SCI-Canada Disappointed by Global TV/Shaw Media
Safari Club International 09.07.12
Safari Club International – Canada (SCI-Canada) is incredulous to learn that the Canadian network Global Television, a division of Shaw Media, has decided to stop airing all hunting shows. This sudden decision ended the popular programs “Canada in the Rough” and “Canadian Tradition.” SCI-Canada urges Global Television/Shaw Media to reconsider this ill-conceived decision, and return all hunting programs to their rightful place on national television.
Global Television has conceded that over a million viewers tune in to the Canadian block of outdoor shows, making its decision even more blatantly anti-hunting. The move by Global Television is not a sound business decision because Canada’s 2 million hunters can easily be reached by advertisers through these programs.
“Canada in the Rough,” “Canadian Tradition,” as well as other similar programs, promote the safe and ethical pursuit of our heritage sport. They teach children and adults alike to get outdoors and to care about our natural resources.
Global Television’s decision takes no account of the very important contribution made by Canada’s hunting/conservation community to the Canadian economy. It takes no account of the extremely important contribution made to conservation and outdoor education by these programs and by our community. In fact, this action is a serious attack not only on the Canadian hunting and conservation community, but on our freedoms of speech and of expression.
Hunters are passionate conservationists who have consistently, over decades, contributed disproportionately vast sums of money and time to wildlife conservation, management, and research. Hunters and anglers contribute more than $10 billion to the Canadian economy each year. Hunter-conservationists subscribe to the North American Model for Wildlife Conservation, the most effective and proven conservation system in the world that has been responsible for modern healthy and sustainable wildlife populations across the continent. The North American Model, which was developed through the cooperation of hunters, anglers, scientists and government, uses science and laws to manage and protect wildlife. Legal, ethical hunting is a key element of this model.
Hunting is legally recognized in several jurisdictions as part of the heritage of Canada. In fact the Canadian government acknowledged anglers’ and hunters’ expertise in these matters recently when Prime Minister Stephen Harper created the National Hunting and Angling Advisory Panel that will provide expert advice to the government on fish and wildlife conservation issues.
Again, SCI-Canada urges Global Television/Shaw Media to reconsider this ill-conceived decision, and requests that all hunting programs be returned to their regularly scheduled production.
Protecting hunters’ rights and promoting wildlife conservation, SCI’s two areas of focus, historically has been the interest of hundreds of individuals long before SCI was established. But how did SCI as an organization begin?
Forty years ago, there were many safari clubs across the country made up of local, unaffiliated groups of hunters. One such was Safari Club of Los Angeles, which was formed in April 1971 by forty-seven individuals. In early 1972, an out-of-towner from a similar club in Chicago attended one of the monthly Wednesday night meetings, and it was decided that the L.A. club should attempt to combine with the one in Chicago to make it an affiliated chapter. The founder of Safari Club of Los Angeles, C.J. McElroy, went to the Windy City and instituted the new chapter.
Eleven months after the formation of Safari Club of Los Angeles, on March 9, 1972, the name was changed officially to Safari Club International. SCI continued to reach out to other independent safari clubs throughout the United States in an effort to combine them into a single overall organization.
Today, interest in SCI’s two primary missions has grown a worldwide network. Subsequent involvement and promotion of these missions is rooted in each of our 55,000 members, supported through each of our 190 membership chapters found across the globe, and put into action by government representatives and personnel both nationally and internationally.
In this way, we can encourage an appreciation for nature and wildlife so that conservation efforts remain strong, while also fighting to protect our rich hunting heritage. Big changes can be achieved through the endeavors of many who are united in a mission – the mission of Safari Club International.
