LAC LA BICHE - On Sept. 7, nearly four months of hard work and dedication culminated in a graduation ceremony for 50 recruits from the fish and wildlife officer training program at the Western Conservation Law Enforcement Academy (WCLEA) in Lac La Biche.
Over the past few months, the recruits, who are from all over Western Canada, received intensive instruction in firearms training and defensive tactics, conducting investigations, boat safety and operations, as well as emergency vehicle use.
The graduation ceremony got underway Thursday afternoon at the Bold Center in Lac La Biche. While their families and friends watched from the bleachers, the recruits-led by a regimental band and dressed in pressed, dark green uniforms-marched into the field house.
After the singing of ‘Oh Canada’ by local musician Brian Deheer, the graduates performed a drill display, which was followed by speeches from the dignitary party, including one from Farooq Sheikh, Chief Sheriff of Alberta, who commended the class of 50 for their hard work and commitment to their training, wishing them all the best in their future careers.
Once this portion of the event had concluded, the recruits officially became fish and wildlife officers. One by one, starting with those from Manitoba and going right down the line to BC, the officers were called up in front of several high-ranking counterparts representing fish and wildlife agencies in the western provinces to receive their badges.
Tristan Unreiner of Leduc was part of the Alberta contingent who arrived at WCLEA in May to begin what would be 18 weeks of intensive, at times very trying education designed to prepare recruits for the challenges of the job.
“Overall, this has been an awesome experience, one that provided me with the tools I will need to be a proficient game warden,” Unreiner told Lakeland This Week. “There was never a dull moment, as we were learning something new every day.”
Unreiner, who will soon be taking a position as a fish and wildlife officer in Slave Lake, said he has also made many good friends during his time at the academy.
“I would have to say the most difficult part of this entire course is leaving so many close friends behind,” he continued.
For Carson Boyechko, who hails from Brandon, Manitoba, being so far away from home for so long took some adjustment, but it took no time at all for him to settle in. And from there, he did very well, getting through the training while making several lifelong friendships.
“This has been a great training program, but it takes a great amount of hard work and dedication to get through,” he explained, adding that the recruits were put through their paces with demanding physical fitness such as cardio and defensive tactics. “From here, I am heading back to Manitoba to start working in Riverton, which is about an hour and a half north of Winnipeg.”
Sgt. Lukas Madsen, an Alberta fish and wildlife officer who served as a firearms instructor for the recruits during their time in Lac La Biche, stated that the class did exceptionally well in this area of the program.
“They were good at taking instructions and all are now very capable in firearms proficiency,” Madsen said, adding that there are certain levels of firearms accuracy recruits are expected to meet in order to graduate.