August 18, 2011

Ontario Conservation Officer of the Year 2011

Peterborough – The Ontario Conservation Officers Association (OCOA) is pleased to announce that Randy Pepper was presented with a number of awards as the 2011 Conservation Officer of the Year.  The presentations were at the annual OCOA convention held in Sudbury this past weekend.  Randy works for the Parry Sound Enforcement Unit.

Randy was presented with the OCOA Officer of the Year award at the banquet on Saturday night.  “Randy has been a leader and a team player for his entire career both at work and in his personal life. He is the type of person you naturally want to follow and that’s the key to quiet leadership that Randy possesses.” said OCOA President, Mike Duncan.

Randy Pepper has been a Conservation Officer for 26 years, working across the Province.  Some of the other highlights of his career include:

• Has performed uniform, plainclothes and covert (undercover) investigations involving the commercialization of wildlife and fish resources. He has always been a team player and humble in his approach to work;

• Possesses the longest MNR record as an undercover officer investigating such things as the sales of trout, black bear and illegal deer hunting;

• Led a major joint forces project involving the commercialization of wildlife resulting in 8 people being charged with numerous wildlife and weapons charges;

• Has been actively involved in the Ontario Conservation Officers Association for 25 years. 15 of those years have been as a member of the executive promoting the professionalism of our role in resource protection;

• Has been actively involved in his community through sports, resource groups and his church.

During his acceptance of the award, Randy said, “It is an honour to be selected by my peers. I have learned so much from everyone I have worked with and I appreciate that so much.”

On Friday, Randy was also presented with the MNR Officer of the Year award by Natural Resources Minister, Linda Jeffrey in a video message.  “Conservation Officer Randy Pepper is a worthy recipient of this important award which recognizes his extraordinary dedication. Conservation officers like Officer Pepper play a vital role in protecting our province's natural resources,” said Minister Jeffrey.  Also in attendance was Assistant Deputy Minister, Provincial Services Division Tracey Mill and Lois Deacon, Director of the MNR Enforcement Branch.

The other nominee for the Officer of the Year, 2011 was:

Mike Duncan

This officer was also recognized during the convention.

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

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

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For more information contact:
Mike Duncan
President
Ontario Conservation Officers Association
(705) 749-2689

www.ocoa.ca