To any kids thinking about becoming fish and wildlife officers

[gatorhunter]

Originally Posted by mikeo2

Manitoba seems to hire a ton of people, they don't seem to have the requirements provinces like Alberta or sask do. A lot of people do seasonal work in Manitoba and get full time work elsewhere.

HOLD ON THERE BOBBA LOUIE! Don't be making assumptions based on incomplete knowledge of Manitoba's or other Provinces' hiring practices!

It was stated earlier in this thread that MB, SK, AB, BC and YK have formed an alliance to work together to standardize training for resource law enforcement officers. Each jurisdiction selects the number of recruits that they will send to the Western Canadian Conservation Law Enforcement Academy. Just so happens that MB and BC have sent the most recruits to WCCLEA in the past 3 years. Another class begins in January 2012.

MB hires dozens of seasonal provincial park officers every spring. They are selected from the western Canadian resource colleges as well as Criminal Justice students from MB universities and even Lethbridge College. Yes, many park patrol officers go onto other jobs but then they come from a diversity of law enforcement related educational facilities.

Competitions for full time Natural Resource Officers, Conservation Officers, Fish and Wildlife Officers are held as the respective Provincial Governments approve. MB has been fortunate to have pretty much annual full time officer competitions for at least 10 years now.

The first WCCLEA class was held in Hinton, AB in the fall of 08. Alberta had some recruits in that class. The other was held in Victoria, BC because BC was putting about 14 recruits through the program. Granted SK and AB seem to be under-represented in the last class but Government pendulums always swing. There may very well be a majority of AB recruits in a near future class.

Upon graduation from WCCLEA, all graduates are qualified to work as resource law enforcement officers in any of the western Provinces. The academy instructors are from each Province and the course material was developed and approved by each Province.

This program produces Game Wardens. It lasts approximately 16 weeks and is the best program that I've seen in 30+ years on the job. These recruits hit the ground running and are trained to the highest standards in firearms, driving, interviewing, defensive tactics and use of force. They receive training in other areas like boating, ATV, snowmobile, swift water rescue and a whole bunch of other applicable areas.

Interestingly, in the past year MB has seen the retirements of the first LCC graduates hired by MB. These officers graduated from LCC back in 1977. Coincidentally, both of them have sons who also became Game Wardens. One in MB and one in AB.