FREDERICTON (GNB) – Edward Christie of Harvey Station and Jean-Guy Roy of Edmundston are New Brunswick's 2012 Conservation Education Instructors of the Year.

Natural Resources Minister Bruce Northrup today presented the pair with commemorative watches, International Hunter Education Association prints and certificates of appreciation.

"New Brunswick has one of the lowest hunting accident rates in North America, and this is due in large part to the fine work of hunter education instructors such as Jean-Guy Roy and Edward Christie,'' said Northrup. "The courses they teach have laid the foundation for generations of safe and responsible hunters in New Brunswick."

Christie was recognized as the volunteer instructor of the year. He has been active in the Firearms Safety/Hunter Education Program for 38 years and also volunteers his time to help administer the Harvey Outdoor Show.

Roy is the Department of Natural Resources' Instructor of the Year. A resource officer with the department's Boucher district office in Edmundston, Roy has been a conservation education instructor since 1991.

Firearm Safety/Hunter Education courses teach students how to handle and use firearms in a safe and responsible manner. Students learn how to minimize the risk of hypothermia while hunting, what to do if lost and basic first-aid techniques.

The courses also cover hunter ethics, basic field techniques, wildlife identification and the role of hunting with respect to wildlife management.

Since the inception of hunter education in 1952, more than 90,000 New Brunswickers have completed this program.

Information about firearm safety and hunter education is online. Testing takes place at local Department of Natural Resources offices.

LINK:

●    Department of Natural Resources - Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Course


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