Alberta Fish and Game Association to change its name in February

The Alberta Fish and Game Association is excited to announce a new chapter in its long history as the province’s oldest conservation organization. Going forward, the group will now operate as the Alberta Wildlife Federation.

According to a mid-November press release, the AFGA decided to rebrand after extensive consultation with its membership. “Our new operating name will better align us with other affiliate members of the Canadian Wildlife Federation, improve our household name recognition across Alberta, and increase our fundraising opportunities,” states the release.

The association will continue to use the AFGA moniker, however, as its legal name. According to CEO Kelly Carter, it was decided to retain AFGA so the group wouldn’t have to make costly changes to land titles. It also didn’t want to distance itself from its roots. Although the association’s mission statement will also be reviewed over the coming year, advocacy for anglers, hunters and habitat conservation will remain a major focus.

“We’re not losing the hunting and fishing aspect of things,” Carter says. “Everything that we do is still based off the North American model of conservation.”

In addition to the operating name change, the association’s Wildlife Trust Fund will be renamed the Alberta Habitat Fund this year. “There was some confusion out there in regard to what the Wildlife Trust Fund is,” Carter says. “With the name Alberta Habitat Fund, it’s very clear what that is, and what that money will be used for.”

While the AFGA is currently using the new name in some of its communications, the official change will take place at the organization’s annual conference, which is scheduled for February 22 to 24 in Medicine Hat. At that time, the new Alberta Wildlife Federation logo will be unveiled, along with plans for a new website.

Learn more about the AFGA’s programs and positions at www.afga.org.