Toronto Sportsmen’s Show brings conservation to the big screen

Toronto Sportsmen’s Show brings conservation to the big screen
T.S.S. sponsors amphitheatre in O.F.A.H./Mario Cortellucci Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre

Visitors to the O.F.A.H./Mario Cortellucci Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre are in for a fantastic, one-of-a-kind experience. In addition to viewing record Ontario fish, and wildlife exhibits from around the world, the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show (T.S.S.) recently announced that it will sponsor the centre’s state-of-the-art amphitheatre.

The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Amphitheatre is certain to be a major attraction for the interactive interpretive centre, which the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (O.F.A.H.) is preparing to open at its conservation centre site in Peterborough, Ontario later this year.

"We are pleased to expand our relationship with the O.F.A.H. and Ontario’s outdoors community, and look forward to working together on this and future projects that promote and enhance the responsible use of our great outdoors," said Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows C.E.O., Walter Oster. The Canadian National Sportsmen’s Shows is a nonprofit organization that operates six sportsmen’s shows nationally, including two in Ontario. The Ottawa Boat & Sportsmen’s Show runs from February 26 to March 1, 2009, followed by the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show that runs from March 18 to 22, 2009.

"Fishing and hunting are a proud part of our Canadian heritage, and it is with great pride that we welcome the Toronto Sportsmen’s Show’s participation in the O.F.A.H./Mario Cortellucci Hunting and Fishing Heritage Centre," said O.F.A.H. Executive Director, Mike Reader. "The Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Amphitheatre will help tell, in glorious, living color, the incredible conservation story of our North American fish and wildlife, and the role that hunters and anglers have played in that phenomenal success."

The nonprofit conservation organizations have teamed up previously on a number of initiatives. The T.S.S. stepped in to help the O.F.A.H. keep the Ringwood Fish Culture Station open and the Lake Ontario Chinook salmon stocking program alive in 2006, when the Ministry of Natural Resources slated the hatchery for closure. The T.S.S. has also donated gear to TackleShare, the O.F.A.H. outreach program that loans rods and reels to novice anglers. The two organizations also partner to award the O.F.A.H./Toronto Sportsmen’s Show Fisheries Research Grant to a postgraduate student annually.

The O.F.A.H./Mario Cortellucci Hunting & Fishing Heritage Centre is so named to honor its major benefactor, philanthropist and developer, Mario Cortellucci. The centre will feature a huge live aquarium of Ontario fish, and dioramas of wildlife from all over the world.

With over 100,000 members, subscribers and supporters, and 655 member clubs, the O.F.A.H. is the largest nonprofit, charitable, fishing, hunting and conservation-based organization in Ontario, and the voice of anglers and hunters. For more information, visit www.ofah.org.

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