Bob Bancroft

ASFWB Merit Award

2001

Bob Bancroft. is a longtime member and past-president of our Society. His name is also familiar to many maritimers because of his volunteer activities and appearances on local radio. The ASFWB is pleased to present Bob with the 2001 Merit Award, recognizing his distinguished service in the field of fish and wildlife biology.

Bob is originally from the Annapolis Valley, but having a military father meant that the family moved around a lot. Bob began his university studies at U.N.B., later switching to Acadia where he was to receive his B. Sc. and eventually his M. Sc. While the typical university student was putting in shifts at the local fast food outlet, Bob started a business, "Mud Creek Motorcycles" - at the time, the only Kawasaki dealer in the area. The business did well, employing seven people at its peak. When Bob completed his degree, it was decision time. Would he continue with the motorcycle business? Or, would he pursue another direction more related to his education. Luckily for us, Bob chose the latter and the rest, as they say, is history.

Bob spent 28 years with the provincial government in Nova Scotia, 15 years as a wildlife biologist and 13 years, as a fisheries biologist. One of Bob's main interests has been river restoration. He combined his scientific knowledge with his public awareness and education skills in assisting volunteer groups involved in river restoration. Bob was also known for his rehabilitation work with various birds and animals - everything from owls and eagles to skunks and raccoons.

The media recognized that Bob possessed a combination of qualities -broad wildlife knowledge and a pleasant, diplomatic personality - that would prove successful as a guest on CBC's Maritime Noon. Bob soon became a regular on the popular phone-in show.

A true Type A personality, Bob likes to keep busy. Although recently retired from the Nova Scotia provincial government, Bob has not put his feet up. If anything, retirement has given him the freedom to take on new challenges. His accomplishments and involvements are numerous. Presently, Bob is involved with the following organizations and initiatives:

• President of the Nova Scotia Federation of Anglers and Hunters,
• President of the Canadian Association of Small Mouth Anglers,
• Member of the Executive for the Canadian Wildlife Federation,
• Member of the Board of Directors of the Nova Scotia Nature Trust
• Co-authored a forestry-wildlife manual and writes for various magazines and journals, including the Atlantic Salmon Journal, Eastern Woods and Waters, and Saltscapes.
• Assessor for Smartwood (FSC) which promotes forest certification and ecologically sensitive forest practices. This type of work brought Bob into contact with the First Nations band in Pictou which has since hired Bob on a contract basis to carry out inventories and develop management plans for the band's land.