This page is dedicated to past members of the New Brunswick Wildlife Federation.
ANTHONY (TONY) LANGEN
1909 – 2008
A dedicated sportsman and wildlife conservationist who made the effort to make a difference.
A WWII veteran, Tony served with the RCAF from 1940 to 1961 and was employed by the Department of National Defence, Logistics Branch, No. 5 Supply Depot, Moncton from 1962 until his retirement in 1974.
From the early 1970’s to shortly before his passing, Tony held numerous positions with the N.B.W.F. and also the C.W.F. where he was a member of the C.W.F. Board of Directors.
Tony held the office as President of the N.B.W.F. in 1972-1973 and returned to the position in 1978-1979. He also was a 1st VP and 2nd VP and District Governor, South East. He had a keen interest in forestry and held the position of Forestry Committee Chair for many years and was the N.B.W.F. Director on the Canadian Forestry Association of N.B. At the 1974 N.B.W.F. AGM, Tony donated an award to be presented to the Branch with the most forestry related activities. The « Tony Langen Forestry Award » continues to be awarded annually nearly fifty years later.
Tony was also the N.B.W.F. representative on the Restigouche River Zone Management Committee.
Tony’s efforts were recognized by his peers and he was the recipient of the N.B.W.F. 1985 « Sportsman of the Year Award » and the 1988 N.B.W.F. « Appreciation Award ». In 1980, he was named as a N.B.W.F. Honourary Life Member, a position for which he took a very active role.
Tony’s outdoor passion was hunting deer and grouse and fishing for Atlantic salmon. For years, he and his wife Mary had a trailer at Quarryville. This enabled him to spend many hours fishing the Renous and the South Sevogle where his favourite spot was the Hovel Pool.
He was an eager participant of Crown Reserve opportunities. One of his most memorable trips, and at the age of 90, was with his son Michael and grandson, Jeffrey, when they all caught grilse.
One of the functions Tony performed at every N.B.W.F. AGM Banquet was to read the « Sportsman’s Grace » which he ended with a line which always brought a chuckle from those in attendance: « Good Food… Good Meat… Good Friends… Let’s Eat. »
Prepared by
J. M.
DANIEL « DAN » FOWLER
1935 – 2014
Dan was the epitome of an outdoors man and wildlife conservationist. His career as an Air Traffic Controller with its shift scheduling allowed him the opportunity to maximize his time as a guide, outfitter, hunter and angler.
He guided for his friend, Fred Webb at his outfitting lodge located in the Tobique country. Lee Wulff was one of a number luminaries guided by Dan.
After retirement, Dan built Nash Bar Lodge located downriver from Blackville on the Southwest Miramichi River. With the assistance of his wife, Phyllis, the lodge gained an international reputation with guests such as John Randolph, Editor and Publisher of Fly Fisherman Magazine.
Dan’s passions were hunting and fishing. He hunted racoons and bobcats with the big hounds. Many nights were spent running after the dogs as they chased a critter to tree. He also hunted grouse with the companionship of his Brittany and stalked deer in the hardwood ridges and mountains.
Dan began his role as a concerned wildlife conservationist as a member of the Moncton Fish & Game Association in the early 1970s. He went on to hold the positions of Secretary and later President of the Association. He was one of a small committee of fellow Air Traffic Controllers who established the Association’s first Annual Fund-Raising Sportsmen’s Supper in 1974, and which has continued for nearly fifty years.
Dan represented the Moncton Fish and Game Association as its Director on the Board of the N.B. Wildlife Federation and went on to hold the positions of 1st V.P., Secretary, President, Honourary Life Member and N.B.W.F. Director on the Canadian Wildlife Federation.
Two years before his retirement, Dan transferred to the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and worked on fish habitat in Atlantic Canada.
Dan loved to fish Atlantic salmon however, he never missed an opportunity to cast a line for any species available. He was an excellent mentor to anyone who was fortunate to join his adventures.
Dan Fowler: Guide, Outfitter, Angler, Hunter, Wildlife Conservationist and Mentor.
Prepared by
J.M.
FRED WHEATON
2016
On October 2nd 2016, the wildlife conservation community lost a dedicated volunteer and our Atlantic salmon lost its champion. As mentioned in Fred’s obituary: « besides being a devout gardener and superior cook, he was an avid angler and was fiercely committed to the cause of salmon conservation. He believed that fishing was the birthright of all New Brunswickers, and worked tirelessly to support recreational fishing for current and future generations« .
The N.B.W.F. family knew Fred as our long standing Fish Committee Chair. He served in that capacity for 41 years under 16 different Presidents.
Fred also held the following N.B.W.F. positions:
- 1972- 1974 – Treasurer
- 1983 – 1985 – 2nd Vice-President
- 1985 – 1986 – 1st Vice-President
Director to the Canadian Wildlife Federation Board of Directors and member of the CWF Fisheries Committee.
Over the years, Fred held many conservation positions outside the N.B.W.F.
- Charter Member of Save Our Salmon group in 1978 which evolved into the N.B. Salmon Council. He served as Director and Vice-President of the N.B.S.C.
- Founding member of the N.B. Wildlife Council/Trust Fund.
- Vice-Chair and then Chair of the N.B. Fish & Wildlife Advisory Board.
- Member of the N.B. Sportsfish Advisory Council.
- Original member of the Selection Committee for the Canada Recreational Fisheries Awards.
- Member of the N.B. Advisory Committee for the Atlantic Salmon Conservation Foundation.
- Member of Canadian Wildlife Federation Fisheries Committee, travelling nationwide to contribute to a book entitled « Rising To The Challenge” by Dr. Peter Pearse.
- Was active in the Canada-New Brunswick Co-Operative Agreement on Recreational Angling, including preparation of an in depth analysis of the 1992-96 program.
As a result of his dedicated leadership in wildlife conservation, Fred received a number of awards including:
- 2012- N.B. Salmon Council’s « Lieutenant Governor’s Award for Wild Atlantic Salmon Conservation »
- 1984, 1987 – N.B.W.F. Sportsman of the Year Award « Honours the person or persons who, through their activities and responsibilities with the NBWF and its Branches, have exemplified tireless dedication and sacrifice for the cause of conservation.«
- 1988- Canadian Wildlife Federation, Roderick Haig Brown Award, « for having played a role in ending commercial fisheries for wild Atlantic salmon and in promoting the immense conservation value of ending the recreational harvest of large Atlantic salmon in 1984.«
- Named to the Atlantic Salmon Federation’s Roll of Honour.
- Moncton Fish & Game Honourary Life Member.
- N.B.W.F. Honourary L ife Member.
In 1987, N.B.W.F. Poet Laureate, the late Clayton Harrison, wrote a poem about the Atlantic salmon entitled « Miramichi Beauty » and dedicated it to Fred “for his tireless efforts to save our Atlantic salmon. »
Fred was a man of many hats; a champion of N.B.’s recreational fish, advisory to Sportsmen and governments, businessman, athlete, a lover of wild spaces, mentor and friend.
Prepared by
J. M.
VINCENT COMEAU
2019
Depuis l`age de 12 ans, Vincent aidait son père à la coupe de bois le long de la Grande Rivière Tracadie. Quand il approcha la fin de ses années secondaires, il continua à couper du bois pour économiser de l`argent pour ses études universitaires. C`est là qu`il développa une passion pour toutes activités extérieures. Il tomba en amour avec plusieurs de celles-ci.
Vincent termina son bacalauréat en éducation de l`Université de Moncton et sa maîtrise en éducation en France. Il quitta le Nouveau-Brunswick pour aller faire carrière au Nord du Québec où il décrocha un emploi pour le Dept. des Affaires Indiennes s`occupant de la gestion du système scolaire sur certaines Réserves Autochtones. Après ce séjour loin de son patelin, il revient, avec son épouse Hilda, dans sa ville natale de Tracadie N.B. dans la Péninsule Acadienne pour devenir le principal d`une nouvelle école la Polyvalente W.A. Losier.
A cause de sa passion pour les activités extérieures, il devint très impliqué dans différents groupes pour promouvoir ces activités. C`est ainsi qu`il devient le président d`un nouveau festival appellé Bitowa et ceci de 1973 à 1978.
En 1979,il devient président de l`Association des Trappeurs du N.B. Depuis 1981, il a été promu membre à vie de la Fédération de la Faune du N.B. dû à son implication et son dévouement envers cette organisation. En 1999, avec quelques autres personnes aussi dévouées, il forma un club de chasse et de pêche que l`on nomma Club Chasse et Pêche de la Grande Rivière Tracadie et il fut membre de la direction de cet organisme jusqu`en 2018 alors que sa santé diminuait. Durant ces années avec le club,il devint l`instigateur d`une nouvelle association, Bassin Versant de la Grande et Petite Rivières Tracadie organisme qu`il a géré durant plusieurs années en faisant de la restoration de ruisseaux dans le but d`améliorer l`habitat du poisson.
Vincent était aussi un trappeur hors-pair et probablement à cause de son expérience en éducation, il adorait enseigner sa passion pour le trappage et en 1998, il devint instructeur bénévole pour le cours d`éducation des trappeurs du N.B. Au fil des ans, avec son éthique en trappage, il devint un excellent mentor pour plusieurs nouveaux trappeurs.
Vincent était aussi un professionnel en montage de mouches pour la pêche et il en fabriquait pour son frère qui avait un magasin d`articles de pêche au Restigouche. Avec ses frères Jean-Claude et Léonide, en plus de pêcher les rivières de sa région, il a souvent pêché dans la Miramichi du Nord-Ouest, la Sevogle et la Upsalquitch.
Probablement son sport extérieur préféré était le ski de fond. Il a été président de N.B. Cross Country Skiing de 1991 à 1995 et il a participé à plusieurs compétitions de ski de fond et ceci à l`âge de plus de 75 ans.
Vincent avec un très grand respect pour Mère Nature et de l`Environnement et la preuve est dans toutes ses actions en ce sens tout au long de sa vie.
Mon ami Vincent, merci mille fois pour tout et en espérant que dans ta nouvelle vie, les sentiers sont excellents, les rivières sont pleines de poissons et tes pièges pleins de fourrure.
Par; G Sonier.