Bill_Otway_To_Be_Inducted_Into_Canadian_Anglers_Hall_Of

Bill Otway To Be Inducted Into Canadian Anglers Hall Of Fame
February, 2011

In my column from October 21, 2010 (Passing The Torch On) I reported the sad news of Bill Otway’s passing. Bill, a long time resident of Merritt, was one of the most recognized and respected wildlife conservationists and an outspoken advocate of hunting and recreational fishing. Last week I received news that Bill Otway is to be posthumously inducted into the Canadian Anglers Hall of Fame. The induction ceremony will be held on February 18, 2011 at the Toronto Boat Show. An induction into the Canadian Anglers Hall of Fame is the highest recognition a sport angler, or a person promoting and protecting recreational angling, can receive in Canada.

This is an honour Bill justly deserves in recognition for a lifetime spent standing up for the rights of recreational anglers and hunters here in British Columbia and Canada. Bill Otway was one of the few people that walked the walk and talked the talk. The contributions he made and the near legendary battles he fought came to the fore in many speeches and ceremonies held in Bill’s honour after his passing by both his supporters and even his detractors. The common consensus of those who worked with Bill or knew him is that he was a man everybody could count on to speak up and let action follow. Bill without fail could be counted upon to ask the question if the action or response would “pass the red faced test” and he never walked away red faced from any task, discussion or meeting.

During his lifetime Bill was active on the board of many organizations.
• B.C. Conservation Foundation
• B.C. Salmon Society
• B.C. Wildlife Federation
• Canadian Nature Federation
• Ducks Unlimited
• Lower Mainland Regional Branch
• B.C. Salmon Society
• B.C. Wildlife Federation
• Canadian Nature Federation
• Lower Mainland Regional Branch
• National Sport Fishing Institute
• North American Fisheries Society
• Pitt Waterfowl Management Association
• Port Coquitlam & District Hunting & Fishing Club
• Quatsino Sound Enhancement Society
• Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation
• Shooting Federation of Canada
• Sport Fishing Institute of BC
• Steelhead Society of BC
• Trout Unlimited

Here’s a small list of honours Bill received during his lifetime.
• 1982 Canadian Outdoorsman of the Year
• 1990 Ducks Unlimited Teal Award for raising over $100,000. as a volunteer
• 1991 Ted Barsby Trophy: B.C.’s Conservationist of the Year
• 1993 Silver Teal Award for raising over $250,000.
• 1999 BCWF Special Recognition “One who has made a Difference”
• First-ever Member Emeritus of the Sport Fishing Advisory Board
• National Recreational Fisheries Award presented by the Federal Minister of Fisheries and Oceans

Bill Otway spent a lifetime defending and promoting recreational hunting and angling.

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