Award Recipients

Outstanding wildlife conservationists receive Order of the Bighorn

Five of Alberta's fish and wildlife champions were honoured at a gala banquet in Edmonton on March 7, 2008, for their exceptional conservation efforts.

Merv Kopperud (Medicine Hat), Tom Bateman (Lethbridge), Kelly Semple (Sangudo), Neil Downey (Red Deer), and Dr. Charles Bird (Erskine) are the newest members of the Order of the Bighorn.

The Alberta government established the Order of the Bighorn in 1982 to recognize outstanding contributions to fish and wildlife conservation by individuals, organizations and corporations. Customarily, recipients have demonstrated a commitment to conservation over many years.

The award recipients were honoured at a gala banquet in Edmonton on March 7, 2008. The reception was hosted and co-sponsored by Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Incorporated, Ducks Unlimited Canada, Devon Canada Corporation, Shell Canada Limited, TransCanada Pipelines Limited and Alberta Sustainable Resource Development.

Including the five new awards, 108 of the honours have been awarded since the Order was established. Alberta's official mammal, the Rocky Mountain bighorn sheep, was the inspiration behind the name of the award.

Merv Kopperud (Medicine Hat)

Merv Kopperud has been a leader and promoter of conservation efforts in Medicine Hat for more than two decades.

Merv was the driving force behind the Fish and Game Report on Medicine Hat radio, which for 18 years brought weekly updates and tips for hunters, anglers and anyone interested in conservation and wildlife habitat. Merv also helped develop the 'Use Respect' billboard campaign, which promoted safe hunting and good landowner relations.

In addition, Merv took on leadership roles in the Alberta and Medicine Hat fish and game associations, Ducks Unlimited Canada and Pheasants Forever.

Whether it's fundraising or brainstorming promotional ideas or rolling up his sleeves to get on with the work outside, Merv has made a lasting and significant contribution to wildlife conservation in southern Alberta.

Tom Bateman (Lethbridge)

For more than four decades, Tom Bateman has blended his interest in education with his passion for wildlife and wild places to great effect for the conservation cause in Alberta.

Instrumental in the creation of the now 3,000-member-strong Alberta Hunter Education Instructors' Association in 1964, Tom also co-authored hunter education and fishing education manuals that are still used today. In addition, Tom served as a game warden and conservation education project coordinator with the Government of Alberta for a quarter century.

In 1995, Tom joined the Conservation Education WISE Foundation. It was during his tenure there that the number of graduates from conservation education programs skyrocketed - from 5,000 a year to 55,000. In 2006, Tom and his colleagues graduated their one millionth student from conservation education. Today, Tom still teaches hunter education and firearms safety in the Lethbridge area.

Kelly Semple (Sangudo)

For more than two decades, Kelly Semple has been an ardent advocate for conservation, hunter education and the wise stewardship of Alberta's natural resources.

Kelly has become a high-profile spokeswoman for conservation issues and hunter education in the media; at farm, ranch and outdoors trade shows, and through her work mentoring young hunters.

As well, Kelly has been an inspiring leader for conservation and wildlife management through her roles in the Alberta Conservation Association, Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation, the Alberta Professional Outfitters Society, the Alberta Hunter Education Instructors' Association and the Conservation Education WISE Foundation. Kelly has assumed a core role in the Hunting for Tomorrow Foundation's Youth Mentor Program, and coordinated approximately 10,000 volunteer hours in 2007.

Neil Downey (Red Deer)

Neil Downey's commitment to the conservation of wildlife habitat in Alberta is best reflected through his devoted 27 years of volunteer service (and counting) to Ducks Unlimited Canada, including the honour in 2007 of being elected as the national president of Ducks Unlimited Canada.

Neil has also spent more than 30 years as a member of the Red Deer Fish and Game Association, where he has served in a number of different capacities, including as the association's auditor.

Neil's commitment to conservation and stewardship begins at home. Neil and his wife, Marilyn, have devoted half of their 400 acre Red Deer area farm to aspen parkland.

Dr. Charles Bird (Erskine)

Retired University of Calgary botanist Charles Bird has had a life-long fascination with the flight of the butterfly. Charles was the lead author of Alberta Butterflies, the definitive 1995 study that emerged from 32 years of research. During his illustrious career, Charles has published hundreds of scholarly articles in scientific journals and naturalist publications, and has been honoured with numerous awards for his work in classifying plants and insects.

Blessed with the ability to make biology easily understandable, Charles was voted one of the top science teachers at the University of Calgary. In his active retirement, Charles is presently carrying out inventories of the moths of native areas in south-central Alberta, conduct field trips, and participate in bird and species counts, graciously sharing his knowledge with others.

 

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Posted: September 18, 2009