About US
Our CFWOA Association membership is made up of Federal Wildlife Officers- both current and retired. We also have associate members coming from a variety of natural resource law enforcement agencies. We are a Not-for-Profit set up to be a service to our communities and to educate the public on local, national and international wildlife issues.
The illegal trade in wildlife is currently ranked 4th most profitable in the world, after drugs, money and humans trafficking.
Federal Wildlife Officers work for the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Canada. Numbering less than 100 across the country, we may be small in number but not in focus. We dedicate our lives to the protection of wildlife and endangered species.
The illegal trade in wildlife is currently ranked 4th most profitable in the world, after drugs, money and humans trafficking.
Federal Wildlife Officers work for the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate of Environment & Climate Change Canada. Numbering less than 100 across the country, we may be small in number but not in focus. We dedicate our lives to the protection of wildlife and endangered species.
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OUR Work
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federal wildlife officer history
Robie W. Tufts
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1916 - The International Treaty for the Protection of Migratory Birds was signed by Canada and the U.S.
1919 – Canada passes the Migratory Birds Convention Act and creates Federal Game Officers to enforce it. Robie W. Tufts, based in Nova Scotia was appointed as first Chief Migratory Bird Officer with five junior officers working under him. 1920 – The NWMP become the RCMP and Constables are appointed as ex-officio Game Officers under the MBCA to supplement enforcement. 1947 – Canada creates the Dominion Wildlife Service which would come to be known as the Canadian Wildlife Service. 1971 – A merger of various federal departments related to the environment creates Environment Canada. |
1973 – The Canada Wildlife Act is created and appoints Wildlife Officers to enforce it. This new legislation is added to the duties of the Federal Game Officers.
1980- Canadian Wildlife Service adopts the loon as their brand
1980- Canadian Wildlife Service adopts the loon as their brand
1987- Dave Paul, former Ontario Conservation Officer and O.P.P., retires from the CWS after being a Federal Game Warden throughout the 70s and 80s. A good story teller, he writes the book "Confessions of a Duck Cop."
1992 – The Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act (WAPPRIITA) was created, adding a new dimension to the enforcement duties of Federal Wildlife Officers. It's purpose is to protect endangered species affected by commercial trade by applying the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species (CITES).
1995 – Federal Wildlife Officers retire both their Smith & Wesson Model 66 revolvers and their snubnosed .38 specials and make the switch to the Smith & Wesson 5946 semi-automatic 9mm as their service pistol.
2002 – Species at Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimed and became the 4th Act enforced by Federal Wildlife Officers. It's purpose is to prevent wildlife species in Canada from disappearing, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated (no longer exist in the wild in Canada), endangered, or threatened as a result of human activity, and to manage species of special concern.
2005 - A major restructuring took place within Environment Canada. Federal Wildlife Officers were removed from the Canadian Wildlife Service and put into the new specialized "Enforcement Branch" that would be made up of Federal Wildlife Officers within the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate (WED) and Environmental Enforcement Officers under the Environmental Enforcement Directorate (EED). The intent of the restructuring was to separate Environment Canada's enforcement arm from its policy department.
2002 – Species at Risk Act (SARA) was proclaimed and became the 4th Act enforced by Federal Wildlife Officers. It's purpose is to prevent wildlife species in Canada from disappearing, to provide for the recovery of wildlife species that are extirpated (no longer exist in the wild in Canada), endangered, or threatened as a result of human activity, and to manage species of special concern.
2005 - A major restructuring took place within Environment Canada. Federal Wildlife Officers were removed from the Canadian Wildlife Service and put into the new specialized "Enforcement Branch" that would be made up of Federal Wildlife Officers within the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate (WED) and Environmental Enforcement Officers under the Environmental Enforcement Directorate (EED). The intent of the restructuring was to separate Environment Canada's enforcement arm from its policy department.
2006 – After years of planning, Federal Wildlife Officers from across the country come together to create the Canadian Federal Wildlife Officer Association. It is formed as an incorporated Not-for-profit to promote wildlife conservation, protection and the vocation of wildlife enforcement.
2013-2017- Sheldon Jordan, Director General of Environment Canada's Wildlife Enforcement Directorate is appointed to chair INTERPOL's Wildlife Crime Working Group. This unit helps to disrupt and dismantle transnational organized criminal networks involved in the illegal wildlife trade.
2019- Two big events mark this year. First, officers retire their Smith & Wesson 5946 and become the first federal agency in Canada to switch to the Glock 17 Gen 5, 9mm as their service pistol. Second, Environment Canada celebrates 100 years of Federal Game Officers. An article about the centennial appeared in Western Canadian Game Warden Magazine. Click on the cover below to read.
2019- Two big events mark this year. First, officers retire their Smith & Wesson 5946 and become the first federal agency in Canada to switch to the Glock 17 Gen 5, 9mm as their service pistol. Second, Environment Canada celebrates 100 years of Federal Game Officers. An article about the centennial appeared in Western Canadian Game Warden Magazine. Click on the cover below to read.
2022- Federal Wildlife Officers are given new uniforms that feature olive green pants, black shirts and the introduction of a new shoulder flash.
recruiting
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Educational Requirements
There are a variety of academic programs across Canada that would prepare you for this career. Here are some of the most well known: NWT-Aurora College, Environment and Natural Resources Technology BC-Vancouver Island University, Natural Resource Protection Alberta- Lethbridge College, Conservation Enforcement Saskatchewan-Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Resource and Environmental Law Manitoba-UCN, Natural Resource Management Technology Ontario- Fleming College Conservation and Environmental Law Enforcement Québec- Collège d'Alma, Protection de la faune PEI- Holland College, Conservation Enforcement Enforcement Experience Successful candidates join the Wildlife Enforcement Directorate from a variety of enforcement backgrounds. Examples include DFO, RCMP, National Parks, CBSA, Canadian Armed Forces and Provincial Game Wardens and Park Officers from across the country. If you are new to law enforcement, we recommend obtaining experience through applying for seasonal positions such as Alberta Park Rangers or Ontario Park Wardens. Saskatchewan and Manitoba have good seasonal programs as well. Recruit Competition Recruit competitions are advertised on the Government of Canada website. The steps of the competition are submit application, written exam, interview, psychological exam, medical exam and job offer for successful candidates. Expect at least 6 months between application and job offer. Recruit Training Successful recruits are sent to the nation's capital for 3 months of in-house training. The recruit training covers legislation, firearms, police defensive tactics and investigation skills. Training concludes with a formal badge presentation ceremony open to family members. Post-Badge Training As a fully designated Wildlife Officer, your training will never stop and much specialized training opportunities will present themselves. Examples include Surveillance, Reptile Handling, Major Case Management, Forensic Interviewing, Search Warrant Drafting and many others. |
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CFWOA EXECUTIVE TEAM
PRESIDENT- MATT BURKE, MANITOBA VICE-PRESIDENT- FRED ARSENAULT, NEW BRUNSWICK SECRETARY- STEVEN EVANS, ONTARIO TREASURER- NICK COTTER, ALBERTA CFWOA REGIONAL REPS PACIFIC/YUKON- KYLE FLINDT, BC PRAIRIES/NORTH-JOSH MARTIN, SK ONTARIO-JOSH LADOUCEUR, ONTARIO QUÉBEC-KARINE LEFEBVRE, QUÉBEC ATLANTIC-GORD BARKER, NOVA SCOTIA |
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