The SSWA AGM was held in Crapaud on April 27, 2017, with a healthy attendance. Our guest speaker, Dr. Helene Van Doninck, founder of the Cobequid Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, NS, gave a strong message about the poisoning of wildlife from the use of lead shot and tackle. Although she is not against hunting and fishing, she is deeply concerned about the needless suffering of animals and fish due to lead poisoning (including eagles and other predators that feed on carcasses left in the field). Her evidence-based research from scans taken of bullet “spatter” pathways in carcasses) proves that lead can be ingested unwittingly by humans who eat the “bag” or “catch,” and children are especially vulnerable. Dr. Van Doninck enthusiastically endorsed the use of copper bullets for hunting, which make a “cleaner” kill and are non-toxic. She has had great success, through many presentations, in persuading hunters and fishers to give up using lead. Her: “Try it, you’ll like it!”

The SSWA 2017 Photo Contest winners were announced, and Myles Lord from North Tryon won the People’s Choice Grand Prize. Thanks to our judges, Dawn Blakeney and Laura Higgins from the Holland College photography program, who cheerfully coped with over one hundred photos ― nearly twice as many as 2016! And special thanks to our sponsors: Triple “R” Construction (Adult class) and ADL (Schools class). We would also like to thank Jack Sorensen of the Tryon & Area Historical Society for his display. To view ALL the winning photos, go to the Photo Contests tab.