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Welcome to www.sportfishingbc.com.
Our web site has been designed to allow local and international
anglers the opportunity to explore and witness some
the great travel and angling opportunities found in
the vast province of British Columbia, Canada through
the Internet. It also provides the visitor with up to
date information on fishing techniques, tackle, reports
and other helpful angling topics. |
Good Things To Come
Sportfishing BC has experienced a make-over, and the good
guys at Totalnet Design are to be congratulated. Hugh Partridge,
Ray Bone and Peter Fibiger have given the site an attractive
new look. The added professionalism is certain to entertain
and please the fishing hordes who delight in surfing.
It may be the ideal time, therefore, for me to stop bragging
about the fish I did not catch during my Winter from Hell,
and instead tell you about the events that did brightened
my days. Outdoor writers and would-be writers must be included
among the niceties.
In times past, I scouted and directed young players to professional
and university hockey teams, also steered a few golfers to
universities prepared to offer scholarships. Consequently,
the interesting rush of strangers, and others, in the early
weeks of 2003 was unexpected but not an unusual experience.
Pointing the finger in the right direction uses up none of
my sweat. It is, for a party of one, an ongoing practice of
self-satisfaction.
A Victoria lad, Matt Silver came looking for summer work.
He will complete media/computer courses Kamloops College,
and I may or may not have helped.
Matt is a good one, and his dad was wise to insist the son
bear Sterling as his middle name. Matt wants to be a journalist.
His talents, enthusiasm, work habits and willingness to learn
will please employers and readers.
Shortly after that tete-a-tete, two excellent outdoor stories
were presented to readers of the Times Colonist, Victoria's
daily newspaper. The articles came at us on successive weekend
days.
On a Saturday, Gail Meyer's language and photographic talents
took readers on a vivid visit to Tonquin Valley in the Alberta
Rockies. I was most impressed by her way with words, then
got a quick answer to the first question I wanted to ask:
where did this talent come from? The add-on tag told me. Gail,
a "semi-retired" English teacher, lives on Saltspring
Island near Victoria.
The very next day the same daily offered us Pat Burkette's
delightful half-page feature, with handsome photo, on the
"Outdoor Wordmaster," or, formally, Roger Brunt,
a long-time member of both the Outdoor Writers of Canada and
the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association. Like Meyer, Burkette
and Brunt also live on Saltspring.
That, on two successive days we are treated to three writing
talents. One is an established member of two, three or four
organizations that promote outdoor writing. The other two
- Meyer and Burkette - also should belong to those craft-promoting
groups.
I detest squandering talent. With blunt politeness, I suggest
both join an organization (like OWC) that can help through
its newsletter marketing opportunities. Their proven writing
ability does not need assistance.
Like others in OWC and NOWA, Brunt encourages new writers
but has gone a step, or three, ahead of other members. He
founded and operates the North American School of Outdoor
Writing and prepares intelligent courses for his students.
During the past two or three decades, changes in outdoor
journalism have been subtle but evident. The emphasis on "hook
and bullet"games has dissipated and now must be shared
by an immense array of other outdoor happenings. Hunters and
anglers now share tourism-promoting articles with backpacking,
hiking, trail riding, bird watching, flora and fauna photography,
sailing, canoeing, kayaking, and a great variety of many other
enjoyments.
OWC acknowledges the changes but also recognizes the need
to encourage new outdoor writers. For that reason, OWC has
established youth and mentor programs to help "wannabe"
writers/reporters to send outdoor messages to radio, television,
newspapers, magazines, book publishers and, oh yes, internet.
Our world is expanding. It will continue even though the
retards in provincial, state and federal governments regularly
step in as spoilers by imposing mounting levies, often quite
unnecessary, to take away some of the joy.
It goes without saying: our governments can be stupid beyond
belief.
Still, the joy remains for the many of us who enjoy, share
and describe the beauty of outdoor things. Talents like Matt
Silver, Gail Meyer, Pat Burkette, Roger Brunt and his promising
students, plus members in many writing organizations have
a way with words. All are certain to continue describing our
world in many beautiful ways, and in their own way.
(FOOTNOTE: Anyone interested in additional information from
the organizations discussed above can E-mail: Roger Brunt,
North American School of Outdoor Writing rbrunt@saltspring.com;
Bill Thompson, Canadian Outdoor Writers outdoorswithbill@rogers.com;
Ron Kerr, Northwest Outdoor Writers Association NOWA@telus.net;
or Ernie Fedoruk efedoruk@islandnet.com.
Ernie Fedoruk retired in 1996 after a 47-year journalism career as an outdoors and sports columnist, has just completed
14 years as director/officer of the Outdoor Writers of Canada,
also was director of the Northwest Outdoor Writers Association
for 11 years. His passion is fishing – to find and to
protect – and insists his greatest contribution as a
conservationist is incompetence.
Ernie Fedoruk Freelance Journalist
1867 Neil Street Victoria, BC, V8R 3C6, Canada
phone:(250)592-4438 fax:(250)592-7090
e-mail: efedoruk@islandnet.com
To purchase Ernie Fedoruk's column for publication, please
contact efedoruk@islandnet.com
For previous articles by Ernie Fedoruk, click on the links
below:
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