Sixteen-year-old Philip Collier of Doyles, Newfoundland and Labrador, has been selected as the winner of the 2010 Atlantic Province's Youth Hunting and Fishing Exchange Program. He will travel to Prince Edward Island at the end of October, along with his father George Collier, for a guided Canada goose and pheasant hunt. The program, which creates opportunities for youth in Atlantic Canada to become involved in conservation awareness, hunting and angling, was hosted this year between the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

"The traditions of hunting and angling in our province are deeply rooted in our culture, and this program provides an opportunity to encourage our youth to become involved in these outdoor pursuits," said the Honourable Charlene Johnson, Minister of Environment and Conservation. "The level of interest is certainly indicated by the number of qualified candidates from which Philip was chosen this year, as his name was drawn from a pool of more than 300 qualified youth. I wish him a very safe and enjoyable hunt."

In Newfoundland and Labrador, the 2010 Youth Hunting/Fishing Exchange Program was open to all residents between the ages of 12 and 17 who completed a Firearm Safety/Hunter Education Course between July 2009 and June 2010. The sponsors for this year's exchange program were Tuckamore Lodge Ltd., Barnes Sporting Goods, the Newfoundland and Labrador Outfitters Association, the Newfoundland and Labrador Conservation Officers Association, Delta Waterfowl, the Prince Edward Island Outfitters Association, Earnscliffe Pheasant Preserve, David McLellan's Waterfowling, the Prince Edward Island Department of Environment, Energy and Forestry, and the Newfoundland and Labrador Department of Environment and Conservation.

Philip's name was drawn by Prince Edward Island exchange winner, 15-year-old Jack MacMillan, who was accompanied by his father, Terry Drake. Mr. Drake and his son visited the province in August and were hosted by Barb Genge, owner and operator of Tuckamore Lodge in Main Brook, where they spent the week fishing for Atlantic salmon.

For more information about the Atlantic Province's Youth Hunting and Fishing Exchange Program, visit www.gov.nl.ca/env/wildlife/education/index.html or contact Jason Foster, Wildlife Division, at 709-637-2063.

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Media contact:

Melony O'Neill
Director of Communications
Department of Environment and Conservation
709-729-2575, 689-0928
moneill@gov.nl.ca