CFWOA-ACAFF
Picture
  • ENGLISH
  • FRANÇAIS

About US

Picture
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. 
Picture

OUR Work


​Federal Wildlife Officers enforce 4 pieces of legislation: 
  1. Migratory Birds Convention Act
  2. Canada Wildlife Act
  3. Wild Animal and Plant Protection Regulation of International & Interprovincial Trade Act​
  4. Species at Risk Act

​Each photo is a link that will bring you to the Act
MIGRATORY BIRD CONVENTION ACT
WAPPRIITA
CANADA WILDLIFE ACT
SPECIES AT RISK ACT
Picture

federal wildlife officer history-109 Years

Picture
Robie W. Tufts
​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
Picture
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."
Picture
 ​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).
Picture
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.

​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.
Picture
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.
Picture
​
​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.
Picture
2022- Federal Wildlife Officers are issued new uniforms that feature olive green pants, black shirts and the introduction of a new shoulder flash.
Picture

​

recruiting

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- Sault College,
Natural Resources and Environmental 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.
Picture
Picture
New Wildlife Conservation Program in Northern Quebec.​
CFWOA EXECUTIVE TEAM

PRESIDENT- JOSH MARTIN, SASKATCHEWAN
VICE-PRESIDENT- MAX LORTIE, ONTARIO
SECRETARY- CALEB BROKER, ONTARIO
TREASURER- SIMONE MANTEL, 
QUÉBEC

CFWOA REGIONAL REPS

PACIFIC/YUKON REGION- KYLE FLINDT, BC
PRAIRIES/NORTH REGION-MITCH ELDER, SK
ONTARIO REGION-STEVE EVANS, ONTARIO
QUÉBEC REGION- SIMONE MANTEL, QUÉBEC
​ATLANTIC REGION-MATT KELLY, NEW BRUNSWICK


    how can we help you?

Submit

FROM THE FIELD

Original Badge 1920s to 1950s
1970s
1980s
Today
Alberta
Ontario
Alberta
USFWS Special Agent-Alberta/Montana border.
Nova Scotia
Ontario 1971
Lion skin import. Alberta
Director General addressing the UN in 2017
British Columbia
Training in the Prairies
Yukon-Dempster Highway
Ontario 2002
Québec
Nunavut
Alberta
Alberta
Manitoba
Québec 1989
Alberta
NFLD
NWT
Prince Edward Island
Alberta 2013 flood
Congo Park Rangers with our donated uniforms
Québec
Arctic Patrol to Greenland
Giraffe import-Alberta
NWT
NFLD
Nova Scotia
NFLD
Revolver training. Québec 1992

PARTNER ASSOCIATIONS

Each logo is a link to their site
North American Wildlife Enforcement Officer Association
BC Conservation Officers
Alberta Fish & Wildlife
Saskatchewan Conservation Officers
Manitoba Conservation Officers
Ontario Conservation Officers
Québec Wildlife Officers
New Brunswick Conservation Officers
Newfoundland Fish & Wildlife Officers
National Park Wardens
DFO West Coast
DFO East Coast
Yukon Conservation Officers
US Federal Wildlife Officers
US National Park Rangers
US State Parks Officer Association
North American Game Warden Museum
Western Canadian Game Warden Magazine
International Game Warden Magazine
Picture
Picture
Copyright © 2006-2025 CFWOA​ - ACAAF
  • ENGLISH
  • FRANÇAIS