Okotoks Fish and Game Association Receives Provincial Award
The Okotoks and District Fish & Game Association is proud to share that we have received provincial recognition for our Kids Can Catch activities.
We were honoured with the G.M. Spargo Memorial Award, presented by the Alberta Wildlife Federation to the club that demonstrates the strongest junior program for youth, resource education, and outdoor education—or provides outstanding support to youth groups in their area.
This award reflects our club’s ongoing commitment to youth programming, outdoor education, and community engagement.
In 2023, under the leadership of Vice-President Mark Anderson, the Okotoks club embraced the Kids Can Catch program to introduce youth and new anglers to fishing in a safe, welcoming, and conservation-focused environment. With support from the Alberta Conservation Association and local retailers, we set out to create a hands-on, family-friendly experience that emphasizes mentorship, stewardship, and respect for our fisheries.
Our first event—held on Family Day Weekend 2023—welcomed more than 100 first-time anglers. Volunteers pre-drilled holes, supplied rods, lures, bait, and warm food, and provided one-on-one guidance covering everything from baiting hooks to proper fish handling and conservation ethics.
Participation continued to grow, with over 250 attendees in 2024, and more than 100 again in 2025 despite weather delays. In just three years, nearly 500 youth and families have participated—at no cost to attendees.
The impact has been significant. Kids Can Catch has helped families try a new outdoor activity, build confidence, learn practical skills, and connect with conservation values that will last a lifetime. It’s exactly the kind of community-focused outdoor education this award was created to celebrate.
Congratulations to this year’s G.M. Spargo Memorial Award recipient, the Okotoks and District Fish & Game Association—and a huge thank you to Mark Anderson for his leadership in delivering such an exceptional youth program, along with every volunteer and partner who helped make it possible.
