This week’s CTA winner carries a badge. Ryan Hamersma, 37, of Brantford, is an Enforcement Officer for Environment Canada and Climate Change.
However, Ryan’s enforcement badge was earned long after he earned the OFAH volunteer badge of conservation dedication. He made his first OFAH donation (to the former wild turkey fund) when he was just 19-years old and has been an OFAH member for years. His Bancroft-area hunt camp was one of the first to participate in the start of Ontario’s modern-day elk hunt. Wow. That’s some fine OFAH conservation history right there!
“I also volunteered with the OFAH while I was attending Fleming College,” Ryan proudly recalls.
About 15 years ago, Ryan contributed his volunteer time to the former OFAH Fisheries Research Lab that conducted an innovative Kawartha Lakes walleye telemetry project in partnership with the MNR at that time. Today, the OFAH conservation spirit is paying Ryan back to the tune of $7,352 – the second-biggest weekly prize in Catch the Ace II. His card number 31 was the 8 of diamonds so that means the OFAH Jackpot is now headed for six figures.
Ryan was one of the very first Catch the Ace ticket customers when the new OFAH conservation fundraiser started last August.
“I’ve been hooked since the start – oh, pardon the pun,” he joked. “But seriously, I haven’t been stopping at the gas station these days for weekly lottery tickets. It’s nice to give a little each week (to conservation) and have the thrill of being in a lottery. I am going to use some of the money to fix up our hunt camp and will shop locally for some new outdoors gear.”
Congratulations on your OFAH conservation history and your well-earned Catch the Ace win, Ryan.
Week 12 starts now at www.ofahcta.ca
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