Conservative MP Bob Zimmer capped off an amazing 2025 Stick To Your Guns Dinner when he presented Tony Bernardo with the King Charles III Coronation Medal, in honor of Tony’s contributions to the ongoing battle for our culture, our heritage and our guns.
It was the undisputed highlight of the evening and a testament to the CSSA’s enduring commitment to this political and ideological battle.
“Tony is my go-to person for anything firearms related,” Mr. Zimmer said, after he presented the medal. “He’s also THE trusted advisor to the Conservative Party on all things firearms related.”
He also reminded us that now (the immediate aftermath of the election) is not the time for complacency or defeatist thinking. This government will last two years, at most, Zimmer predicted, and “our most important work still lies ahead of us.”
The CSSA Annual General Meeting
The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Canadian Shooting Sports Association was was a rallying cry — a bold reaffirmation that, despite mounting political pressure and cultural opposition, Canada’s firearms community will not yield.
President Diane Town set the tone, urging members to “keep the faith” and reinforced that the CSSA will never back down from defending the rights of its members. Her words resonated deeply, reminding everyone that the fight for sensible firearms policies is far from over.
“Our strength as an organization doesn’t come from any single person or initiative – it comes from you, our members.”
The meeting featured key updates from CSSA’s Tony Bernardo, who also delivered the Communications Report, and Office Manager Heather McConaghy presented the Administration Report to ensure transparency with the membership.
A warm welcome was extended to Alberta’s Ian Vaughan, the newest addition to the CSSA’s Board of Directors. It’s great to welcome fresh ideas and energy to the CSSA’s mission.
The election results were delivered, with all directors on the ballot being re-elected for another term.
CSSA Seminars
We held two seminars after the AGM.
The first seminar, led by firearms lawyer Ed Burlew, pulled back the curtain on the often Kafkaesque realities of Canada’s firearms laws.
Through two recent case studies, Burlew exposed the absurdity of regulations that penalize the law-abiding while failing to address real threats to public safety.
Mr. Burlew also noted Ontario’s CFO is now very aggressive when dealing with PAL holders accused of any crime. They used to take a more passive approach, allowing police to investigate before taking action. No more.
Possession and Acquisition Licenses are suspended, not revoked, because a suspension cannot be appealed.
Through this and other measures, the process is now the punishment. Many PAL holders are being bankrupted by the legal costs of defending themselves and fighting to get their firearms back.
Burlew encouraged every CSSA member and every gun owner to buy Firearm Legal Defense Insurance because it’s your best friend. For $95 per year, you can protect yourself from massive legal bills in the event you are accused of a crime involving firearms. That’s inexpensive peace of mind.
Burlew also called out the need for more firearms lawyers. The pool of legal experts in this field continues to shrink through attrition and retirement, and these lawyers aren’t being replaced.
Firearms law is far too complicated to leave to a lawyer unfamiliar with its multitude of nuances.
The second seminar brought political heavyweights to the stage: Conservative MPs Cheryl Gallant and Bob Zimmer, and an unexpected but most welcome addition, Alberta Chief Firearms Officer Teri-Jane Bryant, who joined the panel. She was coincidentally visiting friends in Ontario the weekend of our AGM, so she dropped by the AGM to say hello.
Ms. Gallant and Mr. Zimmer tackled the Conservative Party of Canada’s strategy to champion firearms rights, emphasizing the need to forge alliances beyond traditional party lines.
Ms. Gallant, whose riding contains Canadian Forces Base Petawawa, shared staggering statistics about Canada’s military recruiting processes. Of the 50,000 applicants, only 15,000 were accepted. She noted also that the online application process makes appealing a decision extremely difficult.
As a result, Canada is missing out on tens of thousands of otherwise-qualified applicants because DEI continues to drive the recruiting process.
Ms. Bryant highlighted the unique autonomy she and Saskatchewan’s Commissioner of Firearms Robert Freberg enjoy under provincial authority, in stark contrast to federally appointed CFOs who are beholden to Ottawa’s directives.
The panel also addressed broader concerns, from the military’s DEI-driven recruitment challenges to the fragile lifespan of the current Liberal-NDP government coalition.
Their candid insights painted a picture of both opportunity and urgency for the firearms community to act.
2025 “Stick To Your Guns” Dinner
This year’s Stick to Your Guns Dinner transformed the serious atmosphere of the afternoon seminars into one of camaraderie and celebration.
Cocktails set the stage for mingling, followed by a hearty dinner.
The energy was palpable as raffle draws, a spin-the-wheel prize game, and a 50/50 draw (won by Ed Burlew) kept spirits high.
Brian Lovig’s live auction for a Savage .22 rifle raised an impressive $500, showcasing our community’s generosity and enthusiasm for CSSA’s mission.
MP Bob Zimmer’s keynote address was a call for action grounded in stark realities.
Zimmer didn’t mince words about Canada’s broken bail system, citing the tragic case of Oregon woman Evelyn Weaver, murdered by a Canadian who was out on bail at the time he allegedly murdered Weaver.
Bob Zimmer then presented Tony Bernardo with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
The packed room erupted in applause as Bernardo was honored for his decades of service to the CSSA and Canada’s sporting community.
Zimmer’s praise for Tony Bernardo was unequivocal, calling him “THE trusted advisor to the Conservative Party” on firearms issues.
“Tony Bernardo is my go-to person for anything firearms related,” Zimmer added.
These endorsements underscored Bernardo’s pivotal role in shaping firearms policy through advocacy.
In a world where the rights of law-abiding firearms owners are too often misunderstood or maligned, the CSSA’s AGM and “Stick to Your Guns Dinner” stand as beacons of hope. They are reminders that this community, armed with facts, passion, and unity, will not go away.
This year’s AGM and Stick to Your Guns dinner wasn’t just a tradition, it was a declaration
.We are still here.
We are still fighting.
And we will never back down.
