An AUPE member with a passion for Alberta''s wilderness has been named the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officer of the Year.
Shane Ramstead, a district officer in Grande Cache, was given the recognition by his peers because of his longstanding dedication to conservation and enforcement efforts.
The annual award is handed out by the North American Wildlife Enforcement Officers Association, which has 8,000 members across the continent. His recognition this year has come twice: Ramstead was also the 2017 recipient of Alberta''s Fish and Wildlife Officer of the Year award.
"District Officer Ramstead is well-known for his dedication to the community and the people who call the area home," Alberta Fish and Wildlife said in a statement.
Ramstead has also made great strides in collaborating with local wilderness associations. He works with First Nations by helping them to secure hunting rights while also ensuring the preservation of certain species, which earned him a Bull Trout Conservation Award.
He has also dedicated much of his efforts at protecting the grizzly bear, helping to minimize dangerous encounters by teaching BearSmart strategies to local groups and communities.
Ramstead''s dedication stems from his family''s history working as enforcement officers: His grandfather, Gordon Ramstead, was the first Fish and Wildlife officer in the Edson area. His father, Lew, also worked as an enforcement officer.