Henry P. Nicholson, Fred Pearson, Bill Chamberlain and Clayton Glover originally founded the association. The first meeting was at the home of Mr. Nicholson
And arrangements were made for larger meetings, with each attendee agreeing to bring ten or more people each and to give the meeting wide spread publicity.
The first Association meeting was held at the Y.M.C.A. in St.Catharines on Saturday, March 8th, 1930, with 75 sportsmen in attendance, Henry Nicholson acted as chairperson and placed before the gathering the importance of the conservation of game and fish in Lincoln County and educating the public to the value of our natural resources.
During the first 35 years the Association sent a delegation to the Game & Fish Act. Many of these resolutions were accepted and are now law. The Ministry of Natural Resources of Ontario has since discontinued these meetings but the Ministry still accepts and acknowledges resolutions from our Association.
In the early years the Association held regular meetings at various locations around the Niagara Peninsula, both with the acquisition of a permanent facility and with excellent launch ramps being built on the property the Association now has a permanent home on Lighthouse Road in St.Catharines.
Today conditions have changed. Urban expansion has caused a great loss in natural habitat. Houses have been built along trout streams, ownership of properties has changed and pollution is everywhere. Although many changes in the Association have occurred since the beginning, our fundamental principles of education and conservation remain unchanged. The Association is responsible for stocking Lake Ontario each year with more than ½ million Salmon, Rainbow and Brown Trout.
The members of the Association have many events throughout the year. There are picnics and BBQ’s for family and friends and Associations pot luck socials. A Members only derby runs in conjunction with our Annual Spring Salmon Derby and there is also the Fall Fishing Derby. These derbies also provide information to the Ministry of Natural Resources in order that they can ascertain the health and numbers of the various species of fish caught.
Last, but not least, the Association also provides a FREE KID’S Day Fishing Derby for all children ages 2 to 16. This is a Family Fun Fishing day. Again, thanks to community and business sponsorships as well as numerous volunteers this derby has now grown to 800 children and still grows more each year.
61 LIGHTHOUSE RD, ST.CATHARINES, ONTARIO, L2N 7P4 (905) 937-6335