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Brent Cooke Receives CWF’s artistic award for wildlife conservation

OTTAWA, ON (June 23, 2015) – Brent Cooke of Victoria, BC is the recipient of the Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) 2015 Robert Bateman Award recognizing a group or individual who brings awareness to conservation through artistic work.

A marine biology technician by training and a skilled underwater photographer, Cooke has made valuable contributions to science. He has mapped the ranges of various marine species and collected more than 14,000 underwater photographs for the Royal British Columbia Museum, including images of species not previously known to live in B.C. waters.

In the late 1990s, Cooke began casting bronze sculptures of birds and marine wildlife, basing his work on his field photography. Each piece is carefully created to reflect movement and maintain accuracy. Brent uses his art to promote wildlife conservation and natural history to the public at large.

“Art has a tremendous impact on the public and we can draw on that connection to develop a deeper appreciation of wildlife and habitat conservation,” says Wade Luzny, CWF’s CEO and Executive Vice-President. “Brent Cooke has created ground breaking exhibits and used a variety of artistic mediums to explore and encourage conservation. I admire and appreciate his vision and creativity.”

Every year, the Canadian Wildlife Federation recognizes Canada’s most-deserving conservationists through its Conservation Achievement Awards. The awards pay tribute to individuals and groups who have made exemplary contributions in the area of wildlife and habitat conservation and education. The awards will be presented at the Canadian Wildlife Federation Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 27 in Saint John, New Brunswick.

About the Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to fostering awareness and appreciation of our natural world. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on the environment, sponsoring research, developing and delivering education programs, promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, recommending changes to policy and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.
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Contacts:
Pam Logan Jerika Bradford
Director of Communications Communications Officer
pamelal@cwf-fcf.org jerikab@cwf-fcf.org
613-222-1405 (cell) 613-599-9594 ext.219 or 613-868-0288 (cell)