EDMONTON - A call for nominations for the renowned Order of the Bighorn has been announced, to recognize exceptional efforts to conserve fish and wildlife resources that enrich the lives of Albertans.

"Alberta is fortunate to have many people who are devoted to helping protect our fish and wildlife resources," said Mike Cardinal, Minister of Sustainable Resource Development. "The Order of the Bighorn highlights how Albertans are key to our province's co-operative approach to wildlife management."

Recipients will be honoured at an awards banquet to be hosted by Minister Cardinal in March 2004. The Order of the Bighorn was established in 1982 and has since been presented every two years to deserving individuals or organizations. Recipients receive a distinctive medallion and become Members of the Order of the Bighorn.

Nominations must be received by November 30, 2003. A committee that includes Members of the Order will review recommendations. Nomination forms are available at Fish and Wildlife Division offices of Sustainable Resource Development throughout Alberta, or from:

Dave England, Program Manager
Fish and Wildlife Division
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
11th Floor, Petroleum Plaza, South Tower
9915 - 108 St., Edmonton, Alberta, T5K 2G8
Phone: (780) 427-6749 Fax: (780) 427-8884

Contact:

John Lear
Public Affairs Officer
Communications
Alberta Sustainable Resource Development
Edmonton
(780) 427-8636

THE ORDER OF THE BIGHORN AWARD

In 1982, the Alberta government established the Order of the Bighorn to acknowledge contributions to fish and wildlife conservation that enrich the lives of Albertans. Traditionally, recipients have demonstrated a commitment to conservation over many years.

Although the province bestows the Order of the Bighorn, the awards banquet is co-sponsored by government and the private sector. When the Order was last presented in 2002, co-sponsors included Alberta Sustainable Resource Development, Al-Pac, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Luscar Ltd. and TransCanada Pipelines.

The Order is presented to deserving individuals or organizations every two years, at a reception in Edmonton or Calgary. The next awards ceremony will be held in Edmonton in March 2004.

In total, 82 Orders of the Bighorn have been conferred (including those presented in 2002) since the recognition was established more than 20 years ago.

Those honoured become Members of the Order of the Bighorn, and receive a distinctive medallion with ribbon - designed to be worn around the neck. The silver-coloured medallion features the head of a Rocky Mountain bighorn ram, with its striking curved horns.

In 1989, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep was named as Alberta's official mammal. There are approximately 40,000 bighorns in North America, ranging from northern Alberta to New Mexico. Alberta has the largest population, with about 10,000 animals.

Recipients of the 2002 Order of the Bighorn

EDGAR & JEANNE JONES (Edmonton)
Edgar T. Jones is a TV-film producer and photographer whose wildlife images have enhanced numerous TV programs and publications. He obtained his bird-banding permit in 1940, was a founding member of the Edmonton Bird Club in 1948, and co-founded the Alberta Wildlife Foundation. His wife, Jeanne, has supported his work for more than 50 years. The couple sold a 228-acre property at Hastings Lake to the province at below market value, to be used as a wildlife sanctuary: the Edgar T. Jones Natural Area. In 2001, Edgar received the Order of Canada for outstanding contributions to promote wildlife conservation.

MURRAY MACKAY (Ponoka)
Murray Mackay has spent countless hours improving fish and wildlife habitat in the Ponoka area. He built and sold many bird nest boxes, using the proceeds for habitat projects. Murray and his wife have picked up injured birds from Fish and Wildlife offices throughout Alberta and delivered them to rehabilitation facilities for eventual release. Murray gives presentations on raptors, accompanied by a great horned owl. He has had a big role in such community issues as roadside mowing and spraying, and installing a raptor resting platform. He was also chair of the local Ducks Unlimited committee.

DAVE POWELL (Lacombe)
Dave Powell served as president of the St. Paul and Lacombe Fish and Game Associations. Dave's achievements include spearheading the development of three fisheries access sites and several park construction sites. He taught conservation education to thousands of students and also taught the Canadian Firearms Safety course to hundreds of people. Dave is a founding board member of the Alberta Conservation Association, a board member of the WISE Foundation and vice-chair of the Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation.

NORMAN RODSETH (Edson)
Norm Rodseth has been involved with fish and wildlife conservation for more than 40 years. He was director of Trout Unlimited (Edmonton) and vice-president of the Alberta Council of Trout Unlimited, as well as a conservation education instructor. He has been involved with fish stocking and numerous fish habitat projects, building and maintaining campsites and recreation facilities, carrying out prescribed burns to improve habitat, providing input to Alberta's integrated management plans, and serving on advisory committees with the Foothills Model Forest and the Alberta Conservation Association.

ANDY RUSSELL (Waterton Park)
Andy Russell is one of Alberta's most well known authors and conservationists. Many remember him for a series of radio vignettes he wrote and narrated, called "Our Alberta Heritage" - about the province's rich history and colourful characters. He has been a guide, trapper, photographer, cinematographer, author and broadcaster, as well as a champion of Alberta's natural heritage for most of his life. Andy produced three feature-length films and published a dozen books. His honours include the Order of Canada and honorary law degrees for his conservation efforts. He is a long-time advocate of grizzly bears.

WILLIAM (BILL) TURNBULL (Calgary)
Bill Turnbull was director of Upland Game Birds of Alberta, a trustee for the Calgary Zoological Society, and worked closely with Conservation International and Ducks Unlimited. His achievements with Ducks Unlimited include developing habitat initiatives such as the Bow River Irrigation District Agreement and adopting the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. With Conservation International, Bill directed major financial support toward many educational and wildlife interpretative projects in Alberta. He also helped pioneer the introduction of conservation easements to help protect critical wildlife habitat.

BOW RIVER IRRIGATION DISTRICT (Vauxhall)
The Bow River Irrigation District has been committed to conserving and developing Alberta's wetlands for many years. In 1985, it reached an agreement with Ducks Unlimited (DU) to have DU manage and improve more than 15,000 acres of wetland habitat in drought-prone southeastern Alberta. Twenty-seven projects with over 140 basins, 550 kilometres of shoreline and 14,000 acres have a secure future - as does the wildlife that depend on this habitat. Through the agreement, wetland resources are managed in a way that simultaneously benefits agriculture and wildlife.