The Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus of Canada has named Tom Brooke, former President of the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association (CSIA), an Honorary Member of the Caucus.
“I am honored to be able to recognize the dedication that Tom Brooke has to fishing and all of Canada’s outdoor heritage activities,” said Member of Parliament (MP) Bob Zimmer, Co-Chair of the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus. “He exemplifies everything that the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus stands for and, as someone who I have known for many years, I am very pleased to welcome him as an honorary member.”
Tom Brooke is known in recreational fishing circles throughout North America from his previous role of V.P. of Operations for Shimano Canada and as a member of the CSIA Government Affairs Committee. “Having been associated with the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus for a number of years,” stated Brooke, “I have come to appreciate the hard work and dedication so many MP’s put into their work not only for our great outdoors but on behalf of all Canadians through their public service. To be made an honorary member of such an outstanding group of men and women is a real honor.”
In addition to Brooke’s work with the Canadian Sportfishing Industry Association and Canadian National Sportfishing Association, both organizations he helped to create, he is a current member of the Board of Directors of the Outdoor Caucus Association of Canada, the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and is the Past Chair of the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Heritage Committee. Brooke is credited as the inventor of the Shimano Live Release Boats in the mid-1980s, versions of which operate today to ensure that millions of tournament-caught fish in North America are released alive and unharmed to their home waters.
The Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus was established in 2006 to mirror the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, and Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation Board Member Phil Morlock of Shimano was instrumental in founding the Caucus in Canada.
Tom Brooke is the third Canadian to receive such an honor from the Parliamentary Outdoor Caucus. Previous honorees include Phil Morlock and Tony Bernardo, Executive Director of the Canadian Shooting Sports Association.
Studies conducted at both the state and federal level have found that the number of hunters and trappers have been on a generally declining trend over the past several decades. To increase recruitment, retention, and reactivation (R3) of hunters and trappers, which initiative do you think would have the greatest impact?
