www.ocoa.ca
MEDIA RELEASE

August 17, 2009

2009 ONTARIO CONSERVATION OFFICER OF THE YEAR

Peterborough - The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) is pleased to announce that Jim McMullen was presented with a number of awards as the 2009 Conservation Officer of the Year. The presentations were at the annual OCOA convention held in Peterborough this weekend. Jim works for the Upper Great Lakes Unit out of Parry Sound.

Jim was presented with the OCOA Officer of the Year award at the banquet on Saturday night. "During his four year term as OCOA President, Jim demonstrated great leadership ability. He was recognized by the Canadian Safe Boat Council for his efforts to have Conservation Officers (COs) appointed under the Small Vessel Regulations. This probably resulted in the greatest single increase in marine safety enforcement ever in Canada, "said OCOA President, Dan VanExan.

Jim McMullen has been a Conservation Officer for 28 years, working across the Province. Some of the other highlights of his career include:

• Participation in a number of successful covert investigations involving the commercialization of wildlife and fish resources;
• An instructor on the OPP Basic Marine and Launch Courses for 14 years, where he instructed COs, other Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) staff and many different police agencies. He had the respect of all the various police forces;
• Instructing the Basic Law Courses for MNR as well as Firearms for COs;
• A marine rescue early this spring which resulted in saving the life of a capsized kayaker.

During his acceptance of the award, Jim said, "It is an honour to be selected by my peers."

On Friday, Jim was also presented with the MNR Officer of the Year award by Natural Resources Minister, Donna Cansfield. "After 28 years, as a Conservation Officer, Officer McMullen continues to demonstrate professionalism," said Minister Cansfield. Also in attendance was Lois Deacon, Director of Enforcement Branch.

Other nominees for the Officer of the Year, 2009 (in alphabetical order) were:
Matt Brooks
Bill Clark
John Diebolt
Ron Hartford
Gord Holmes.

These officers were also recognized during the Convention.

Jim was nominated for the award by one of his peers. The selection was done by a committee comprised of both OCOA and MNR members.

In addition, Jim also received the Shikar-Safari Club International Wildlife Officer of the Year Award.

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Additonal information and photographs at: www.ocoa.ca/Pages_Awards/index.htm

For more information contact:

Dan VanExan
President
Ontario Conservation Officers Association
(613) 478-6132

www.ocoa.ca