Ben Mitchell-Banks
Invermere, British Columbia
WHAT THE NOMINATORS SAID
Ben had a distinguished career in uniform, undercover and in the senior ranks of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service and Canada’s Department of Fisheries and Oceans, in both domestic and international enforcement.
One day in the field, Ben came across a man and his young son fishing in a closed area. It was a gorgeous day, a perfect one for fishing, except the dad did not have a fishing licence. Ben discreetly suggested he come by the conservation office the next day. The boy had no idea his father had just been charged with breaking the law. That’s Ben: committed to conservation while recognizing the importance of respectful engagement.
In his decades as a committed volunteer, Ben has been a driving force in our community’s efforts to restore traditional fish habitat and bring spawning salmon back to Abel Creek.
IN HIS OWN WORDS
Ever since I was a young boy, I’ve been fascinated by the natural world. If there was a tree to climb, a puddle of water to splash in, a tiny stream or a thicket of bush, I would be immersed in it. When I was about six or seven, my father started to take me fishing, putting me on the path I ended up following during my life.
Roland Michener Conservation Award
Established in 1978 by the Canadian Wildlife Federation as a tribute to the former governor general and avid outdoorsperson who also served as honorary president of the CWF, this award honours those who promote, enhance and further the conservation of Canada’s natural resources.