DARFM Clinches AAROM Excellence Award
The Department of Aquatic Resources and Fisheries Management (DARFM) has earned The CMM recognition throughout Atlantic Canada with its first Aboriginal Aquatic Resources Management (AAROM) Excellence Award.
This award was long time coming, and something DARFM staff were hoping for – but also a bit of a surprise, says Billy Francis.
Billy, DARFM’s Indigenous Fisheries Manager, has overseen and guided the work that earned The CMM the award and accolades it received in January.
“Our AAROM group is one of the largest AAROM groups in all of Canada, let alone just the Atlantic provinces,” Billy said, during an interview with the Comms Department. “Jus to see the recognition from our fellow peers is amazing.”
To prepare for this year’s award, DARFM Director Tyler Sack implemented a strategy that entailed studying what earned the previous recipient their AAROM Excellence Award.
“Tyler had a piece of paper from last year’s award, and he had it all scored out and said, ‘This is what we’re striving for this year,” Billy said.
What won The CMM its award was the open, clear communication between DARFM and the Member Communities who make up its Member Board, he added.
“I do believe it was open dialogue with a lot of the different communities (that won us the award.) We tried to make as much of an impact as possible when we were picking this award up. It was quite a big ceremony, we had a lot of people coming along,” Billy said, noting that it was an event celebrating Indigenous achievement in AAROM and fisheries-related fields across Atlantic Canada.
The AAROM Excellence Award is presented by the Atlantic Policy Congress of the First Nations Chiefs Secretariat (APC), at the Fisheries Awards Banquet and Ceremony – part of the APC Annual Fisheries Conference. This year, it was held at the Delta Beausejour, from January 28th to 30th in Moncton.
Francis and a delegation from DARFM and the OED were attendance. This delegation included including Executive Director Angie Gillis, Resource Management Officer Technician (RMOT) Alfred Young, Commercial Fisheries Liaison Coordinator Josh Sack, Program Managers Alannah Williams and Kelsey White, Indigenous Fisheries Administrator and Tag Supplier Cathy Irving, Administrator Chera Gilby and Culture, Education and Engagement Manager Alanna Syliboy.
“I’m absolutely thrilled and incredibly proud to see our hard work recognized with the AAROM Excellence Award. This is such a meaningful achievement for all of us at CMM, and it wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication and collaboration of our Member Communities and the amazing team we have here,” said CMM Executive Director Angie Gillis.
“It’s been such a journey, and to see this recognition really feels like a celebration of our shared efforts, our culture, and the future we’re building together. I couldn’t be happier,” she added.
The AAROM Excellence Award recognizes the achievements and contributions of members in the fisheries and aquatic resources fields.
The presentation of the award caps off three-day event, where fisheries managers, community members, industry leaders and government staff share and receive updates related to commercial fisheries. The conference also recognizes and celebrates the contributions of members in the past year.