Conservation Officer Service - 100 Years of Service

The life of a game warden was not an easy one. Long hours, difficult terrain, and inclement weather were the norm. In 1930, Game Commissioner Bryan Williams wrote in his annual report:

“The work done by the Game Wardens this year has been highly commendable… [T]he Game Department really has a remarkably fine lot of men whose physique and devotion to duty regardless of danger, exposure to rain, frost, and snow, and often long hours of night work, has been a great credit to the Department.”

And there were dangers in more than the landscape. See Fallen Comrades.

Commissioner Williams was proud of his workforce and the skill and dedication with which they applied themselves. The following year he wrote:

“The ordinary man cannot know what amount of work a police officer or Game Warden has to do or what his responsibilities are. A Game Warden has his whole time occupied, every day of every month of the year, and to do his work properly he has to work long hours, frequently finding it almost impossible to take his annual leave of absence.”

For the very first time, advertisements of British Columbia’s wildlife resources were placed in American popular magazines.

That same year, 504 non-residents purchased a licence to hunt in BC.

Game Warden Reg King, on a BC Police issue Harley Davidson, circa 1940.

Given their intimate knowledge of the districts they patrolled, the BC Game Commission and the BC Attorney General felt Game Wardens could be of more service to their country at home than overseas. If “trouble” should arise in any of these districts, or hostilities ever reach BC’s shores, the expertise of Game Department staff would prove invaluable.

In recognition of the demanding nature of the job, Game Commissioner Frank Butler wrote:

"As the duties of a Game Warden are of an arduous nature, calling for him to be on duty at any and all times, it is the desire of this Commission that whenever possible, a Game Warden should be allowed one day a week off duty if he so desires…it should be a recognized fact that each Game Warden…is entitled to a reasonable time off to spend with his family or in connection with his own personal interests."

The University of British Columbia and the BC Game Commission held ground-breaking meetings to discuss opportunities for mutual assistance.

Drs. Ian McTaggart-Cowan and W.A. Clements were appointed as scientific advisers to the Game Department and a close working relationship ensued. This marked an important step in the integration of science and technology with the management of BC’s fish and wildlife.

Cache Creek, 1940s

The station initially consisted of a tent on the side of the highway. By 1955, however, a permanent building had been constructed along with a paved pull-out to allow for safer roadside checks.

Cache Creek, 1963

Over the next 30 years, many of the BC’s Game Wardens, and later, Conservation Officers, would receive valuable enforcement training at the Cache Creek station. In 1976, the station was shut down and part of its function taken over by the Department’s Biometrics Section based in Victoria.

The Game Department hired its first biologist and an increasing number of fish and wildlife research studies were initiated.

Game Wardens were becoming more involved in game management functions in addition to fish and game law enforcement.

Game Warden James Dewar, appointed Chief Predatory Animal Hunter

Game Warden James Dewar was appointed Chief Predatory Animal Hunter, based out of Extension, near Nanaimo. The Game Department built kennels at Extension and purchased trained cougar hounds. The plan was to breed, train and then distribute the hounds to districts that required them.

The BC Game Commission sought to expand its influence in the field of public education and public relations. In October 1954, the first issue of Wildlife Review was published and over 2000 free copies distributed. This appears to have been a first for a Canadian game department.

Circulation peaked in 1964, at approximately 60,000 copies. Remarkably, the magazine was still free of advertising and available at no charge.

The Game Commission was disbanded and fish and wildlife administration, previously under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Attorney General, was transferred to the new Ministry of Recreation and Conservation.

The Game Department was renamed the Fish and Game Branch and former Game Commissioner Frank R. Butler became its Director.