maple District (1961(?) to 1965(?) L and F. CO – Hearst Detachment, Kapuskasing District (1965 to 1969), L and F Fisheries Management Officer, North Bay District (1969 to 1974), L and F/MNR Senior Management Officer, Sudbury District (1974 to 1978), MNR CO – Chapleau District (Foleyet) (1978 to 1980). George quit MNR around 1978 and started a tourist business/gas station. He developed MS in or around 1981 and after several moves ended up in North Bay where he died in 2011. | ||
| Gingrich | Harry | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Gingrich_%20Harry.JPG | L&F 748 MNR 234 | 00-00-1923 | 10/May/1993 | From Gary Tupling - Harry Gingrich was my FMO when I was F&W Supv. In Cambridge from 1977-1982. He was from the area and I expect he retired there | |
| Gray | Charles (Chuck) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Gray_%20Charles%20_Chuck_.JPG | 24/May/1926 | 14/Aug/2016 | Introduced at age 11 to Algonquin Park by scout leader Frank Braucht, Chuck never outgrew the life of a woodsman. His early years were spent building friendships, huts in the woods and guiding canoe trips for Taylor Statten Camps. In his 20s, Chuck built his beloved cabin on Canoe Lake where he spent 78 seasons, with his final visit cut short by a marauding bear. As for the bear, Chuck didn’t see what the fuss was all about. Chuck’s career started in Cochrane working for Lands and Forests with transfers to Timmins, Pembroke and Lindsay where he retired as District Manager for Ministry of Natural Resources. After retirement there were trips to distant places and experiencing the wonders of the world but none compared to a good plate of spaghetti and a piece of Dot’s apple pie at the cottage with family and friends around. | ||
| Greenwood | Gordon Thomas (Gord) | Passed away at the Hanover and District Hospital on Friday, October 27th, 2006. Gordon Thomas GREENWOOD, of Hanover, at the age of 90 years. Beloved husband of the late Doris ANDREWS.Loving father of Sharon and her husband Cliff TURNER of Orillia, Wayne of Michigan, and Jim and his wife Dixie of Simcoe. Fondly remembered by his 6 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Survived by his brothers Grant GREENWOOD of Durham and Murray GREENWOOD and his wife Pat of Holstein. Predeceased by his daughter-in-law Nancy and his sister Susie KERR. Gordon was a Conservation Officer with the Department of Lands and Forests, now known as the Ministry of Natural Resources in Essex County, was a Fisheries Management Officer in Aylmer, retiring as Fish and Wildlife Supervisor with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Chatham. Prior to his employment with the Department of Lands and Forests and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Gordon worked at the Durham Furniture Factory and later was the clerk for the town of Durham. He was enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the second World War and was the past master of the Masonic Lodge in Durham in 1946. | Started 1951. 27 yrs. | L&F 432 & 462 MNR 056 | 28/Sep/1916 | 27-Oct-2006 90 years of age. | Hired 1951, Essex County, former Lake Erie District. 1957 attended Ontario Forest Ranger School, Department of Lands and Forest, Special Course Fish and Wildlife. 1963 became the Fisheries Management Officer former Lake Erie District Aylmer. 1972,(1973) (note- when L&F became MNR )Fish and Wildlife Supervisor Chatham District. retired 1978. Prior to his employment with the Department of Lands and Forests and the Ministry of Natural Resources, Gordon worked at the Durham Furniture Factory and later was the clerk for the town of Durham. He was enlisted with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the second World War and was the past master of the Masonic Lodge in Durham in 1946. |
| Guenther | Robert (Bob) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/large/Guenther_%20Robert%20_Bob_%20_1_%20.PNG | 8 yrs. | L&F 351 | 10/Mar/1923 | 01/Oct/1965 | Conservation Officers Bob Guenther and Carl Liddle died in October, 1965, while patrolling Luther Marsh, a duck hunters' paradise lying between the communities of Arthur and Orangeville. The exact date of their death is unknown. Guenther and Liddle, a younger officer who was unable to swim, were on duty in an airboat on the day they died. The first indication of a serious mishap came with the sighting of the boat, abandoned and drifting near the shore, the propeller broken. The authorities were notified and a search was initiated. On the fourth day of the search - conducted by 200 men, many boats and several aircraft - skin divers recovered a hip wader and a Lands and Forests' parka. The following day, the officers' bodies were found three metres apart in two metres of water. Liddle's body was fully clothed while Guenther had apparently stripped in a bid to rescue his colleague. An inquest later ruled the deaths had been accidental. |
| Haliday | Bob | L&F 37 | From Gary Preston - Bob Haliday was a co in quetico park when i worked in Fort Francis in the 60s he retired about 1967. | ||||
| Hamilton | Gordon, Turner | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Hamilton_%20Gord.JPG | 31 years of service | 24-Mar-1914 | 0-0-2011 | The experience of growing up “back at the lake” prepared him well for a 31 year career (1948 to 1979) as a conservation officer with the Department of Lands and Forests, Pembroke District. He had been an excellent poacher as a young man and perhaps this aided in his superb skills as an enforcement officer: many poachers were very relieved when he retired. In his 97th year. | |
| Hannson | Carl Edgar | Vermilion Bay - Dryden, Chief Ranger division Kenora District. | 1963 | L&F 471 | 27/Jun/2005 | Department of Lands & Forests – 1963 to 1974. Ministry of Natural Resources – 1974 to 1987 Retired 1987 - Deceased 2005. Badge Number – 151 - Natural Resources. Training – OFRS – Fish and Wildlife Course 1965. Believe Carl attended OFRS Dorset and Ontario Police College, but have no information on the year. Enforcement Course conducted by Percy Thompson. Work History – Vermilion Bay. Dryden Chief Ranger division Kenora District, which became Dryden District. Worked entire career at Vermilion Bay. Started career as Forest Ranger – Vermilion Bay Appointed Conservation Officer - 1963. Carried out duties in Enforcement, fisheries management lake surveys, creel census, fish stocking, commercial fish inspections, wildlife management, moose and caribou aerial surveys, wolf poisoning program, trapline management, baitfish and wildrice management and enforcement. Participated in Deer Yard surveys in Southeastern Ontario. | |
| Harris | Victor Eric (Vic) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Harris.%20Victor%20_Vic_%20Eric.JPG | 37 yrs. | L&F 92 MNR 283 | 24-May-1925 | 02-Sept-2004 | Lived in Gores Landing and served in WWII over seas. From Al Giesche - Vic Harris was a CO in Lindsay with a Patrol Area around Rice Lake. Employed by Ontario Dept. of Lands and Forests after serving in WWII. Born Sunday, May 24, 1925 at Gore's Landing, Rice Lake, ON. Died June 9, 2004. Buried in St. George's Cemetery, Gore's Landing. Wife: Jean Harris, Cobourg, ON. Daughter: Lyn Ford, Cobourg, ON. Son: Terrance Harris, deceased. I am his cousin, Nancy Dalgarno. I remember he spent time in Dorset, ON. and was active in Northumberland County regarding his job. I have tried to get some stories from his wife but she is in her nineties and doesn't remember any specific details. The attached info was copied from the back of his photograph. Vic died of an aggressive form of cancer in June of 2004. |
| Harris | Gerry | L&F 006, 311 MNR 364 | |||||
| Headlam | Percy | Orleans Ontario | L&F 136 | 19/May/1905 | |||
| Herron | George | L&F 47 MNR 430 | As passed on by John MacFie - George Herron was a C.O. in the Foleyet area of the Gogama Forest District when I arrived in Gogama in 1956. I believe he was also based in the Rhonda (Shining Tree) deputy chief ranger headquarters, and elsewhere in the Province. Upon retiring George settled in the Parry Sound area, and died a number of years ago. | ||||
| Himburg | Garry | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Himburg_%20Garry%20Frederick.JPG | 1967 - | L&F 647 MNR 143 | 23/Jan/1944 | 06/Oct/1999 | From John McDonald - I went to Ranger School with Gary in 1966. After graduation he got a C.O. job in Matheson in 1968. I saw him a few times after that but lost touch with him. From Ron Fabian - Garry passed on in 1999. He started his career in the Kirkland Lake district onto Pembroke, Chatham, Tweed, And retired from the Napanee district. |
| Hogan | Patrick (Pat) Bernard Martin | http://obits.dignitymemorial.com/dignity-memorial/obituary.aspx?n=Patrick-Hogan&lc=3768&pid=173935323&mid=6290347 | 30+ | L&F 578 MNR 167, 403 | 10-June-1940 | 21-Jan-2015 | (Conservation Officer & Trainer- Ministry of Natural Resources for over 30 years) He was a great guy. Started off as a ranger in Dacer (old Pembrooke District) in the late 50's and got a job as a CO in napanee. Then to Nipigon and then to Pembroke as a CO co-ordinator. Then to Midhurst District as CO co-ordinator and then to Kemptville as Regional enforcement specialist. Then to Toronto as Provincial Training Officer just prior to head office moving to Peterborough and then worked out of the old Frost Centre until he retired.. |
| Holmes | William (Bill) J. | https://www.baytoday.ca/obituaries/holmes-william-john-north-bill-768338 | 30+ | L&F 557, 608 MNR 130, 425 | 20/Apr/1905 | 14/Nov/2017 | Bill joined the MNR in 1957 in Sault Ste. Marie, ON as a Forest Ranger, 1964 Conservation Officer, 1969 C.O. Coordinator, 1987 Fisheries Management Officer, 1989 Hatchery Manager from there he moved to North Bay and spent many years until he retired in 1992 as a Professional Angler Jig Maker. |
| Holt | Bill | L&F 206 | |||||
| Hotson | John (Jack) Wilfred | 25 years service | MNR 360 | 03-Dec-1941 | 16-Nov-2016 | Jack was from a farm in the Queen's Bush and moved to Elliot Lake with his parents in the late 50's. He worked at Mississagi Park before attending Sault College and becoming a CO in Sault Ste Marie. | |
| Hughson | Don R. | L&F 319, 661 MNR 99 | 0/0/1931 | 14-Mar-2014 | Espanola -Manitoulin Island. From Dave Kenney - Don Hughson started as towerman at the Shakwa Lake tower north of Espanola in the early 1950's and then worked as a C.O.min Killarney beginning in about 1955. From there he worked as C.O. at Penage Lake and then Fisheries Management Officer in Sudbury until reorganization in 1971 when he became F&W Supervisor in Espanola until his retirement. From John Macfie - "Don" Hughson was the CO on Manitoulin Id. of the Sudbury Dist. in 1950s and 60s. | ||
| Humberstone | Jeff | L&F 437 | Jeff Humberstone who worked in Lanark when I first started. He then left to join Gerry Emond with Indian Affairs in Quebec. He was a development officer with Indian Affairs in the Abitibi whose job was part of a gov’t program of native rehabilitation and scheduled hunting and fishing trips and oversaw the Indians that were running the show. | ||||
| Hutchison | Bill | Tweed | L&F 450 MNR 387 | ||||
| Irwin | Jack | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Irwin_%20Jack%20-%201945.JPG | L&F 26 | Hired in Timmins 1945 | |||
| Jean-Marie | Ronald James (Ron) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Jean-Marie_%20Ronald%20%20James%20Edwin%20%20_Ron_.JPG | 30+ years Cambridge | L&F 231 MNR 236 | 20/Apr/2015 | Ronald James Jean-Marie passed away peacefully on April 20, 2015 with family by his side. Treasured uncle of Wendy and Jim Reid, and Michael and Margo Jean-Marie; and their children Megan, Olivia and Evan; and Jenner, Douglas and Melanie. Predeceased by his children Robert, Ronald and Andrea and his devoted partner Carolyn Moore. Born in Port Sydney in 1941, Ron's heart never left Muskoka, although his life and work took him to far corners of the world. He had a thirty year career as a Conservation Officer with The Ministry of Natural Resources. He was passionate about protecting our wildlife resources and had opportunities to work at the provincial, national and international levels. His greatest efforts were in coordinating investigations into illegal commerce of birds of prey. Upon retirement he returned to his family's beloved Homestead in Juddhaven, where he and Carolyn worked hard to restore the home and gardens of his grandparents' day, which have become a source of peace and pleasure for many. He loved nature, and the Homestead is now a mecca for songbirds, deer, bear, wild turkeys and most recently a rare white squirrel. Ron will be greatly missed by his many friends and colleagues. He was always generous with his time and interest, and we are all better for having known him. | |
| Jeffries | Clifford | https://obittree.com/obituary/ca/ontario/cochrane/salon-funraire-irvine--irvine-funeral-home/clifford-jeffries/3067428/ | 2005-2017 | 09-Dec-1971 | 20-Aug-2017 | Clifford Jefferies was a former CO Pilot, serving with Cochrane District as a CO Pilot circa late 90s-2000. | |
| Johnson | Fred J. | Sudbury | 1946 | MNR 015 | Apr 1913 | Jan 2003 | Johnson Fred J. 1946 Sudbury. Badge # 15. Ranger School Dorset. Worked in Sudbury, Peterbell, Hearst and Chapleau 1946 - 1977. |
| Johnston | Eric | L&F 51 MNR 251 | From John Downey - I worked with Eric in the old Cornwall district and I know he was also a co in Oba of the old Hearst district. Eric's brother 'Pud' was a district forester I believe. From Mike Hart - Eric Johnson was a CO working out of either Iroquois or Morrisburg on the St. Lawrence River, old Kemptville District. | ||||
| Johnston | Barry | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Johnston_%20Barry%20-%201957.JPG | 1957 | From John Macfie -Barry joined the F&W ranks as a CO at Gogama (based at the deputy chief ranger base at Shining Tree) in I believe 1957. He had the distinction of being a first cousin of renowned pianist Glenn Gould. Earlier in life Barry had a bout of rheumatic fever, which left him with a damaged heart. In the summer of 1958 or '59 he was found dead, slumped over the gunwale of his boat tied at the Shining Tree dock, with his head submerged. It was assumed he had passed out while doing something with the outboard motor, maybe cranking it. | |||
| Jones | Dave James | http://www.hannahfuneralhome.com/notices/David-Jones | L&F 424 MNR 252 | 28 Sept 1938 | 29 Apr 2017 | From Tim Taylor - I worked with Dave in Napanee where he was the Enforcement Co-ordinator. He was such an easy going, knowledgeable man who loved to bird hunt when the opportunity presented itself. | |
| Jordi | Otto | 01/Jan/1940 | The exact date in the 1940's is not currently known. Warden Otto Jordi, an officer based in Port Arthur during the late 1940s, suffered a heart attack as he pulled a toboggan laden with supplies across the snowy wastes of Shebandowan Lake. In his early 40s, Jordi was returning from an expedition checking traplines. When he failed to show up as expected, a search party found his body on the ice. | ||||
| Juck | Ken | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Juck_%20Kenneth%20Joseph%20_Ken_.JPG | L&F 009 MNR 058 | 29/Mar/1905 | 24/Jun/1994 | Ken JUCK joined the Ontario Department Lands and Forests after World War II. He served for many years in the Aylmer, Ontario office and eventually became a supervisor of conservation officers with the Ministry of Natural Resources. He was well known for his extensive use of the organization's radio system (on Lake Erie District call letters XLO-52)as he kept in touch with his officers. Mr. Juck served as a Warrant Officer with the Elgin Regiment of the Canadian Army during World War II. | |
| Kataquapit | Peter E. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Kataquapit_%20Peter%20E._1_1.jpg | 1960 - 1973 | L&F 460 | 08/Jan/1935 | 22/Feb/2020 | The following is taken from page #88 of the Book "Game Wardens" written by Joe Fisher celebrating 100 years of Service 1892 - 1992 and printed by the Queens Printer for Ontario in 1992. In 1960, Peter Kataquapit became the first native person to be hired as a CO. Kataquapit was running a general store in Moosonee frequented by local officers when warden Andy Gagon offered him a job. "I can't be sure why he chose me," said Kataquapit. "But I was reliable and... I knew they needed help with interpreting, as ninety per cent of the people in Moosonee area speak Cree." Kataquapit concentrated on trapline management work and moose and caribou surverys. Being aboriginal in a predominantly aboriginal region complicated his role as enforcer. "It was difficult and involved a lot of personal conflict," he said. He argued the job became harder when aboriginal people started getting into politics. Although Kataquapit quit his job as a CO in 1973, he blazed a trail that encouraged others to follow in his footsteps. From Dave Fergson: I know nothing of Peter’s CO career other than the fact that he had been one. By the time I moved to Moosonee in 1975, he had become our district mechanic. A quiet and unassuming fellow, Peter always had a ready smile on his face any time I entered his domain. He was, as they say, ‘a deft hand’ at outboard motor repairs among other things. We had a substantial fleet of 18, 20 and 25 horsepower Johnson and Evinrude outboards in those days, and Peter would always smile proudly as he turned one over to me after working on it. His favourite method of demonstrating to me that it would run, was to remove the cover and with the palms of his two hands, give the flywheel a quick spin. If the motor didn’t start on the first flip, he’d look disappointed. If it hadn’t responded the second time, I’m sure he wouldn’t have let it out of the shop. But they always started. From Mike Hart: While working the Moosonee patrol in 1968, Peter Kataquapit was my companion during many weeks of patrol visiting the First Nation towns along the west coast of James Bay and Winisk (Keewatin) on Hudson Bay. Peter was a proud and dedicated CO who worked with pride and dignity to represent the Fish & Wildlife Branch of the Dept. of L & F among the western James Bay Cree. Peter would have had his hands full with the frequent rotation to Moosonee of COs unfamiliar with tidal waters and the Cree give-and-take culture of those days. Peter did not hesitate to provide a tune-up to a tardy young CO (me), late for a canoe departure and missing the out-going tide. Anyone familiar with the God-awful mud of the James Bay west coast will know that trying to push-pull a Rupert House canoe to catch a receding tide was not a good experience. On our frequent trips to visit the west James Bay coast communities and Winisk, Peter served as interpreter. Peter’s idea of interpreting was more than just parroting the words of the speaker from Cree to English or English to Cree. Peter saw his duty as ‘interpreting’ the situation at hand. Sharing words that encouraged cooperation and diffused disputes before they became conflicts was Peter’s personal mantra. I recall a community trapping meeting in Kashechewan when a very agitated lady trapper demanded that we arrest and take to jail the person poaching her trap line. Being a new CO with all sorts of untested tools to use, I was excited about the prospect of arresting a poacher, so I thought that was a good idea and told the assembly we would certainly do that if she would help us identify the poacher. Not a problem. “Who is poaching on my trap line” she asked. At least twenty hands went up among the assembly. Peter spoke in Cree and I watched as serious faces melted into smiles and then the room burst into laughter. The poaching victim was appeased - somehow - and good will and harmony was re-established among the villagers. Nice - but I could have twenty poaching arrests. Now, thinking back all those years, I know that Peter wanted to share with me some of his Cree culture and their view of the world, and I know that he worked hard to keep me safe on the land. But back then, as an impatient young man, I know that I did not give Peter the thanks that he deserved. Thank you Peter Kataquapit for keeping me safe on the land.. I know you will have a safe journey. From Mike Hart, Ret CO badge 254. |
| Kendall | George Weston | http://boards.ancestry.ca/localities.northam.canada.ontario.kenoradistrict/303/mb.ashx | 32 years | MNR 481 | 07/Apr/1939 | 23/Feb/2003 | George Weston Kendall passed away suddenly on Sunday, February 23, 2003 in Sioux Lookout, at the age of 63 years. George was born in Sioux Lookout on April 27, 1939. George started as casual staff in 1961 as a Ranger III for the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sioux Lookout, ON. He later joined staff in 1963 as a Warehouseman in Sioux Lookout. From there he worked as a unit crew leader, Conservation officer and Senior Fire Technician. George retired October 20, 199 after 32 years of service. George and Nancy lived on Lake Street and later moved to his parents' home where he resided up until the time of his death. |
| Kindree | Michael Anthony | http://www.maccoubrey.com/notice/4644 | 1978 Gogama | MNR 346 | 03/Apr/1950 | 28/May/2017 | 1975 - 77: Sir Sandford Fleming College, Lindsay - Fish and Wildlife Program. 1979 - 84: CO, Gogama District. 1984 - 86: CO, Niagara District. 1986 - 89: CO Co-ordinator, Kapuskasing District. 1989 - 97: Enforcement Supervisor, Sault Ste. Marie. 1997- 2003: Provincial Enforcement Advisor (Wildlife), Main Office, Provincial Enforcement Branch, Peterborough. 2003 - 2008: Manager, Evaluation and Special Services Unit (ESSU), Provincial Enforcement Branch, Peterborough; title later changed to Manager, Intelligence and Investigations Section (IIS). Other duties: Peer Supporter. Training (e.g., FWCA, Search Warrants, etc.) Helped develop the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act (FWCA). Retired in 2009 |
| Kujala | Henry | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Kujala_%20Henry.jpg | 19 years- Started 1968 | MNR 113 | 03/Mar/1947 | 05/Oct/1987 | Officer Kujala was killed in a helicopter crash. Henry Kujala was from Parry Sound. He was taking aerial photographs of pickerel spawning beds near Serpent Rapids on the Seguin River when the chopper in which he was riding veered into the river gorge. The pilot, David Buzzell, also lost his life. The downed blue and white helicopter containing the bodies of the two men was found in dense bush after an intensive four-day air and land search. Officer Kujala, was a nineteen-year Ministry of Natural Resources veteran. |
| Lacoursiere | Leo | Wawa District | 5 years | 21/Jun/1905 | Started in Wawa and worked there his entire career until he retired in 2004 | ||
| Lambie | John | Owen Sound | MNR 260 | 00-00-1950 | 14/Jul/2009 | From Peggy Lambie - John's wife - John’s first full time position was in Owen Sound. After completing university he was hired as a full time Forester without a distict and as a result worked for a short time in Aylmer and Wingham before being assigned to Owen Sound. From Anne Purdy - former Forestry Clerk and then F&W Clerk at the Owen Sound Office of MNR. In Feb 1981 when I was hired at MNR, he was the Bruce County Forester. In October of that same year, Verd Fisk retired as Forest Management Supervisor (don’t think it was because he had had enough of me as his forestry clerk) and John became the forestry supervisor. In 1992, thru another “reorg” John became Supervisor of Grey County Team until 1996. John was surplussed in spring of 1996 and shortly after that he was placed in position of Enforcement Supervisor until his retirement January 2007. He passed away July 2009. | |
| Landriault | N. A. (Aurelle) | 1948-to about 1970 | L&F 103 | Aurelle (not sure of spelling) LANDRIAULT – Conservation Officer, North Bay District MNR and L and F – Probably from early 50’s or late 40’s until about 1970; he is deceased | |||
| Lannin | William Robert (Bill) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Lannin_%20William%20_Bill_%20Robert.PNG | L&F 76 MNR 92 | 30/Sep/1941 | 20/Mar/2020 | From John McDonald - Retired Fisheries Management Officer: It was with sadness that I learned of the passing of Bill Lannin. I had the opportunity to work with Bill in Sudbury in 1967 at the then Department of Lands and Forests. I was a new Conservation Officer and Bill was my "coach officer". We had many great enforcement experiences and in my opinion some good charges. I recall sleeping under a canoe in the spring during the pickerel run waiting for poachers. I don't know why we didn't use a tent, but Bill insisted on a canoe. After the 3rd day the poachers showed up and we made the charges. In 1968 Bill and I both bought black male Labrador pups from Bill Bittle around Tweed ON. We always had discussions as to which one of us had the best one. My dog, Jake, turned out to be the best dog I ever owned. He lived for 12 years and went everywhere with me. In July of 1968, Bill was an usher in my wedding in Sudbury. Bill McKittrick, another Conservation Officer, was also an usher. Gerry Thompson, a biologist at the time, was a groomsman and my brother, Peter McDonald, a Conservation Officer was my best man. My wife and I will celebrate our 52nd wedding anniversary this coming July. Bill was born in Chesterville which is south of Ottawa, close to a small village called Winchester. As a result, Bill had the nickname, Winchester Lannin. Bill loved to hunt and was a good shot. Our paths crossed a few times throughout our careers and it was always great to see Bill. The last contact I had with him he was in Blind River and he was looking to purchase a black Labrador Retriever to replace his last one. I did not realize that he had relocated to Trenton. Our deepest condolences to Bill's family. May God Bless you Bill. | |
| Lattner | Peter John (Pete) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Lattner_%20Peter.PNG | Retired 3 April 2007 | MNR 25 | 24/Nov/1951 | 21/Dec/2021 | From Retired CO Bill Hutson: We started our friendship in college as he was one year ahead of me at SSFC . Hunted and fished together, were very involved in the Trap and Skeet club facing off numerous times in competition which he won most times. On graduation both ended up working with MNR ,I went north and Pete went to Hespeler District where after about a year or so we both ended up. I following him as Hunter Safety Examiner and DCO and eventually on to a permanent CO position. Eventually we both left, Pete to Minden and I to Bracebridge. I left Bracebridge after 3 years to Kapuskasing where a year later Pete followed me. He moved up to the Coordinator there after a year and then moved on to Atikokan as Coordinator and then to Fort Frances at which time I went to the Atikokan Coordinators position. Here after a bit of time we went different directions but stayed in touch for a while. So as you can tell we had a lot of time together both socially and work. He was a great CO dedicated to making a difference in the outdoors, a dedicated employee , not wanting to work at anything else or for anyone else other than MNR and a wonderful friend and mentor for me through the years. He will be missed by many. Rest In Peace on the land you protected Pete. From Retired CO John Bailey: Pete was a great friend and mentor during my days as CO in Hearst and beyond. We hunted and fished together after we met when he was working in Minden District and more so when he became a “neighbour” when he moved to Kapuskasing. He was also the only one who came for a visit when I moved up to Taloyoak (formerly Spence Bay) in the Arctic in the early 80s. |
| Leach | Terrence, Taylor (Terry) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Leach_%20Terry.JPG | MNR 432 | 02/Jun/1950 | 02/Apr/2019 | From Fern Blais - Terry was the F&W Supervisor in Pembroke in 1989. Fron Don Love: Terry was in Geraldton when I was in Manitouwadge and we met at many meetings, courses, etc. in Thunder Bay and other locales in the North Central Region during those years. In ' 87 I came south to the balmy locale of Pembroke and the Ottawa valley, where Terry was our/my C0-Ordinator. From Blake Simpson: Terry transferred from Geraldton (unsure of his position) in 1986 to Pembroke District to become our District Enforcement Supervisor. Retired in 2000 and his badge was #432. | |
| Legace | Francis F. (Frank) | Parry Sound | L&F 19 | 25/Jul/1925 | 06/Jul/1981 | Conservation officer Parry Sound early 1980s. Had been a manager in southern Ontario but job was made redundant. Left Parry Sound to become the MNR's liaison officer at the North Bay fur auction. Died of a heart attack at his desk. | |
| Lever | James Hart (Jim) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Lever_%20James%20Hart%20_Jim_%20_2_.JPG | 34 yrs. | L&F 580 MNR 131 | 03/Aug/1932 | 12/May/2019 | From Don Weltz: I knew Jim in 1978 when he was the District Manager in Bracebridge and I was the CO stationed at the one man detachment in Burk's Falls. Jim was a great guy and had a very good way with people which made him approachable and well liked by all. From his family: Jim's career with Lands & Forests and then MNR went as follows: Brighton 1956 as a carpenter, Ranger School 1958-1959, Lindsay 1960-1965 working in Parks, Rondeau 1965-1971, North Bay 1971-1973, Algonquin Park 1973-1975, Sault Ste. Marie 1975-1978, Bracebridge 1978-1981, Huntsville Deputy Regional Director 1981-1990 when he retired. |
| Liddle | Carl D. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Liddle_%20Carl%20D.%201.jpg | 20 yrs. | L&F 328 | 00-00-1923 | 06/Oct/1965 | Conservation Officers Carl Liddle and Bob Guenther died in October, 1965, while patrolling Luther Marsh, a duck hunters' paradise lying between the communities of Arthur and Orangeville. The exact date of Officer Liddle's death is unknown. Guenther and Liddle, a younger officer who was unable to swim, were on duty in an airboat on the day they died. The first indication of a serious mishap came with the sighting of the boat, abandoned and drifting near the shore, the propeller broken. The authorities were notified and a search was initiated. On the fourth day of the search - conducted by 200 men, many boats and several aircraft - skin divers recovered a hip wader and a Lands and Forests' parka. The following day, the officers' bodies were found three metres apart in two metres of water. Liddle's body was fully clothed while Guenther had apparently stripped in a bid to rescue his colleague. An inquest later ruled the deaths had been accidental. |
| Livermore | Clarence Earl | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Livermore_%20Clarence%20Earl.PNG | 1963 - 1993 30yrs. | L&F 516 MNR 60 | 00-00-1937 | 10/Jan/2022 | From Retiree Don Weltz: I remember working with Earl on night hunting cases and the infamous Thames River Pickerel runs looking for roll nets. He was a great guy and always greeted you with a big smile and had great maple Chicken BBQ for our office gatherings. Earl graduated from the Ontario Forest Ranger School in 1961. From Retiree Doug Hyde: He was one of the first guy's I worked with when I went to Aylmer in 1972 right in the middle of the Thames River pickerel run. One of the things I always admired about Earl was his calm demeanor. Never saw him get angry or anxious about anything. From Retiree Dave Kenney: He was indeed a very fine C.O. and always seemed so upbeat, positive and calm on the Thames River Pickerel Run. From Retiree Jim Greenwood: Earl was one of my first supervisors when I worked out of the Kilworth office in the mid 70's with Jim Walters and George Richards. I remember working nights on the Thames River during the spring pickerel runs, and after shift heading to Earl's for a visit while he was boiling sap. I also remember him telling me to clean up and oil any firearms I seized before storing them as in some cases they were to be returned to the owner after payment of a fine. I never forgot that. He was a wonderful guy! From Retiree John Sullivan: he was a long-time friend and my turkey hunting buddy. I can't count the # of turkeys we shot and then cleaned in his backyard. From Retiree Mel Crich: Earl and Roy Bellanger were likely an influence on me to peruse a career with Dept of L&F/MNRF. |
| Lorbetski | Sylvester T. (Silvio) | L&F 112 MNR 79 | Hired in 1959 in the Pembroke District - From Gary Preston - Silvio worked in Whitney in 1964 when Gary was there. | ||||
| Love | George Francis | L&F 481 MNR 132 | 0-0-2011 | CO – Maple District (1961(?) to 1965(?) L and F. CO – Hearst Detachment, Kapuskasing District (1965 to 1969), L and F. Fisheries Management Officer, North Bay District (1969 to 1974), L and F/MNR. Senior Management Officer, Sudbury District (1974 to 1978), MNR. CO – Chapleau District (Foleyet) (1978 to 1980). George quit MNR around 1978 and started a tourist business/gas station. He developed MS in or around 1981 and after several moves ended up in North Bay where he died in 2011. | |||
| Lynn | Douglas Evan (Doug) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Lynn_%20Douglas%20Evan%20_Doug_.PNG | Chapleau District | L&F 737 MNR 290 | 18/Sep/1948 | 17/Sep/2022 | From Retiree Kyle Cachagee: Doug was a CO in Chapleau for a good part of his career. I always looked up to him as a summer student always curious at his late night, early mornings and weekend comings and goings in his patrol vehicle. They lived across the street from my grandparents and we would spend our summers in Chapleau growing up. He had an influence on me becoming a CO. He retired to run the lodge with his wife Roxann. Doug was an active outdoorsman, guide and trapper. I was glad my brother Brett and I stopped by the lodge while bird hunting last fall for a visit. He will be sadly missed by his family and many friends and customers who came to Moose Horn Lodge year after year. RIP Doug. |
| Maa | Russell | Thunder Bay | L&F 267 MNR 289 | March 1996 | From Rusty Rustenburg - Russell Maa- Thunder Bay...made papers with shooting the antler of two bull moose locked together and they took off. From Dave Kenney - I believe Russell went to the Ranger School at Dorset in 1964. From Klaas Oswald - Russell Maa was already a CO for a couple of years when I started as a CO in the Port Arthur (the cities of Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated in 1970 and it became the City of Thunder Bay) District in 1969. He worked there until he contracted cancer. | ||
| Macfie | John (Jack) Alvin | http://www.logansfuneralhome.com/death-notice/john-macfie/ | 30+ | L&F 615 | 0-0-1925 | 26/Oct/2018 | John Macfie was in his 93rd year and was hired as a CO with L&F in 1951 and worked in Sioux Lookout and Parry Sound. John was also a WWII vet with the RCAF. From Retired CO Don Love - John was my first F&W Supervisor and mentor. Parry Sound 1966.We had a couple of experiences together that could have been fateful at the time but wound up inconsequential and in retrospect so many years later, would almost seem humorous. He was a gentleman, a story teller, and at that time, a pipe smoker like myself. He always had my utmost respect. Lands and Forests, and M.N.R. have lost an important part of its history and one of its own historians. He will always be remembered. |
| Mantle | Christopher Edward (Ed) F. | https://www.sootoday.com/obituaries/mantle-the-very-reverend-christopher-edward-f-786526 | 26 yrs. | L&F 108 MNR 315 | 10/Apr/1905 | 04/Dec/2017 | From Retired CO Will Samis - I became friends with Ed , later "Father Christopher"(but you can call me Ed...he would say.) when I worked in Sault Ste Marie in 1968. He was a very competent, engaging and energetic Wildlife Management Officer. He spent many days working in the local deer yards on his beloved cross country skis. He got Elaine and I interested in the sport and helped us buy our first skis from a local Finnish craftsman named Rastas. He had transferred to Sault Ste Marie from Virginiatown in the Kirkland Lake district where he was a Conservation Officer. He studied for the priesthood part-time while still working at MNR and during that time he was an extremely entertaining and engaging conversationalist. He really enjoyed philosophy and enjoyed challenging his friends. One favourite memory of Ed is an all night card game with him and District Biologist, Charlie Olver at my wilderness camp. Another is of him coming into the coffee room at the District Office in Sault Ste Marie with a very stern (Lenin- like) expression on his face. Everyone looked at him and after a short pause he started waving his right index finger in the air and loudly exclaimed," Two momentous occasions mark the downfall of western civilization. The first was the death of Queen Victoria and the second was when women were allowed to vote. He then abruptly turned and left leaving dead silence in his wake. He was an avid deer hunter and reminded me on more than one occasion that "Scripture endorses hunting". He was a very talented craftsman and made his own long bows and arrows with which he harvested deer, usually on St. Joe's Island but sometimes with his good friend Fred Jensor at his hunting cabin near Iron Bridge. He was a devoted husband to Mary and was very proud of his children. He loved his country home among the hills near Karalash Corners. From retired CO Russ Filmore - Ed was the wildlife management officer in the Soo in the mid 60's when I was CO in Elliot Lake - hell of a nice guy always very helpful ,kept the CO's involved and made sure you got the credit for what you did. From retired CO Klaas Oswald - When I transferred to Wawa in 1975, Ed was the Fish and Wildlife Supervisor in Sault Ste. Marie, leaving a few years later to become a priest. From retired CO Bryon Hall - who worked in the early 70's in Sault Ste. Marie for Ed when Ed was the F&W Supervisor and Bryon was a young CO. |
| Marshall | Robert (Bob) James | Lake Erie & Simcoe Districts for 30 years | L&F 744 MNR 61 | 0/0/2018 | From Retiree Bruce Malcom: R.J. “Bob” Marshall passed away suddenly at his home at Long Point on Lake Erie this past week. Bob was originally from Timmins and graduated from Sir Sanford in 1970. Bob worked his entire career with Lands and Forests and MNR first as a Conservation Officer and later in fish culture at the Normandale Fish Hatchery in Norfolk County in the old Lake Erie & Simcoe Districts. He retired to his home on Long Point Bay. Bob was known as “Old Dog” by his fellow CO’s Glenn Sheldon, Jim Greenwood, Bruce Malcolm, Roy Finch and Bob Ellah. RIP “Old Dog”. Following Bob’s wishes, cremation only. No funeral arrangements to occur. From John Sullivan - Bob was born in Noranda-my home town-his father was a mining man-and Bob moved to Timmins as an infant. Bob and his pipe were constant companions. | ||
| Marshall | Frederick Hilliard (Fred) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Marshall_%20Frederick%20Hilliard%20_Fred_-1.PNG | 1953-1983 (30 yrs.) | L&F 88 MNR 220 | 05/May/1923 | 18/Aug/2020 | From Dave Munro: I had the pleasure of working with Fred during my first few years in the former Owen Sound District . At that time Fred has transitioned from his early days as a CO to a senior F&W position at the District in charge of many programs including the trappers and fur management program. When he retired to the Massie area he pit in his days working in the bush, hunting and trapping - I used to stop by his place to chat and it was obvious his real passion in retirement years was his trap lines. Fred was a prince of a man and always willing to dole out meaningful and thoughtful advice to us younger staff - he will certainly be missed. From Joel Tost: I worked with Fred in Hespeler in Lands and Forests and then in Owen Sound until he retired as Game Management Officer. Never met a more honest and helpful man. Fred became the best fox trapper in this area when he retired. I just noticed he was on the hiring committee that brought me to Owen sound in 1974. He had some great stories and now their gone !! He loved to play euchre at noon in Owen Sound with John Todd. Rest In Peace old friend. From Don Weltz: I never had the pleaseure of working with Fred or knowing him until I met him in 2018 and presented him with the OCOA Certificate of Appreciation and saw his War Medals. Fred struck me as a kind and inteligent man and even then at the age of 95 his mind was as sharp as a knife. He could remember things that happened in the War like they were yesterday and we had a great time as I learned a bit about his past both in the War and as a CO. He appeared to me to be a dedicated and Honourable man no matter what job he took on and gained my respect in the short time I knew him. Thank you for your service over seas in WWII 1943-1945 and later, your time protecting Ontario's Fish and Wildlife. |
| Marr | Merritt | Bruce Peninsula | 1951 - ? | L&F 14 | |||
| Martin | Art | http://www.fftimes.com/obituaries/art-martin | 35 years | L&F 468, 746 MNR 210 | 07/Oct/1935 | 30-May-2006 | See the hyper link to the left for a bit of his life. |
| Martin | Carl | Aylmer in the 60's | L&F 69 | ||||
| Martin | Murray J. | Kemptville | MNR 357 | 10/Jan/1933 | 10/Sep/2022 | ||
| Martin | William (Bill) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Martin_%20William%20_Bill_.JPG | L&F 677 MNR 34 | 17/Nov/1943 | 07/Sep/2011 | Bill was an avid hunter and fisherman. Having a great love for the outdoors he starting working for Lands and Forest at a very young age, then later becoming a Conservation Officer for 32+ years. Worked as a Conservation Officer in the Timmins district. | |
| Matheson | Don | L&F 734 MNR 63 | 0/0/1998 | By retired CO Dave Montgomery: I knew Don Matheson, his Brother Chuck, and their Father and Mother Kater and Nod. Chuck and I have been close friends for over 50 years. Don, Chuck and their Dad all worked for L and F and MNR their entire careers and made great contributions to these organizations. It is an honor to have known them all. Don retired in 1997 and passed away in 1998. | |||
| Maynard | Kenneth James | MNR 455 | 07-Aug-1950 | 24-June-2015 | From Will Samis - Ken Maynard was raised in Elliot Lake and went to Sault College. I was the CO in Elliot Lake and I hired him as a student doing lake surveys and he volunteered as a deputy. He was working on Lake surveys when he got a CO job in the New Liskeard area. I think he worked there until his retirement. From Roger Weber - Ken Maynard started in the Kirkland lake Dist in April 1974 and worked from the Matheson sub-office. There were 2 positions in KL, he took the Matheson one and I took the Englehart one. | ||
| McCormick | Wayne | Cochrane | MNR 91 | Sept 2002 | From Bob Easton - during the time I knew him was a C.O. working out of Carleton Place office. He worked closely with Dave Arbour, Peter Evans, Gary Martin. From Steve Aubry - he was a CO in Carleton Place and then Kemptville. Sometime around 2000, he was close to retirement and was off on sick leave. He never returned to work and died of a heart ailment a short time after. From Allan Hyde - Wayne spent most of his career in Leitrim and Carleton Place district. Wayne was highly respected for his steely investigative skills. He also looked better than most in uniform to which I think he may have been a photo model for the Branch at one point. In 1981-83 Wayne was seconded to the Enf. section to participate in the early stages of the intel and investigative section developing skills and protocols for both activities. He returned to the district to later become the Investigator. Wayne died much too early of a heart condition but not before making a significant contribution to the growth of MNRs intelligence and Investigative capabilities. Wayne was also an early mentor of mine. | ||
| McCullaugh | John | Lindsay District (Franz first) | L&F 487, 497 MNR 290 | Started work in late 50's to early 60's. After starting in Franz John worked in the Lindsay District the rest of his career. | |||
| McGilvary | Kenneth, Picard | http://www.obittree.com/obituary/273014/McGilvary-Kenneth.php | 01/Jan/1915 | 27/Jan/2010 | On leaving the RCAF in 1945 he enjoyed a brief period in the Onaping Lake area and soon joined the then Ontario Department of Lands and Forests as a Game Warden. (Conservation Officer) In 1948 | ||
| McKewon | William John (Bill) | McKeown, William John (Bill) passed away at the North Bay General Hospital on Monday, October 30, 2000, after a lengthy illness. Throughout his life he was a avid sportsman. Bill enjoyed fishing, hunting, trap and skeet shooting, and curling. He led many rinks to victory as skip, and was a recipient of the George Stuart Award at the North Bay Trap and Skeet Club. He served 26 years with the Ministry of Natural Resources, before his retirement in 1983. | 26 years | 635 L&F 133 MNR | 19/Jun/1921 | 30/Oct/2000 | not sure where he started but was a conservation officer in the old Thunder Bay District until about 1966; then CO Coordinator in Trout Mills, North Bay District from 1966 to 1969; then Fisheries Management Officer in North Bay from 1969 until his retirement in 1983. From Jim MIlls - I worked at the MNR office in North Bay from 1977 to 1980 in planning. Bill was the F&W supervisor at that time. |
| McKinnon | Walter | Perry Sound | hired on in 1947 | From John Macfie - Walter MacKinnon hired on at Parry Sound in the latter 1940s, later was at Geraldton as trapline mgt. officer, then went with Indian Affairs at Sudbury. He was an air gunner on bombers with the RCAF and was shot down, with minor flak wounds, over enemy territory, and endured the infamous long forced march westward in the winter of 1944-45. Re. his wartime woes, after parachuting to earth he was hidden by the Underground, but a wound to his hand worsened until he had to turn himself in. A German doctor did such a good job of amputating a middle finger that you would not notice he had only three fingers, until he showed you, with a chuckle. | |||
| McLennan | K. A. (Kenneth) | Kemptville | L&F 384 | 04/Aug/1944 | 30/May/2012 | Ken was born August 14, 1944 in Cornwall, Ontario to Angus and Grace McLennan. He started his career as a Conservation Officer in 1966 in Kemptville, Ontario after graduating from the Ontario Forest College. | |
| McWirther | Johnny | Cochrane | MNR 35 | ||||
| Meddows | Ed | Cambridge | L&F 13 | From Gary Tupling - . He worked out of the Hespeler Office in the 60’s. I was president of the Chamber of Commerce in Port Elgin at the time and invited him to give a talk at one of our suppers in 1967. From Richard Manley - F&W supervisor the old Lake Erie district in the 60's. | |||
| Mellick | Oscar | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/1946%20-%20CO%20Oscar%20Mellick_1.JPG | L&F 70 | Sarnia | |||
| Michaud | Lawrence | Espanola | |||||
| Miller | Melville (Mel) Charles | Monetville | 1961 - 1989 | L&F 469 MNR 85 | 19/Jun/1935 | 19-Aug-2011 | Father-in-law to CO Jim Fry - Mel Miller- June 19, 1935 to August 19, 2011. Mel was a hunter, fisher, trapper and sawyer. Started out as a park Superintendent at Finlayson provincial park and then Martin River provincial park. Returned to school at the Ontario Forest Ranger school on Dorset. He was appointed as a Conservation Officer in Monetville in 1961. After Monetville Mel transferred to Espanola and finished his career as a Fisheries Management officer in 1989. I remember him having dual roles as a wildlife and fisheries management officer. And I also remember him being a senior Conservation officer which probably became the CO coordinator as you and I knew it. As a side note Mel was responsible for the start of many CO careers including Ian Anderson and myself. |
| Miller | John (Johnny) | L&F 722 MNR 257 | From Mike Hart - Johnny Miller, CO out of Gananoque, old Kemptville District, then CO Coordinator in the new Brockville District. He was the CO Coordinator for the newly formed Brockville District. Johnny developed the Ganoque Provincial Wildlife Area ( stocked pheasant hunting always good for charges involving hunters from Toronto / Montreal and an assortment of hunting violations ) which now lies idle and abandoned. You would never know now what a busy place it was once was. | ||||
| Monk | Carl E. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Monk_%20Carl%20E..PNG | L&F 105 MNR 203 | 01-Aug-2015 | From Gary Tupling - Carl Monk used to work liaison with the fur auction in North Bay and travelled all over the north—might also have been involved in the deer and moose hide program. I remember him but details are vague. Since I’m 75 and he was older than I. From Bob Swanson - Carl Monk,if my memory is correct, was a senior officer in Sioux Lookout. I used to put gas in his car in the 50’s at the base when I was a student ranger. There is a kids book written about C.O.’s which is dedicated to Carl. Came out in the 60”s. From Michael Kindree - MONK, Carl of Noelville - Peacefully passed away at home on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the age of 87. Loving husband for 60 years to Julie. Beloved father of Joanne, Jeannette, Jacqueline, Jerry and Jim. From Klaas Oswald - Carl Monk was the "Senior Conservation Officer" in the Port Arthur District of the Department of Lands and Forests when I started there in 1969. I don't know if that was an official position, or an unofficial one; it kind of morphed into the Enforcement Coordinator position in the re-org of 1973. From John Macfie - Carl Monk was a CO in the French River region of Sudbury Dist. in the 1950s and 60s. He attended Ranger School in 1954 and finished his career working at Queen's Park. From John McDonald - I think Carl started with Lands and Forests in the French River area as a Game Warden. Carl wasn't very well liked by some of the poachers and one night they pushed him of a cliff in the area of the French River. He survived and was lucky to be alive. Carl then moved to Sudbury District, next to Sioux Lookout, and then to Thunder Bay as Senior Enforcement Officer. He then moved to Main Office in Toronto in the early 70's and then to Cochrane as Regional Enforcement Specialist. He retired from there and moved back to the French River. I could tell some other stories about Carl but will keep them for later. Carl died in 2013-14. |
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| Moon | Dennis Frederick | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Moon_%20Dennis%20F.PNG | L&F 743,440 MNR 152 | From Don Weltz - Dennis worked the Kenora District and attended the OPC in Aylmer in 1975. From Rich Henry - Denis Moon was a CO in Kenora district and retired around 1989. Prior to being a CO he was a hatchery technician in Minaki and was given the CO job when it closed. | |||
| Morriseau | Bill | Kenora | 1968 | L&F 698 MNR 153 | |||
| Mulligan | Daniel Allan (Dan) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/cohistory/websize/1950qus%20_early_%20-%20CO%20D.A.%20Mulligan%20-%20east%20end%20of%20North%20Channel%20-%20Killarney%20area%20-%20Submitted%20by%20his%20daughter.jpg | Sudbury District - 1950-1963 | L&F 162 | 20/Sep/1911 | 24/Jul/1963 | Submitted by his daughter, Patti: Dad, Daniel Allan Mulligan, was born 20 Sept 1911 in Pembroke and passed away 24 July 1963 while working out of the Sudbury L&F Office. Dad served in the Navy during WW II and was also in the Black Watch previous to that. Right after WWII dad and his brothers ran logging trucks up around Ramsey, ON. Dad was in Killarney from around 1947-48 till they moved to Massey in 1954 and in 1961 we moved to Sudbury area where he was till he passed away. |
| Muma | Roy A. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Muma.%20Roy.PNG | L&F 71 | See pictures of Roy Muma in the link to the left #'s 41 - 48. | |||
| Munro | William Ernest | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Munroe_%20William%20Ernest.PNG | L&F 138 | 15/Dec/1964 | Officer William Munro was killed in an automobile accident on Provincial Highway 43 near Winchester, Ontario, when a dump truck crossed into his lane and struck his patrol car. Bill Munro - served for many years in Apple Hill, Glengarry County. He was killed in a highway accident on his way to a meeting in Kemptville by a gravel truck which crested the hill in front and the truck’s tie rod broke. When I first went to court in Rockland, Ontario I introduced my self to Judge Archambeault in his chambers. He told me of the high esteem in which he held Bill Munro. He said in all his years of dealing with Bill in court that Bill had never asked any favours. On the day Bill was killed, Bill asked if his cases could be heard first as he had to get to a meeting in Kemptville. When the OPP delivered a note to him during court proceedings that Bill had been killed he told me he felt so bad he cancelled court for the day. |
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| Munroe | Stanley (Stan) Andrews | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Munroe_%20Stanley%20_Stan_%20Andrews%20.JPG | 1973 - 1990's | MNR 330 | 04/Dec/1944 | 11/Feb/2019 | MUNROE, Stanley (Stan) Andrews, was 74, of Port Morien, Nova Scotia, and a former resident of Owen Sound, passed suddenly the evening of February 11th 2019. Born December 4th, 1944. Stan obtained his Masters in Biology from the University of New Brunswick and was a wildlife biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Owen Sound, Ontario until his retirement in 1997. Stanley was also an appointed Conservation Officer and a Fish & Wildlife Supervisor. |
| Neil | Dan | Aylmer | L&F 74 | ||||
| Nodwell | Sam | Cochrane | L&F 23 | From John Macfie - Sam Nodwell was for a long time, perhaps his entire career, the Senior Conservation Officer for the Cochrane Dist, which then included the present Moosonee Dist. Sam attended the year-long course at the Ranger School in 1954, the year that I did. | |||
| Nunan | Peter | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Nunan_%20Peter.PNG | 33.5 years with L&F and MNR | L&F 129 & 732 MNR 211 | 19/Jun/1929 | 12/Oct/2023 | 94 years old. |
| O'Donnell | Arnold Patrick (Arny) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/cohistory/small/1954%20-%20CO%20Arnold%20_Arnie_%20OquDonnell.JPG | L&F 549 MNR 103 | 26/Feb/1931 | 17-Feb-2013 | Arny was a longtime Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources. He was passionate about the outdoors, loved canoeing, was an avid birder and enjoyed sports particularly baseball and football. Sudbury Levak Patrol area in the 60's, then to Lindsay. He died at age 82. | |
| Olsen | Arnold Rolland (Ole) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Olsen_%20Arnold%20Rolland%20_ole_.JPG | 35 years | L&F 587 MNR 298 | 31/Dec/1938 | 10/May/2019 | Submitted by Bob McGillivray: Work history of Arnold Roland “Ole” Olsen, born December 31, 1928 passed away May 10, 2019 after an illustrious career of 35 years with the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests (1950 – 1971) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (1971 – 1983). Ole began his career in 1950 in Sioux Lookout as a tower man, forest ranger fighting fire, and assisting in building ranger and tower cabins. In 1954 he was appointed as one of one hundred conservation officers in Ontario. Posted at Vermilion Bay. Given a badge, pistol and uniform he was assigned the task of enforcing the game and fish laws in the area from Vermilion Bay to English River, and from Perrault Falls south, to half way to Fort Frances. Later he moved to Sioux Narrows to take over patrolling this area and parts of Lake of the Woods. In 1959 Ole was moved to Kenora and became chief conservation officer supervising the other officers within the Kenora District. It was about this time when Lands and Forest began hiring more officers. 1971 the year of change when Lands and Forest became the Ministry of Natural Resources. New shoulder flashes, blue vehicle became green and white, and the direction of responsibility change from straight law enforcement to components of fisheries and wildlife management. Ole's new title was fisheries management officer. In this position he was responsible for the district lake inventory program, lake surveys, overseeing commercial fishing and baitfish licensing, monitoring, and enforcement, the fish stocking program, and other fishery related duties. During this time the Ontario Government saw the great potential of Tourism and selected Ole to attend the large sport shows in major cities in the United Stated to promote the wonderful fishing and hunting opportunities available in Ontario. Because of his personality Ole soon became known as “Ontario's Ambassador”. This lead to Ole being photographed by the famous photographer “Karsh of Ottawa”, during his cross Canada tour. This photograph appeared as an ad in the New York Times magazine. In 1975 the need to enhance the enforcement component lead to the establishment of several region enforcement specialist positions. Ole was appointed to this position for the Northwest Region. In this position he assisted in developing and improving training programs relater to fish and wildlife enforcement and supervised the enforcement program within the region and in many instances work directly with the officer on special investigations.. At this time officers reported to the District Fish and Wildlife Supervisors. Ole was admired for his dedication, positive attitude, sense of humour and ability to relate to people in all circumstances. "Rest in Peace my friend". From his Family: Dad began an enjoyable and satisfying career of 35 years at the Department of Lands and Forests (later known as Ministry of Natural Resources) as a Forest Ranger at Cedar Lake, then a Conservation Officer, Fishery Management Officer, and finally Regional Enforcement Specialist until his retirement in 1983. |
| Orr | Henry Andrews (Harry) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Orr_%20Henry%20Andrews%20_Harry_.JPG | 18/Nov/1944 | 27/Jul/2019 | I remember Harry when he worked out of the regional office in London in the mid to late 70's. Always had a smile and a kind word. | ||
| Page | Bruce | Napanee | L&F 179, 488 | ||||
| Palmateer | Norm | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Palmateer_%20Nornam%20_Norm_m.JPG | 1950- | L&F 163 MNR 125 | 0-0-1988 | Died at 75 and his badge number was 125. From Mike Thede - Norm worked in Bass Lake Provincial Park. By retired CO Dave Montgomery - Officer Norm Polmateer was a very special human being. He is the only Officer that I know of that did the job of a Conservation Officer with a major disability. One of his arms was half the size of the other and his hand on that arm formed into what looked like a lobster claw, one thumb and the other fingers formed into one finger. In the fall of 1976 Huronia District CO's put on a big push to catch as many jacklighters as possible and send a message out to illegal deer poachers. We were out in force in our respective patrol areas and used an aircraft at night with an experienced pilot and Conservation Officer to spot anyone using a jacklight. Norm specifically requested that he wanted to come and work with me on the first night in my patrol area. I backed my cruiser in to a small road at the top of Mansfield ski club. From there we were high enough that we could look down an entire valley. About 1 am Conservation Officer Dave L Ferguson radioed from the plane that he had spotted a vehicle jacklighting at the end of that valley and it was moving towards our position. We watched them come up the valley and when they reached the highway, they turned north and then turned west on a side road. I raced to the next side road north of them hoping we could cut them off. We were able to get to the end of the road before them and I backed my cruiser into the bush far enough that they would not spot us as they passed us. As they neared our position, before I could say anything Norm jumped out of my cruiser and ran out on the road flagging them down with his flashlight. Norm was 62 and did things the old way that worked for him all those years. The driver accelerated right at him and he would have been hit if he had not taken a dive into the ditch. I quickly picked him up and pursued the vehicle for about a mile and was able to overtake him and cut him off. During that time fuses blew both on my red lights and radio. Officer Ferguson was above us but he could no longer see my red lights and could not communicate with us. Norm was out of the cruiser before I even stopped. I watched him go to the driver's side and with one hand drag him out through his open driver side window and cuff him. I dealt with the other two. An OPP buddy of mine was on duty that night and he found us later on since the plane had communications with Barrie OPP. Norm overheard one of the other men say to me "he is not a very young man is he". Norm replied, "No, but I can f.. king well take care of myself" End of story. It was an honor and a privilege to have known him, worked with him...and to call him my friend. I held his hand as he died at the hospital in 1988. | |
| Paul | David | CO in Elk Lake, Swastika District. Then with OPP and finally retired with Canadian Wildlife Service in Sackeville, New Brunswick. | |||||
| Parker | Gary Andrew | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Parker_%20Gary%20Andrew.PNG | 30 yrs. | MNR 74 | 15/Sep/1952 | 17/Jan/2023 | |
| Payne | Nathanial Robert (Bob) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Payne_%20Nathanial%20Robert%20_Bob_.PNG | L&F 554 | 00-00-1937 | 27/Jun/2021 | From Guy Winterton: I knew Bob through most of my career. I knew he had a CO badge but I never knew him as a CO, only as the biologist on Lake Huron. He was 10 years older than me. During Ken Loftus time as fisheries director a number of great world scale learning sessions were led by Ontario, such as SCOL, PERCIS, and LARS. Ontario held its own versions to bring the knowledge to a wide range of Ontario staff. Probably the best management learning sessions ever. I believe Bob did his masters degree on the Missisagi walleye, and mine was on the moon river walleye. We collaborated with George Spangler from the research station at South Bay Mouth to write a paper for the PERCIS symposium, subsequently published in JFRB of Canada. Bob was extremely knowledgeable and thoughtful and simply a great cheerful guy to be around. I know he will be much missed by family and friends. | |
| Pearson | William, Thomas (Bill) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Pearson_%20William%20%20T.%20_Bill_%20.PNG | 30+ | L&F 689, 747, MNR 159 | 29/Mar/1935 | 17/Apr/2012 | Bill graduated as a Game Warden and Conservation Officer from the school of forestry at Dorset in 1963 and relocated with his young family to Meaford in December of that year. He will be remembered as a dedicated Conservation Officer, a career which he thoroughly enjoyed and often shared with his family. Bill was an enforcement co-ordinator in Owen Sound in the 80's and 90's and on retirement became the mayor of Meaford. One of the better co-ordinators I worked for. He would support you on anything as long as you had the evidence even to the point of investigating the Minister of Natural Resources fishing without having a fishing licence on his person, by (Don Weltz). |
| Peck | William Ralph | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Peck_%20William%20Ralph.PNG | 1950 - 1958 - CO 1950 - 1978 -L&F & MNR | L&F 139 | 24/Sep/1920 | 27/Apr/1995 | Researched and Submitted by: Retiree Rick Stankiewicz: The history of conservation protection in Ontario has a rich and colourful assortment of stories and officers. Of the many officers that make up our collective past, I wish to put the spotlight briefly on one officer from sixty years ago. In the 1990’s I had the pleasure to meet Brian Peck, when he worked for Ontario Parks, as a Partnership Coordinator. At the time I was unaware of his family connection to our collective enforcement history. Many years later it became clear that this connection was a deeply personal and proud one for Brian, as his father was a Conservation Officer, among many other roles in his career with the Department of Lands and Forests (L&F) and the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR). William Ralph Peck’s resource career started around 1946, after his service in WWII with the Royal Canadian Navy. He was stationed in Geraldton District as a Conservation Officer (C.O. #139) from 1950 to November 1954. During this period he attended and graduated from “The Ontario Forest Ranger School of the Department of Lands and Forests” (March 2nd, 1953) and then on to Kemptville District, as a Conservation Officer, from November, 1954 to July, 1958. His patrol area here included the St. Lawrence River (Fig.2) and regular patrols in Rideau I, a beautiful cedar strip launch in the day and what would be a true collector’s item now (Fig.3). Then on to Outlet Beach and Sandbanks Provincial Park as the Park Superintendent from July, 1958 to May, 1960. Then came the move to Parry Sound District, in the old Algonquin Region, as the Park Supervisor from May, 1960 to April, 1973 and his final position was as the Parry Sound, District Manager, in April, 1973 (Fig.4) until he retired on May 31st, 1978. Ralph passed away April 27th, 1995, at the age of 74. |
| Peever | Barry | Sault Ste. Marie | L&F 260 | 20/May/1905 | Killed in a car accident. He attended the Dorset Ranger School in 1964 and worked casual part time in Bancroft until 1966 and then became a CO until his death in 1967. | ||
| Pegg | Robert David (Bob) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Pegg_%20Robert%20David%20_Bob_.PNG | 38 years | 740 L&F 232, 032 MNR | 11/Apr/1948 | 20/Mar/2020 | Worked out of the Wingham District. |
| Perry | Don | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Perry_%20Donald_%20Frederick%20.PNG | L&F 425 MNR 37 | 15/Apr/1905 | 06/Mar/2017 | Went to Ranger school Dorset in 1961. | |
| Perrie | Edward (Eddie | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Perrie_%20Edward%20_Eddie_%20-%201950qus.JPG | L&F 40 | Hired on in 1946 in Geraldton District | |||
| Peterson | Keith | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Peterson_%20Keith.JPG | L&F 232 | From Klaas Oswald - Kieth Peterson was a CO for a fairly short time at Shebandowan in the Port Arthur District, probably about 2-3 years. When he quit in the spring of 1969 to join the Fish Research Station located on Shebandowan Lake, I got his job. Later, he became the warehouseman for the Region Fire Cache at the Thunder Bay Airport. From John Todd - Kieth Peterson graduated from Ranger school Dorset 1965. Took CO Job Shebandowan Thunder Bay District At that time Port Arthur? Late 60s Then at some point transferred into Fire at the Port Arthur Regional Fire center? about 1970/71? I remember him getting several awards from Staff Suggestions concerning fire pumps etc. | |||
| Picotte | Mike | Timmins | Oct 1984 | MNR 417 | 27/Jun/1905 | ||
| Pinney | Gilbert | L&F 741 MNR 68 | |||||
| Powel | Doug | Minden to Lindsay and then to Orono | L&F 387 MNR 291 | Worked his whole carrer in Lindsay District | |||
| Pozzo | Elio August (Al) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Pozzo_%20Elio%20August%20_Al_.PNG | 1950 - 1982 | L&F 189 MNR 305 | 04/Jun/1905 | CO and CO Supervisor, White River District, Franz Headquarters probably from 1950’s to 1973; then Regional Enforcement Supervisor, Sault Ste Marie from 1973 until approx 1982 when he died. From Neil Ayers - Pilot: In 1966, as a newly hired pilot I had the opportunity of flying Pozzo ( as he was known) from the White River base. His no nonsense manner I thought rather intimidating at times, however really he was a good natured down to earth pussycat. One particular fly-in with Premier John Robarts and party involved positioning a couple of canoes in a lake south of White River. The day came and all went as planned except for one incident. Pozzo was in the rear of one canoe guiding and positioning Robarts close to shore as he only fished with a fly rod. As the day wore on the time came to leave I noticed Pozzo’s nose was bleeding. I asked what happened and in his usually no nonsense voice said dam Robarts hooked him in the nose. He asked Poz (as he tore the hook from his nose) you ok….yes sir but under his breath said a few words only Pozzo could say…We laughed after and my comment was, well he had a big target……we laughed about that for years. When Poz moved to the Soo he joined us on deer hunts north of Thessalon, although the hunts were more male bonding…..Great company and many stories told which of course always included Pozzo’s nose hook story. | |
| Prashaw | Bob | http://ocoa.ca/tributes/fallen-officers/conservation-officer-bob-prashaw/ | MNR 499 | 19/Aug/2004 | CO Bob Prashaw from the MNR’s Guelph District passed away on August 19, 2004. He had just returned to the Vineland office from a day’s patrol when he suffered from a massive heart attack. Despite attempts to save him, he died a short time later. He is sadly missed by his family, friends and fellow officers. This is a description of his last day as written by his patrol partner and friend Deputy Conservation Officer Kathy Richardson: “On August 19th, 2004, Bob and I were out checking people fishing at Navy Hall in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Navy Hall is a well known fishing spot on the Niagara River. Bob went down to talk to a couple of individuals who were fishing at the base of the steep embankment. When he came back up, he complained of chest pains, a tightening in his chest. We talked about it, he thought it was nothing, yet he agreed to go to the doctor’s the next day to have it checked out. Because he wasn’t feeling well we returned to the office. I went to my office and he went in to the main office to chat with staff member and close friend Greg Belmore before he left to go home. It was there he collapsed. Emergency 911 was called. Conservation Officer Nelson Denyes was right there and did what he could to assist Bob. CO Nelson Denyes is a volunteer firefighter, I am sure he knew what he was doing, until the paramedics arrived. The paramedics tried several times to restart the heart. He was promptly transported to the Hotel Dieu Hospital in nearby St. Catharines Ontario, where he was pronounced dead. Not only was he a great partner to work with, he was my best buddy, we shared many laughs and sorrows, and neither the office nor the field will ever be the same.” DCO Kathy Richardson Vineland Office Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources | ||
| Pruce | Linda Phyllis | https://www.sootoday.com/obituaries/pruce-linda-phyllis-867672 | MNR 535 | 18/Mar/2018 | Linda was a long time Deputy CO, F&W clerk in Sault Ste Marie and for a time was a CO and supervisor at the PCU in Sault Ste. Marie. | ||
| Purych | Peter | L&F 735 MNR 366 | |||||
| Ramsbottom | Robert (Bob) | Cornwall District (Bancroft) | L&F 180, 447 MNR 260 | From John Downey - Bob was from Bancroft area originally and was the WMO in Cornwall when I was there. From Mike Hart - Bob Ramsbottom, CO in charge of the Alexandria Detachment, old Kemptville District. From Tim Taylor - Bob Ramsbottom was the Detachment Head in Alexandria where I started my career with L&F. I have more stories than I could possibly share about those early years and the wonderful lessons that Bob taught me. Those messages stayed with me for the balance of my career and certainly were a major factor in helping me as I advanced within the organization. | |||
| Reid | John Douglas (Doug) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/large/Reid_%20John%20Douglas%20_Doug_%20_2_.PNG | Tilbury in the Aylmer District and then Kenora District 1972 - 1997 (25 yrs) | MNR 218 | 31/Jul/1944 | 19/Aug/2020 | From the file of Doug Reid: As I recollect I started with the MNR as a CO in Tilbury (Aylmer Dist.) in the spring of 1972. Duties incl. commercial fish and patrolling an assigned area to carry out regular Fish and Wildlife patrols. In Sept. 1973 I transferred to Kenora Dist. As a CO I was assigned to the Sioux Narrows patrol area where I worked with Jack Armstrong or usually by myself. If needed other badge carrying wildlife staff would assist. Duties related to commercial fish, aboriginal commercial fisheries, commercial fur, sports fish, big game, small game incl. waterfowl, various fish and wildlife survey types of activities, forest fires support and other "stuff" throughout the four seasons. I retired in Sioux Narrows in Sept. 1997. From Dave Anderson: Started my CO career with Doug, a senior officer, in the late 70s. Not only was he a keen and smart officer, he was a fair and all around nice guy. He taught me a lot. He will be missed by his family, friends and community of Sioux Narrows. From Dave Kenney: I worked with Doug in the old Aylmer and Chatham Districts in the early 70's. He came to the MNR from the OPP . He was a good C.O, who dealt with people compassionately and sometimes with a great sense of humour. I have many happy memories of working with Doug along the Detroit River, Lake Erie, Lake St Clair and Essex County. After being an OPP Constable in the Niagara area, he returned to school in Lindsay, Ontario, to become a Resource Technician graduating with top marks in his class. Following employment with the Abitibi Paper Company, he worked for 25 years as a Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources….. two years at Jeanette’s Creek near Tilbury and the remainder in Sioux Narrows where he became highly skilled at navigating the waters of Lake of the Woods with its many islands and reefs at any time, day or night, before GPS was available. After retirement in 1997, he continued to keep busy - helping seasonal residents with their cabins, guiding, trapping leeches, measuring snow levels for the M.N.R., and working a trap line. Doug was an avid and successful fisherman and hunter. |
| Rettie | Alex | http://www.muskokaregion.com/news-story/3627677-alex-rettie/ | L&F 131 MNR 180 | 0-0-1023 | 27/Oct/2003 | Alex Rettie was also a former conservation officer who finished his career as a F&W Management Officer (retained his badge). Alex was so fastidious with the cleanliness of his equipment that he would qualify at the range with someone else's sidearm. When I became a contract officer in 83, Alex had just retired. I was issued his .38, original box, original oil paper and there were spots I had to clean off the factory grease | |
| Regan | Thomas (Tom) William | https://www.heubnerfuneralhome.ca/notices/Thomas-Regan | L&F 367 MNR 345 | 28/Jan/1924 | 04/Jul/2018 | From Gary Preston - Tom worked in Whitney in 1964 at the same time Gary worked there. From Tom's Obituary Notice: Tom (94 years of age) worked for most of his life with the Department of Lands and Forest and the Ministry of Natural Resources as a Conservation Officer until he retired in 1984. | |
| Renaud | Brian | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Renaud_%20Brian.PNG | Swastika | L&F 669 | 19/Dec/1948 | 29/Dec/2022 | |
| Rice | Doug | Kenora | 1968 | L&F 394 | From Bob McGillivray - Doug Rice worked in Kenora in the i970’s and was killed while working out on Lake of the Woods in an accident. | ||
| Richards | George | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Richards_%20George%20-%201976.JPG | L&F 448 MNR 69 | From Don Weltz - I worked in Aylmer District from 1975-1979 and had the pleaseure of working with George. George was a WWII vet in the same tank unit as Ken Juck and Ken told me a story of an incident that happened to George one day while at a refuling/rearming centre in Europe. George was down in the tank taking live rounds that were handed to him, one at a time and locking them into their holders when one exploded due to a primer which was proud of the case and when he slamed the base into the holder it applied pressure on the primer and the shell went off. Ken said that they heard the explosion and saw flames shoot out of the turret and thought George was dead but a few seconds later George crawled out of the tank stuned and burned but alive. He was sent back to the local army hospital for treatment and returned several months later to continue the fight. George was always a cheery fellow and had a new joke every time you met him. A great guy and a great kidder. He had my back a few times up at the Fanshaw dam during spring fish runs. | |||
| Richardson | Forest | Lanark District | |||||
| Richardson | Fred Beam | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Richardson.%20Fred%20Beam.PNG | 1950 - early 60's | L&F 89 | 21/Feb/1914 | 18/Apr/1984 | From his son Fred: Hired as Game Warden by Fish and Wildlife Division; Ontario Department of Lands and Forests late 1950 assigned Meaford Patrol where he served until 1953. Assigned to Orillia Patrol 1953 to Circa 1959. graduated from Ranger School at Dorset 1966. Transferred to Parks division Built and was Superintendent of Bass Lake Provincial Park and Mara Provincial park. Retired Early 1960's. Returned to Law Enforcement with Fish and Wildlife after retirement From 12 Nov.1965 to 15 Mar 1966 |
| Rosa | Sergio Samuel (Sam) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Rosa_%20Sergio.PNG | MNR 495 | 00-00-1952 | 30/Sep/2013 | As a long-time Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources, Sam loved the outdoors and was passionate about the conservation of fish and wildlife. | |
| Ross | Joseph Terence (Terry) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Ross_%20Joseph%20Terence%20_Terry_.PNG | L&F 544 MNR 223 | 30/Dec/1928 | 13/Nov/2021 | Born in Gort, Ireland, Terry immigrated to Canada in 1957, leaving a career as a police officer in the Hertfordshire Constabulary to eventually follow his dream and become a Conservation Officer with Lands & Forests and for the Ministry of Natural Resources in Owen Sound. By Don Weltz - I attended the retirement party for Terry in 1988 as I was the officer that replaced him and I remember Terry telling me as a child in Ireland he would sit on his father's knee with an atlas open to Canada and say, some day I will travel to Canada to be a Game Warden which was his childhood dream. | |
| Rusk | Murray Theodore | http://www.logansfuneralhome.com/death-notice/murray-rusk/ | 25 years service | L&F 201, 298 MNR 192 | 00-00-1928 | 25-Mar-2011 | From John Macfie - Murray Rusk was taken on L&F staff at Parry Sound in the 1960s, while I was Senior Conservation Officer for Parry Sound District. Previously he had served with the Toronto police force. Murray worked extensively in the deer range improvement program, and his enforcement patrol area in the latter years included the commercial fishing industry of eastern Georgian Bay. Murray passed away about five years ago. Murray's interest and passion for law enforcement brought him to his early career as a Metro Toronto Police Officer and later 25 years as a Conservation Officer with the Ministry of Natural Resources in Parry Sound. In his 83rd. Year. From Bruce Tomlinson - He was assigned to commercial fish and operated the Karanne II which was a very small fibreglass cabin cruiser. You could set your watch by when and where Murray did his patrols. To the point that, I believe it was Pointe au Baril, he always docked the same way. He's on patrol with Baldwin and Rick is piloting the vessel. Rick docks the opposite side. As always Murray wakes up at 2 in the morning to answer the call of nature and step off the boat where he always steps off. Rick is awaken by the splash and cursing. He was responsible for a lot of the commercial fish duties in Georgian Bay and was heavily involved in winter deer yard work predominately in Shawanaga deer yard. |
| Russell | Samuel Clark | http://ocoa.ca/tributes/fallen-officers/game-warden-s-clark-russell/ | 2 | 18 Mar 1887 | 03/May/1926 | See the Hyper Link to the left for his full and tragic story. | |
| Salar | Peter | http://www.mgdalyfuneralhome.com/index.php?option=com_mtree&task=viewlink&link_id=490&Itemid=43 | L&F 688 MNR 163 | 16/Sep/2015 | Worked in Bancroft. From Fern Blais - Peter Salar lived near L'Amable south of Bancroft on Bay lake I believe. | ||
| Saunders | Frank | L&F 116, 494, 697 MNR 136 | North Bay District – Again I think that he spent his whole career as a CO in the North Bay District with L and F and the Game and Fish Commission retiring in about 1974. I think he started right after the war. He died in the late 1970’s or early 1980’s | ||||
| Schonauer | Kenneth (Ken) John | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Schonauer_%20Kenneth%20_Ken_%20John.PNG | 30 years | L&F 402 | 10/Aug/1937 | 20/Mar/2020 | From Retired CO Peter Aunger: Ken was hired in 1959 by L&F in the Tweed area and held L&F Badge #402 and spent most of his time in Southeastern Ontario. I am told he worked with the late Pat Hogan in the Tweed District in the early days and was a great guy both on and off the job. From Retired CO Ron Harvey: I worked with Ken at Tweed 91 when I first started with the Lands and Forests in 1971. Ken worked fire at that time, he was my unit crew leader, we worked a number of large Northern Ontario fires together, he was a great guy and boss. Ken had been a C.O. prior to that, after the change over to MNR I think Ken went into parks in Eastern Ontario. He was a great family man, and we shared many laughs together. |
| Semotok | Michael John (Mike/MJ) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Semotok_%20Michael%20John%20_MJ_.PNG | Military Service - Served with the Canadian 3rd Army, May 1942 to August 1946. Mike joined his company on the first wave on Juno Beach just after 8 a.m. on June 6th, 1944. Conservation Officer Service 1946 to 1975 starting with L&F and retiring from MNR. | L&F 155 | 24/Oct/1914 | 17/Jan/1993 | Submitted by John Semotok, Mike's son: Born in Pulm Coulee MB in 1914 and Died in Winnipeg MB in 1993. Mike moved with his family from Plum Coulee Manitoba to Sioux Lookout Ontario in 1918 when his father Herman was transferred as the Section Foreman to the railroad section house in Superior Junction east of Sioux Lookout. Mike attended school in Sioux Lookout and worked as a labourer on the railroad then as a truck driver in Winnipeg and a seasonal fishing & hunting guide at a local fishing lodge on Little Vermillion Lake south of Sioux Lookout. Mike volunteered to serve in the Canadian Army and signed up with the Winnipeg Rifles in 1942. He trained in Red Deer Alberta then volunteered to an overseas assignment with the Canadian Motor Corp of the Canadian 3rd Army. He arrived in England in late 1942 and participated in Allied deception of Operation Fortitude by re-painting colours and numbers on Canadian vehicles prior to the invasion of Normandy. Driving a modified M5 half-track vehicle off a landing barge, Mike joined his company on the first wave on Juno Beach just after 8 a.m. on June 6th, 1944. Mike always considered himself very lucky to have survived the fierce battle on Juno Beach and the advance through France, Belgium and Germany. After his company secured the main bridge in Nijmegen, they advanced into Arnhem Holland where the Canadian 3rd Army was received as Liberators on May 5th, 1945 and where Michael met his future bride whom he married in early 1946 before returning to Sioux Lookout in the spring of 1946. Shortly after returning to Sioux Lookout, Mike successfully applied for the position of ‘Game and Fisheries Officer’ in 1946 when he turned in his kaki army green uniform for a new forest green uniform. He served with the new division of ‘Fish and Wildlife’ starting in 1947 and became one of the first newly named Conservation Officers with the Ontario Department of Lands and Forests in 1948. Mike attended the Ontario Forest Ranger School in Dorset in 1950. Over his 29 years, Michael dutifully served as a fish & game enforcement officer; fisheries management officer; fur management officer; hunter safety co-ordinator & instructor; advisor to the previous Ontario Trappers Association; and district forest fire safety officer. One of Mike’s ‘pet projects’ was the muskellunge transplant project which introduced musky fishing to many lakes in the Sioux Lookout District. During this time, he was known to many of his fellow officers and colleagues as ‘Muskie Mike’. Mike retired from the Fish and Wildlife Branch in June of 1975. He enjoyed another 13 years of retirement at their residence on the shores of Abram Lake near Sioux Lookout before relocating to Winnipeg in the fall of 1989. |
| Shannon | John | L&F 182 | 0-0-1923 | 3-Nov-2010 | From John Macfie - John Shannon served as a CO in the White River Dist. in the 1950s, and in the 1960s transferred to the Research Branch at Maple, Ont., acting as a field man under biologist Douglas Pimlott who was studying wolves in Algonquin Park. John passed away at a comparatively young age. From John McDonald - I know John worked in the Sioux Lookout District as a Fur Management Officer but do not know about his careen before that time. He moved to Wildlife Branch in Main Office and did a lot of work studying wolves in Algonquin Park. He was an expert on wolves. Unfortunately I don't think John had a chance to retire before he passed away from cancer. John was a real gentleman and died way too young. | ||
| Shears | Ed | Tweed, Sharbot Lake | L&F 183, 411, 686 MNR 164 | 21/Jun/1905 | From Lorne Hudson - L & F , OMNR . Ed was a veteran , finished up his career in old Tweed District at Tweed 91. I worked L & F with him for about 5 years ? In Frontenac Addington Hastings Counties . Ed gave me this advice. He said" there are twelve prisons around Kingston, and when they get out, they come here " referring to Frontenac /Addington . Ed survived WW 2, but he almost didn't survive life as a CO in Frontenac ! | ||
| Sheldon | Glenn | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Sheldon_%20Glen%20Douglas.JPG | Simcoe District | MNR 166, 181, 466 | 00-00-2007 | ||
| Sheppard | Jim | Sudbury District | L&F 167 MNR 100 | 01/Nov/1929 | 25/Apr/2017 | From Retired CO Dave Kenney: I am sorry to hear of the passing of yet one more of the old C.O.'s from the old Sudbury District. I was hired by Jim when he was assistant supervisor under Charlie Bibby in 1966 after an interview at the Ranger School in Dorset. He and Don Hughson were my early mentors when I began my career in the Levack patrol area. He was an early supporter to get proper recognition for the work that C.O.'s do before there was an O.C.O. A. He and Don were pioneers in SCUBA diving and helped to locate artifacts from the fur trade by diving in the rapids of the French River. He was one of those larger than life people that we meet rarely in life. | |
| Sherk | Hugh | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Retired%20CO%20-%20Hugh%20Sherk%20_2_.JPG | MNR 450 | 30/Jan/1933 | 24-Oct-2011 | Hugh SHERK worked for the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) for many years. Colleagues, friends, all and sundry knew him simply as Hughie. Commencing his public service in the late 1960s with the then Department of Lands and Forests in Pinery Provincial Park, Hugh quickly rose to become park foreman, signing on as permanent staff on September 1, 1972. During a working year, Hugh turned his energy and talent to maintenance and development projects, but his forte came during the main park operating summer season when for years he was the well-known and respected Pinery night foreman. In the early 1970s, a youthful and numerous baby boom generation discovered camping. From the Victoria Day holiday weekend in May until Labour Day, the Pinery attracted substantial numbers of young tenters. On busy summer weekends, it was not uncommon for 5,000 or more campers to populate the large natural environment park on Lake Huron. Unprecedented and often disturbing visitor use incidents resulted, as exuberant young people partied the night away, often clashing with nearby family campers in raucous late-night confrontations over loud music and lewd behaviour. Hugh drew the almost hopeless job of keeping law and order at nights during scenes reminiscent of the worst excesses of the iconic Wild West. With his larger-than-life physical presence, Hugh led a team of security officers to enforce the Provincial Parks Act, a task that was facilitated when the provincial government designated staff as park wardens in the early 1980s. Although armed with more powers of arrest, eviction and the statutory right to charge offenders, park wardens often found themselves diffusing situations through diplomacy and a sense of humour. Hugh was one of the first Ontario provincial park wardens and filled the job admirably. Under his watch, Pinery slowly evolved into a park where visitors had more respect for its significant natural resources and for each other. Hugh played an integral part in this positive change. Throughout his career in Pinery, many summer students looked up to Hughie's example. In 1985, Hugh transferred to MNR's nearby Petrolia Detachment. He served as a conservation officer enforcing primarily fish and game legislation in Lambton County and area and the adjacent Great Lakes waters. After retiring from the Ministry of Natural Resources in 1993, Hugh began a second career as a transport truck driver, reverting to an occupation from his earlier days. Hugh was one of the first Ontario provincial park wardens and filled the job admirably. Under his watch, Pinery slowly evolved into a park where visitors had more respect for its significant natural resources and for each other. Hugh played an integral part in this positive change. Throughout his career in Pinery, many summer students looked up to Hughie's example. | |
| Silva | Harold | 32 years. Hired in 1947 - L&F | L&F 164 MNR 86 | 10/Aug/1914 | 17/Sep/2005 | A Conservation Officer in the Sudbury - Espanola area. Harold was a veteran of the North Atlantic naval campaign and after VE day, served in the North Pacific. He was boat captain and Conservation Officer for Ontario Department of Lands and Forests (subsequently the Ministry of Natural Resources). He worked out of Espanola and Little Current until his retirement in 1979 when he moved to Sault Ste. Marie. | |
| Silver | Kirk Anthony | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Silver_%20Kirk.PNG | 11 years | MNR 321 | 00-00-1971 | 02/Apr/2013 | He was a member of the O.C.O.A. Executive and an avid Toronto Maple Leafs Fan. Kirk had a true passion for the outdoors. He was a skilled fisherman and excellent hunter. The true light of his life was his family especially his wife and boys, who gave his life meaning. |
| Simpson | John Abernethy | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Simpson_%20John%20Abernethy.PNG | L&F 684 | 13/Aug/1936 | 06/Apr/2021 | ||
| Slater | Daniel (Dan) Edward | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Slater_%20Daniel%20_Dan_%20Edward%20_2_.PNG | 32 years | 497 MNR | 21/Apr/1957 | 15/Dec/2019 | Slater, Daniel E. (Dan) - CO Badge C497 appointed June 1, 1987 Cochrane District MNR. DCO Badge D482 appointed July 1983 Napanee District MNR. Contract Positions: 1980 – Park Warden, Halfway Lake Park, Sudbury District; 1981 – Fisheries Technician, Bancroft District; 1982 – 1987 Wildlife Technician/Deputy CO, Napanee District. Permanent Staff Positions (CO appointment throughout): 1987 – 1998 Conservation Officer, Cochrane District; 1998 – 2002 Conservation Officer, Algonquin Park; 2002 – 2007 Compliance Systems Specialist, Main Office Peterborough; 2007 – 2015 Provincial Intelligence Specialist, Main Office Peterborough. Retired Dec. 31, 2015. Notes: SSFC 1979-1981. Member of computer development teams for CO’s from pre-CAVRS in early 1990’s through to Niche RMS in 2014. Member of first start-up team for PCC/PCU in 1995 and author of CO LOG database application. CAVRS Administrator 2004-2007 and Niche Administrator 2014-2015. Developed first Nuisance Beaver partnership with Cochrane Area Fur Council in 1992 which was modelled after province-wide by other MNR Districts/Trapper’s Councils. OCOA Regional Rep for Northeast Region 1992-1996, and author of OCOA website in 2001. OCOA Webmaster for 14 years. MNR’s CO of the Year Award in 2002 and OCOA Life Saving Awards in 2000 & 2001. Author of MNR’s firearms tracking application (Agency GunTrack) in 2004 and several other corporate enforcement databases. MNR’s Designate to CISO (Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario) 2007-2015. |
| Smith | Robert Blake | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/9Smith_%20Blake.JPG | 32 years | L&F 453 MNR 230 | 03/Jul/1931 | 13/Nov/2008 | In 1960, Blake began his 32-year career as a conservation officer with the Ontario Department of Lands & Forests (now the Ministry of Natural Resources). He had great integrity and risked his job on several occasions by refusing to follow orders which he considered to be ill-advised, e.g. refusing to allow a provincial park to be sprayed with DDT, which was the practice in those days. He was given an ultimatum but stood firm, and the chemical was banned shortly thereafter. Blake was a truly unique person – what you saw was exactly what you got. In 1979 he was transferred to Owen Sound, where he worked as a Conservation Officer, then as Fish and Wildlife Management Officer until his retirement in 1992. He was then free to work on his beloved outdoors environment without the constraints of secrecy imposed by government bureaucracy. Blake was past president and life member of the Sydenham Sportsmen’s Association, a director of the Sydenham Conservation Foundation, Chairman of the Ontario Federation of Anglers & Hunters Zone H Native Affairs Committee, a member of the Rankin Resource Group, the Grey/Sauble Arboretum Committee, the Shallow Lake Advisory Committee, the Grey County Forestry Management Advisory Committee, a member of the Ontario Forestry Association, Chairman of the SSA Forests, Wetlands and Wildlife Committee, a member of Ducks Unlimited and more. Extremely knowledgeable on many aspects of the natural environment, Blake has been described as a man of "great integrity". "His entire life was intensely devoted to the preservation and enhancement of nature for all creatures, for humans and birds, from large animals to insect life. He worked tirelessly to preserve and create habitat for all wild creatures." |
| Smith | Ed | Orangeville | L&F 84 | ||||
| Spence | Chester | L&F 85 | |||||
| Spratt | Clifford (Cliff) Norman | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Spratt_%20Clifford%20Norman%20_Cliff_.JPG | L&F 711 | 03/Aug/2019 | Passed away at the age of 74. | ||
| Sprigings | Ronald (Ron) Marvin | Cornwall District | MNR 311 | 02/Jul/1905 | From Ron Fabian - Ronald Marvin Sprigings passed away in 2010. He worked as a C.O. In the old Cornwall district, Tweed and then Peterborough after amalgamation. | ||
| ST. Jules | Sylvio Joseph Zachary | L&F 630 MNR 146 | 00-00-1033 | 23/Sep/2010 | Not sure where he was a CO but think it was either Kap or Hearst and perhaps other places before that. He was Fisheries Management Officer in North Bay from 1965 to 1969; Conservation Officer Coordinator in Temagami Chief Ranger Division from 1969 to 1973 and Fish and Wildlife Supervisor in the new Hearst District from 1973 until his retirement in about 1987. He was a wonderful man!! | ||
| St. Pierre | Wilfred Joseph (Bill) | http://www.mcguintyfuneralhome.com/notices/WILFRED-Pierre | 40 years | L&F 127 | 03/Jan/1910 | 03/Mar/1996 | North Bay District working out of Sturgeon Falls for his entire career (I believe) starting at the end of the war with the Game and Fish Commission and then L and F and retiring in about 1970? I am not sure when he died. |
| Stock | C. J. Stuart (Stu) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Stock_%20C.%20J.%20Stuart%20_Stu_.jpg | MNR 144 | 27/Feb/2020 | Worked out of Stonecliff on the east side of Algonquin Park. | ||
| Stewart | Jack G. (White Haired Jack) | Tweed | L&F 327 | ||||
| Stiver | Robert (Bob) Francis | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Stiver_%20Robert%20_Bob_%20Francis.JPG | MNR 259 | 0-0-1948 | 09/Jun/2019 | ||
| Strachan | John Arnold | 30 years | L&F 569 MNR 262 | 04/Mar/1939 | 24/Nov/2022 | ||
| Sturgeon | Glen Dalton | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Sturgeon_%20Glen%20Dalton%20.JPG | MNR 461 | 16/May/2004 | Passed away at his home at the age of 65. Hired on in Wingham District | ||
| Thibideau | Jack | Bancroft | L&F 186 MNR 155 | ||||
| Thompson | William (George) | http://www.rainyriverrecord.com/node/1135 | 1958-1986 (28 yrs) Rainy River | MNR 278 | 25-Oct-1935 | 26-Jan-2004 | When I started in Fort Frances in 1985, George was working out of Rainy River. I only worked with him for 6 months. He was an old time game warden who loved to be in the bush and catch bad guys. The MNR gave him a brand new dodge van as a patrol vehicle. He took out the back seats and used the space to drive his snow machine or 3 wheeler in. He would also sleep there during his overnight patrols. His last major investigation involved a night hunting case. The poacher was one of those guys that even the police were scared of. When George caught him night hunting the poacher ran from his vehicle into the bush. It was everything we could do to keep George out of the bush, pursuing this guy. He got caught and plead out in court. It was the last time to my knowledge a poacher ever lost his 1/2 ton to the crown. George wanted to park it in front of the guys house and burn it. Just to send a message. It was a different job back then. Even the poachers were different. The younger officers don't understand. I was the only MNR guy to attend his funeral. I did so in full uniform. I said a few words in his honor. His family was glad I did. I also gave them a framed scanned picture of George's graduating class at Dorset. I was going to give it to George but he passed before I could. One memory that sticks out is that eighteen years after he got let go, just before his death, I visited him in assisted living apartment. He met me at the door in a brand new pair of brown CO pants. The wool ones that we all wore on those hot summer days on patrol. Were he got them, I will never know. |
| Thompson | Cliff | L&F 142 | Cliff Thompson was a WWII veteran and F&W Deputy (CO Coordinator) in the old Kemptville District. He worked out of the Westport Detachment. Cliff passed away - still on the job - in 1973, I think. I was working as a CO in Bourget at the time and recall going to his funeral. Earl Lemke worked with Cliff in Westport and Earl would know about Cliff. | ||||
| Toll | John Alexander | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Toll_%20John%20A.%20%20.PNG | 1960 - 1986 Niagara District and worked out of the Dunnville Office | L&F 383 MNR 71 | 31/Jan/1930 | 10/Nov/2011 | From Ron Harvey: - John was a Conservation Officer in the Niagara District and worked out of the Dunnville Office in the old Lake District prior to that. Before beginning his career with the Department of Lands and Forests, John was a Ontario Provincial Police Officer. John obtained his B.A. in Geography from Brock University late in life and was very proud of his accomplishment as was his family and the Officers in the old Niagara District. |
| Toth | Richard Ignac | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Toth_%20Richard%20.PNG | Lake Simcoe Forest District & Huronia Dist. | L&F 533 MNR 105 | 25/Sep/1935 | 20/Oct/2020 | From Retired CO Gerry Haarmeyer: Richard was a Conservation Officer in the Lake Simcoe Forest District in 1968 when I started out as an officer out of Maple for The Department of Lands and Forests. He became that District's Fisheries Management Officer and with reorganization to The Ministry of Natural Resources he became the Fish and Wildlife Management Officer for Huronia District and he retired from that position. We worked alongside each other on many occasions on the Nottawasaga River and in Holland Marsh. |
| Townes | Murray Arnold | https://www.orilliamatters.com/obituaries/townes-murray-arnold-1120817 | L&F 289 MNR 123 | 00-00-1933 | 12/Nov/2018 | Murray worked in the Maple District. | |
| Townes | Lorne George | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Townes_%20Lorne%20George.PNG | MNR 12 | 0-0-1935 | 27/Jan/2019 | Lorne Townes, retired Fish & Wildlife Supervisor, Nipigon District, and Provincial Firearms Instructor, passed away on Sunday, January 27, 2019. - From Klaas Oswald: I worked for Lorne for two years, from the Re-Organization of 1973 when the Nipigon District of MNR was formed (out of parts of the old Port Arthur and Geraldton Districts), to when I left in the summer of 1975. Lorne became the new Fish and Wildlife Supervisor at that time.The one story I remember from that time, and not with many details, is that when he was still living in Beardmore before he moved to Nipigon, he was driving to church in Nipigon one Sunday morning during the moose season. Naturally he had a rifle in the pickup truck. On the way he saw a moose beside Hwy 11 standing on a little rock cut or rise of some kind. He shot it, backed the pickup into the roadside bank, and pulled the moose down into the truck. No fuss, no muss, no bother, didn't (apparently) even have to change out of his Sunday clothes. | |
| Trodd | Lionel Lenord | http://www.obittree.com/obituary/958999/Trodd-Mr-Lionel.php - Thunderbay | 35 yrs. | L&F 586 MNR 081 | 07/Sep/1930 | 2-Aug-2014 | For 35 years he was a Conservation Officer first with Lands and Forests, badge 586, and eventually the Ministry of Natural Resources, badge 081. In 1950 he began his career in Kapuskasing as a rookie. After completing his training in the Forest Ranger School in Dorset in 1953 he returned to Kapuskasing as a full-fledged CO. He was transferred to Espanola in 1958, then to Pembroke in 1966 and finally Terrace Bay were he ended his career in 1985. He was proud of the work he did and enjoyed the outdoor life even after his retirement. Fishing, hunting, bird watching, canoeing, camping and berry picking with Lou were his favourite things to do. His family meant everything to him and family gatherings were where he was at his very best. His sense of humour and his love of story telling will be sorely missed by all of us. |
| Trotter | Robert Harrison (Bob) | Hired in 1948 | L&F 98 | Hired on in Kemptville 1948 | |||
| Trotter | Sanford Enoch | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Trotter_%20Sanford%20E..JPG | Hired in 1959 | L&F MNR 295 | 00-00-1936 | 19/Jun/2021 | From Retiree Paul Brinkman: Sanford started with Lands and Forests as a tower observer in Apsley and spent his entire career in Apsley in the old Lindsay District then Bancroft District at reorganization of 1973. |
| Trumble | Floyd | L&F 676 MNR 39 | |||||
| Turner | Bruce | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Turner_%20Bruce%20-%201957.JPG | L&F 125 MNR 264 | From John Strachan - Bit of an update on Bruce Turner, he was in Kemptville as a wildlife management officer when I moved to the district 1n 1967, may brother went to Masonic Lodge with him for a number of years , he passed away a few years ago. From John Macfie - Bruce Turner was a CO in the Whitney area of Pembroke Dist in the 1950s, and transferred to Gogama Dist. as Trapline Management Officer in 1957. In the 1960s Bruce moved to Kemptville District, where he completed his career. From Glenn Warren - Kemptville District office for many years after a stint in Gogama. Bruce was a close family friend and he was responsible for getting me interested in a career with MNR as a CO and Fisheries and Wildlife Management Officer. I worked for Bruce as a summer student back in 1969 and 1970. | |||
| Tuvi | Harry | From Stan Woodside - Harry Tuvi started with Lands & Forests in 1956 at the Mobert Chief Ranger base out of the White River District . The last I remember of him , he was working for Fisheries Research branch out of Maple (mid to late 60s} . From Wray McQuay - I believe he was a CO in the Lindsay / Bobcaygeon area. | |||||
| Van Rooyen | Adrian | http://www.obittree.com/obituary/45469/VAN-ROOYEN-Mr-Adrian.php | L&F 590 | 03/Dec/1939 | 22/Apr/2004 | Born December 3, 1939 in Harmelen Holland, he immigrated to Canada in 1948 where his family settled in St. Catharines Ontario. When he was 19, he joined the Department of Lands & Forests which brought him to Northwestern Ontario. Later he worked as a Forest Ranger and Conservation Officer throughout the Northwest. He was the Assistant Superintendent of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park and Quetico Provincial Park and in June 1993, he retired as Senior Land Technician. After his "official retirement, he also worked for Home Hardware and the Boy Scouts of North America. | |
| Van Wout | Bert | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Van%20Wout_%20Bert.PNG | Kemptville & Cornwall Districts | L&F 694 MNR 23 | 21/Apr/1947 | 07/Oct/2023 | Rembered by Retiree Dave Booth: We went to Ranger school together and we spent three months living in a tent doing lake surveys in Sudbury district. He was a true gentleman. From Retiree Steve Aubry: worked in Kemptville District as well as the former Cornwall District. He was a wealth of knowledge, a mentor to many new officers and will be missed. Remembered by Gordon W. Johnson Retired C.O. 219. It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing of retired Kemptville Conservation Officer Bert Van Wout. The first time I meet Bert was at the first controlled moose hunt in Ontario, which will be exactly 45 years ago on Monday November 13, 2023. The hunt was held at Larose Forest 70 Kilometers east of Ottawa. I along with many ministry staff and Conservation Officers in the former Eastern Region were assigned to this five day event. Bert later wrote a very descriptive account of the event titled "Ontario's first controlled moose hunt" in the Ontario fish and wildlife Review Vol. 18, No 2, 1979. In the spring of 1992 I transferred into the Brockville District and was able to become reacquainted with Bert. In January 1997 with the closing of the field offices of Brockville, Cornwall, and Lanark Districts, I was assigned to the new head office in Kemptville. My office mate was Bert. I found Bert to be very knowledgeable on both fish and wildlife matters. During casual conversations in the office and during joint patrols and investigations Bert disclosed that he had graduated from Dorset and had obtained a Conservation Officer position in Sudbury where he met his wife. He later resigned to attend University to become a biologist. After graduating, Cornwall District hired Bert as a Conservation Officer with biology responsibilities. Bert had a high degree of knowledge and always showed good practical judgement and common sense. He was patient with the public and they trusted him. He always showed respect to other officers, ministry staff and their opinions. Bert had the best job in the world. "A Respected Conservation Officer". Your colleague Gordon W. Johnson |
| Varrin | Peter, "Wayne" | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Varrin_%20Peter%20Wayne%20_2_.PNG | 30 Years (1968 to 1998) | L&F 719 MNR 173 | 08/Apr/1949 | 16/Feb/2020 | From Kevin Barber: Wayne was my Supervisor in Chapleau(Foleyet), he was great to work for and did everything in his power to get us everything we needed. From Retiree Peter Burkhardt: I was a CO in Nipigon when Wayne arrived from Napanee in the mid-70s. In many ways, he was one of the smartest people I ever met. His ability to absorb, process and retain information was exceptional. We gave Jan and Wayne a cuckoo clock for their wedding. At the shivaree, someone tried to make red Jell-O in their bathtub. A couple of years later Wayne promoted to points east till he returned to Thunder Bay as the Regional Enforcement Specialist. We worked a couple of doors apart while I was with the LSFMU. He was trying hard to second me to his shop but he was promoted to Peterborough instead. Perhaps just as well; working for him might have spoiled things. We were always close, talking by phone every month or two when we lived a thousand miles apart. He invited me to his deer camp in Griffith which I accepted three times. We never drew blood but always had a heck of a fine time. Wayne’s son Ryan was on one of those hunts and I got to know him better. Mike Kindree was on another, so I got to know him better. As couples, we’ve stayed in each other's homes. Our phone calls ran the gamut from shoptalk to politics, wives, kids, eventually grandkids, religion, illness as his progressed, Drambuie, the Dallas Cowboys, why he needed a computer and old friends. Oh... and curling. I knew to check if curling was on TV before calling him. We’ll never see a curling game again without thinking of Wayne. I'll miss those phone calls. He was a very good friend. I can’t imagine how hard this is on Jan, Gina and Ryan. I know he loved and was proud of all of them. From Retiree Rick Stankiewicz: I only really got to know Wayne when I moved to Main Office in Peterborough in May of 1995. Prior to this I had only run into him at courses, training or workshops. I knew he was a character, but then I learned the truth of it. He was an Ottawa Valley boy and when he told a story and he poured on the “Valley” accent, you were in stitches. Besides his sense of humour, I will remember Wayne for a few things. He was a straight shooter who didn’t suffer fools well. He was a collector of all things Lands & Forests and he was the only person I know, to survive a run-in with an airplane propeller. It was a good thing he was wearing his uniform “peaked cap” at the time ;-) .The crease down the top of his head was proof enough and hard to hide, given there was not much on top to hide it, if you know what I mean. Wayne was “follicle-ly challenged”, so only a hat could hide his “war wounds”. To say that computers were “not his thing”, would be putting it mildly. Wayne struggled with technology. Every time I see a cartoon of someone in an office sitting getting so frustrated they take a shotgun to the computer screen or simply throw it out the window, I chuckle and think of Wayne. Not that he ever did those things, but you know he wanted to. Even after retirement, Wayne never embraced technology. If you wanted to contact Wayne…you phoned. Wayne loved to hunt and fish and luckily he had many years of this after he retired, especially living in Lake St. Peter. However, back and leg issues slowed him down in recent years and it was painful to see. Wayne is in a better place now and he is finally, out of harm’s way and no technology required. |
| Vince | Alfred H. | https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/162261830/alfred-h.-vince | Hespeler | 143 | 00-00-1908 | 00-00-1961 | |
| Vozeh | George, Edward | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Vozeh_%20George%20Edward.JPG | Sault Ste. Marie | L&F 261 MNR 320 | 0/0/1927 | 16/May/2019 | From Luke Lizotte: George came to Canada from Czechoslovakia and used to tell me stories when he was in the military there. He was famous for the Hot Rod pepperettes he liked and his vodka with a bit of blue food colouring in it he would bring back to Ontario from Sault Michigan in empty windshield washer fluid jugs. He was always good for some Game Warden stories from the gold old days when ever Jack Hotson and I would drop in to visit him. Rest in peace George and thanks for the stories. From Brenda Marshall, daughter of 96 year old Retiree Fred Marshall: In 1964 George drove down from the Sault in a Volkswagen bug with a moose strapped on top of it to visit my dad and they played cards and told old stories. |
| Wainio | Allan A. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Wainio_%20Alan%20A.PNG | Maple District | L&F 706 MNR 377 | 15/Jan/1935 | 15/Nov/2019 | Gerry Haarmeyer: Al Wainio was the district biologist for the Lake Simcoe District of The Department of Lands and Forests out of Maple when I joined L&F as a Conservation Officer in January of 1968. He was an energetic,individual full of drive and very keen on fisheries and wildlife projects. He always encouraged the officers to get involved in such projects and and encouraged us to write up reports on them. He headed up Project Doorstep Angling in Toronto and was heavily involved in the Coho stocking project on Lake Ontario. I remember tagging Georgian Bay walleye at Port Severn, electro shocking the Holland River , banding ducks in Holland Marsh, paddling the Credit River and doing a fishery assessment of Duffins Creek with Al. He encouraged me and other officers to write reports and take photographs/slides of the projects that we were involved in. This practice built up an excellent slide library for the District and gave us a great resource when we had a public speaking engagement . Al was on the editorial committee of Ontario fish and wildlife Review along with F.P. Maher, L.J.Tiller, and L. Whistance-Smith in the 1970s. From Paul Dreyer: Met Al in 1969 @ Maple. He had just started vegetarianism, hence the nickname "Avocado Al". Al lived with and looked after his blind mother until she passed away. He married Mary and they had a daughter Sherry. Al ran the fisheries portion of the F&W certificate course trying to educate some of us. Al was the driving force on this side of the lake for Salmon stocking in Lake Ontario. He also sought C.O.'s opinions and took them into consideration before doing any fisheries or wildlife mgmt. His other accomplishments with the Ministry would be too onerous to list. After MNR Al bought a cottage in Haliburton. He sold aecia juice. He also was a movie buff and appeared as an extra in a few films shot around Toronto. Al was also a book collector. His other hunting buddy was Alex Smith (Huronia). Al shot an elk one year in Colorado with Smith. I was fortunate enough to be given some of that precious commodity. |
| Walker | Harry | L&F 520 | From John Macfie - Capt. Harry Walker, formerly a Great Lakes ship's captain, assumed charge of the Georgian Bay patrol vessel "Karanne" in the latter 1960s, after the passing of Capt. Alvin Dube. He was appointed as a conservation officer with the responsibility of enforcing commercial and sport fishing law. All of his service took place in Parry Sound District. Harry passed away several years ago. | ||||
| Walroth | Arthur (Art) Elwin | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Walroth_%20Arthur%20_Art_%20Elwin.PNG | 35 years (1948-1983) | L&F 21 MNR 359 | 00-00-1926 | 13/Apr/2020 | At the age of 94. |
| Walroth | Deb | Gogama | |||||
| Warner | Garry D. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Warner_%20Garry%20D.PNG | MNR 205, 300 | 22/Apr/1949 | 14/Jul/2001 | From Al Giesche - Garry graduated SSFC in 1971. Garry became a CO in Niagara (under myself). He transferred to Tilbury in 1982 and specialized in Commercial Fish, again under myself. His office moved to Wheatly and he was part of the first Lake Unit with me. He passed away after a long battle with cancer in the 90s. There is a Lake Erie Patrol Boat named after him. From Ron Harvey - Gary and I worked together in the Niagara District from 1979 to June of 1982 when we transferred to Tilbury and began to work Commercial Fish Enforcement with Al Giesche as our Supervisor, Gary and I continued to work together until December of 1990 whey I transferred to Bracebridge. I was once asked in a job interview who was the best CO I had ever worked with and why, I replied Gary Warner, I always knew where Gary was going to be, about 3 feet in front of me. Gary certainly was the best Officer I ever worked with and a best friend, there are very few days I don’t think about Gary. | |
| Watson | Merle T. | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Watson_%20Merle%20T.%20_1_.PNG | 1947 - Sault Ste. Marie | L&F 150 | |||
| Watts | William (Bill) | Parry Sound - Byng Inlet | L&F 117 | From John Macfie - William "Bill" Watts joined the Dept. following WW2, and served his entire CO career in the Byng Inlet area of the Parry Sound Forest District. | |||
| Whitefield | George Boyd | http://obittree.com/obituary/ca/ontario/thunder-bay/sargent-and-son-ltd/george-whitefield/2790207/ | Port Arthur - 1946 | L&F 203 | 07/Apr/1920 | 04-Dec-2016 | From John Macfie - George Whitefield was appointed trapline management officer for the Port Arthur District about the same time that I was for the Patricia Central District.Most such appointments, like George's, came from the C/O ranks, but I entered F&W by a side door, following one year on seasonal staff at Parry Sound. George was a tank commander with the rank of Leutenant in WWII and served in France where he was Knighted for his service by the French Government. https://www.tbnewswatch.com/local-news/tank-commander-receives-french-knighthood-406665 |
| Williams | Robert D. (Bob) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Williams_%20Robert%20D.PNG | Kenora District - Minaki Office - Dryden 1967 - 1997 | L&F 230 MNR 154 | 18/May/1947 | 25/Sep/2020 | Moved to Dryden 1972 retired Sept. 1997. School Doreset Jan. 1967 to Dec 1967. water patrol Dryden on. |
| Wilton | Michael Livinstone (Mike) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/Wilton_%20Michael%20_Mike_%20Livingstone.PNG | L&F 280, 451 MNR 338 | 14/May/1937 | 27/Oct/2022 | From Retiree Bruce Tomlinson: It was with sadness I viewed the news from Don of Mike Wilton’s death. I had not seen or spoken with Mike since the 1990s. Life got in the way and it was my loss. In reflection, I owe a lot to Mike; for his mentoring and for setting me on my career path. There are several of his philosophies I carried through my career and to this day teach to students at Sault College. Much of this ideology originated from long discussions late at night with Mike. Mike was a biologist 20 years ahead of his time and some of his Fish and Wildlife management practices did not sit well with the “old guard”. He believed that management needed to be science based, not based on a whim or the flavour of the month. If you were going to express an opinion on how to resolve an issue you had better be prepared to demonstrate you had researched the topic and explored various options. Mike was very outspoken with some of the ongoing issues in Muskoka. This ran him into conflict with senior managers as well as politicians. When I first met Mike in 1974, I was an ideological teenager with leanings towards environmental issues. My Secondary School principal being somewhat progressive had introduced a novel concept. Students were able to earn a credit towards their diploma by engaging in an independent study in a topic of their choosing. My science teacher suggested that if I was to do some environmental study that I should focus my attention on a specific ecosystem. He arranged for me to meet Mike and our friendship developed from there. Back then, I didn’t have a clue that conservation officers even existed. It was Mike who suggested that in addition to studying “Cooper’s Pond”, perhaps it would be worthwhile to do ride-alongs with officers. This was when I initially met Jim Poirier and Doug Marshall. During the mid-70’s, the Lake Trout populations in the Muskoka River watershed were in trouble. Of course, stocking was the order of the day and it would save the trout. Mike didn’t share this opinion, there were other factors which needed to be looked at such as overexploitation, or eutrophication of these cottage lakes. Dumping a different strain of fish on top of an existing population in his mind would be catastrophic. Mike had his own theory and thus the late nights. The Lake Trout lakes were treated as reservoirs. Typically, in late November, both the Hydro companies and MNR would lower many of these lakes (by almost as much as 2 metres) ahead of freeze-up. Lake Trout spawn on rocky shoals in late October, early November. It was a pretty good hypothesis that the drawing down of the lakes was leaving the eggs high and dry. “Speculation” he was told, and further, the cause was probably those illusive, unnamed poachers spearing the fish at night. Mike would sometime pick me up or other times I would meet him at his home in Port Sydney. Much of our time was spent on the spawning shoals on Mary Lake. We would canoe out after dark; often on a calm night we would find the fish by just floating and listening. At the height of spawning the trout would quite often be in so shallow, their backs would be out of the water. Mike always had his badge and .38 S&W revolver in his packsack. During my seasons with him, at night, on various lakes, we never encountered another soul let alone the unnamed poachers. More work needed to be done, I recall once being his safety person standing on the ice while he went scuba diving, looking for eggs amongst the rock rubble. On one occasion I got the three pulls on the rope when his regulator froze. Come Spring as soon as the ice freed from shore, Mike would be out again, this time photographing eggs left high and dry after drawdown had occurred. He had his proof but a lesson we all learned at some point in our careers was, that even if it feels good, never tell a more senior manager, “Told you so”. It would be many years before a comprehensive agreement setting the latest dates for lake drawdowns was put in place. The theory being, the lakes should be at the winter levels before spawning occurs. It is worthy of note, that Mike did all this trout work on personal time, there were many occasions where we came off the lake well past midnight and Mike would be at his office the following morning. Shortly after all the Lake Trout fallout, Mike left the Bracebridge office and became the Regional Big Game Biologist at the Huntsville office. Change in time and location did not temper the warrior biologist. Deer populations were crashing and the solution was to “feed’ them in the winter. Mike’s position was, this was a recipe for disaster, until the habitat was properly managed on a long-term basis any increase in the deer population was artificial. And then along came a new nemesis, the Muskoka/ Parry Sound Deer Protection Association, a group that would do QANON and conspiracy theorists proud. The deer population in central Ontario was collapsing because MNR personnel had bred and introduced a super Wolf to Algonquin Park. Now it had spread beyond the park and killing “their” deer. The answer was for every able-bodied hunter and the duty of every government official to kill every wolf because once they ran out of deer, they would turn on humans. I recall engaging in a conversation with one of these individuals; relying on old Muskoka folklore, “Shouldn’t our priority first be to deal with the Fisher population? Too many and they will start entering homes and stealing newborn babies.” Another life lesson, sometimes satire is wasted on some individuals. Mike invariably asked for proof of the allegation of this genetic experiment. Of course, it came down to “Someone told someone who told me that a member of the government “in-the-know” told them”. But it was another CLM (Career Limiting Move) for Mike. He stood behind his principles even though he probably knew that locally, the MPSDPA was a powerful lobby group and had the ear of the local Member of Parliament. Since I was doing so many ride-alongs, in 1978, Mike thought it was appropriate that I should be a Deputy Conservation Officer. I was issued my first Deputy Badge 0017. In the background I knew Mike had gone up against the old boys’ school at Regional Office. Many believed a then 20-year-old should not be carrying a Deputy Badge. Mike could also quietly work the backrooms of power; I am sure he had his hand in the mix when I was offered a position as a contract Conservation Officer in the Minden District in 1983 (C465, my career badge would be C467). Many of us will remember Mike from various Conservation Officer workshops. In the early 1990’s Mike was the “Project Biologist” out of the Regional Office. In 1991 there was the fatal mauling of 2 campers by a bear in Algonquin Park. Mike was assigned to dig further into Black Bear behaviour. As always, Mike went with the approach of collecting fact-based evidence. Emotions were running high and observations such as the presence of a bear guarding two bodies in itself was not proof that it was that bear that did the killing. This comment was not well received. What Mike did discover was the void of basic biological data concerning Black Bears. Items such as, “from time of ingestion how long does it take for the item to move through a bear’s digestive tract?” was an unknown. Through science- based observations Mike sought out this information. Any field conservation officer whom I spoke to that knew Mike had the highest of respect for him. I hope that in his retirement he pursued some of his interests such as managing his own little piece of wilderness and becoming at one with the land. He fought the good fight, stood behind his principles and did not waiver, now it is time to rest in peace. |
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| Windsor | R. D. (Reg) (Bullhead) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/small/Windsor_%20R.D.%20_Bullhead_%20-%201950qus.JPG | L&F 126 | From John Macfie - Reg Windsor I believe joined the Game & Fisheries Dept. in the 1920s, serving first in the Lindsay Forest District, then at Port Arthur (Thunder Bay), where he was Senior Conservation Officer during the 1940s and '50s. | |||
| Winters | Claude | Prince Edward County | L&F 187 | 17/May/1905 | As a result of a vehicle accident | ||
| Wissell | August | North Bay | L&F 107 | ||||
| Woodside | Stanley Bruce (Stan) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Woodside_%20Stanley%20Bruce%20_Stan_%20.PNG | 1955 - 1991 36 yrs. | L&F 534 & 540 MNR 243 | 15/May/1938 | 23/Oct/2020 | Submitted by - Courtney Thompson, Kevin and Darren Woodside and Retired CO Will Samis: Stan was born and raised in Scarborough where his Dad, who had immigrated from Northern Ireland, worked at A V Roe. In 1955 when Stan was 17, he traveled to White River pretending to be 18, and hoping to get a job with Lands and Forests. They weren't hiring so he went back to the train station to purchase a ticket home. That's the same station where Winnie the Pooh was purchased by soldier/veterinarian Dr. Harry Colebourn about 40 years earlier. Fortunately, before the train arrived there was an urgent need for fire fighters (EFF) and they went to the train station and hired Stan. He stayed employed with Lands and Forests and MNR for 36 years retiring from Blind River District as Outdoor Recreation Supervisor in 1991. He went to Ranger School in 1958 and soon became the Fish and Wildlife Deputy Chief Ranger in White River. He transferred to Owen Sound as Fish and Wildlife Deputy in 1969 and then moved to South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island in 1972 as the Operations Coordinator at the Lake Huron Fisheries Research station. About five years later he moved to the new Blind River District as the Fish and Wildlife Supervisor. That role was later expanded to include Parks . His sons Kevin and Darren went on to become respectively, an engineer and a doctor. Stan was widely respected as a caring and compassionate supervisor with a strong resource stewardship ethic. He was a gifted woodcarver and craftsman who excelled at whatever he tried. He claimed to be the first person to drive the newly constructed Trans-Canada highway link between west and east ,when at night, he accidentally jumped his beetle over the last remaining construction at White Lake narrows. He retired to Vancouver Island and eventually to Alert Bay on Cormorant Island off the north shore of Vancouver Island where he continued his woodcarving and along with his wife Norma spent many enjoyable days on their boat chasing salmon and halibut. |
| Young | Ernie | Blind River | MNR 244 | From Klaas Oswald - Ernie Young was an old-time CO at Blind River. He was famous for attending one of the big sportsman shows, I think in Chicago, and wrestling a sort-of-tame bear in full uniform. He was also famous for having a fondness for the barley, and one time riding his horse up the steps and into the Blind River Legion. He was still around in the time 1975+ when I moved to Wawa from the west. Probably somebody like Will Samis can tell you a lot about him. | |||
| Zimmermzan | Frederick Arthur (Art) | https://photos.imageevent.com/ocoa/deceasedofficerphotos/websize/Zimmerman_%20Frederick%20Arthur%20_%20Art_111.JPG | Sudbury-Manitoulin | MNR 93 | 0-0-1938 | 23/Jun/1905 | From Klaas Oswald - Art Zimmerman was an enforcement supervisor at Sudbury. From Stan Woodside - The last I saw Art Zimmerman , he was the C.O.in Little Current on Manitoulin (1970s ?) From Art's Family: Art was one of the lucky few that enjoyed his job because of his love of nature and wildlife. Art was employed with the MNR for 38 years so we have submitted a few articles that briefly describe his accomplishments. We think the one thing that probably best describes Art is his extensive knowledge of the great outdoors. Art taught survival courses and we are sure that if you had the opportunity to attend one or had the chance of taking a walk through the bush with him you would have discovered his knowledge of plants and animals was unparalleled. Many-seasoned outdoorsmen would normally learn a thing or two. We still retain a good knowledge of edible and inedible plants that my Dad would point out as if he was walking through a grocery store. We also remember having different kinds of childhood pets due to my dad bringing home injured animals to care for. We had beaver, wolf pups, a bear cub a hawk and a deer fawn that learned how to open the screen door to get into the house. Maybe not normal pets but memories I will have forever. We have had much enjoyment looking over the articles Art kept during his time with the MNR. We hope that Art’s memory lives on in the knowledge he left behind in all of us who had the opportunity to meet him. |
