THUNDER BAY DISTRICT FISH & GAME ASSOCIATION
2011 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
2010 has been a difficult year for the Thunder Bay Fish & Game. With the passing of our President, Ron Ross, there was a large hole left in our organization. Ron had worked tirelessly for the TBF&G and especially on the new indoor range project. Ron felt very strongly that this dream would end up being a reality and that the Thunder Bay Fish & Game would benefit greatly from this project and the partnership with the Thunder Bay Regional Protective and Emergency Services Training Corporation. As well, in August of this year, Doug Magee, our 2nd Vice President resigned his position which also left another hole in our organization.
This past year we continued with our monthly Directors meetings although many of the meetings were poorly attended and we were unable to achieve a quorum. In order for our organization to continue to function we need to have attendance at these meetings so that we can carry on day to day business that is required.
We had to do some work on the property this year to satisfy the requirements of the Chief Firearms Office. A contractor was hired to brush out the property line. New signage was installed on all the ranges and at the entrance to the property. The new signs are constructed of a material that should last us many years. The 50yard range, range #1, had to have the backstop height increased by adding two rows of railroad ties to the top and the slope was changed to meet the standard. As well, there was a low spot that was holding water that had top be filled in as standing water on the range may cause a ricochet. Numbering was changed so that the backstop numbers matched the numbers on the shooting stations both on the 50 yard and 100 yard ranges. We also had to cut all the trees that were more than one inch in diameter from the side berms on all ranges to reduce the risk of ricochet.
Our Range Operator, Barry Ewing, has been spending a lot of time at the range trying to keep everything up to standard and in good working order.
We have discussed making some changes to Range #1 as we’re no longer allowed to have midrange targets. All these repairs and upgrades were required to meet the licensing requirements of the National Firearms Act and to keep our range in operation. Some of the work was done by member volunteers but most had to be contracted out due to the scope and size of the job or because we couldn’t wait for volunteers. As a non-profit organization it is essential that we get the support of the membership through volunteers to help out with the regular maintenance and upgrade projects for the facility and with the Executive and Directors, run the organization.
This year a marketing committee was established at the suggestion of Jamie Richards who is also the chairman of the committee. Jamie has some great ideas on ways to attract more new members to the organization.
NEW INDOOR RANGE
The Thunder Bay District Fish & Game Association and the Thunder Bay Regional Protective & Emergency Services Training Corporation continue to partner together in an effort to build a new indoor range on our property. To date we have been successful in securing approximately 75% of the required funding to build this new range and club house. Funding has been secured through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund, the City of Thunder Bay, our own contribution and the Trillium Fund of Ontario. The Trillium funding has had to be returned due to delays in the project but they have encouraged us to reapply when we are closer to starting to build. Fed Nor was our other major source of funds but they have turned us down. The President of the local Chamber of Commerce is currently approaching Fed Nor as a member of the PEST Board to ask them to reconsider based on the new information that the City of Thunder Bay has been awarded the 2016 Police and Fire Games and this is projected to bring 6 million dollars plus into our local economy.
Many of our members have expressed concerns about the cost of maintaining the proposed new facility. Based on projected operating costs it appears that we will in fact be able to maintain the property.
RANGE USE
The City Police continue to use our facility for their training, as well as the RCMP and Canadian Border Services. Brinks also used the range on several occasions for their training. All these agencies pay a fee to us for their range usage which goes into our general revenues and helps pay for the required upgrades and maintenance.
PISIC, Cowboy Action and CDPA continue to hold their regular competitions and PPC had their annual competition last summer. The annual Bullseye shoot was also held last spring.
The Army and Navy cadets continue to use the facility for their biathalon training and I had the pleasure to be at the range a few weeks ago to see close to 30 young athletes out for their first competition of the season. I was surprised to see over half of the competitors were young girls. Hopefully some of them will continue on to become members of our or other shooting clubs to help keep the sport alive.
Doug Johnson
President
Thunder Bay District Fish & Game Association
