Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/175770
TLN1309-proof 9/11/13 1:50 PM Page 1 WEST COAST SPORTSFIELD TRAINING DAY REPORT IMAGES / TEXT BY JERRY ROUSSEAU INAUGURAL TRAINING DAY A BIG SUCCESS There certainly was a lot of hubbub surrounding the inaugural West Coast Sportsfield Training Day, conceived and hosted by WCTA Past President and Parks Operations Manager for the Township of Langley, Tab Buckner. Judging by the email and phone inquiries received by the WCTA office, a lot of people were pleasantly surprised to learn a summertime event with education and a supplier trade show was being planned. When the day was done, 106 delegates, 22 vendors, 5 demonstration station exhibitors and 2 world class speakers took part in the Sport Turf Association (STA) sanctioned event held August 29th at the Langley Events Centre and Willoughby Community Park in Langley, BC. Even TOL Mayor Jack Froese took some time out of his busy schedule to attend and deliver words of encouragement to the participants! This rain or shine indoor/outdoor event was modelled after the STA's Field Day, an annual day-long education and tradeshow held every fall for the past 25 years, most of which have taken place in various Ontario locations except for in 2011 and 2013, where efforts to support Atlantic sports turf managers saw the STA deliver additional field days in Moncton and Halfiax respectively. "We were excited to work with the WCTA and past President Tab Buckner on the first ever West Coast Training Day," commented Lee Huether, STA Executive Manager. "Our partnership with the WCTA has paved the way for events like this to take place and we're closer to achieving our goal of supporting sports turf managers from coast to coast." The training day was designed for participation by all levels of sportsfield management personnel; the formula included education, networking opportunities, a chance to visit suppliers at the outdoor tradeshow, live demonstrations and even hands-on equipment testing. Continued On Page 22 20 WESTERN CANADA TURFGRASS ASSOCIATION 2 3 4 1. COOL PANORAMA OF THE NEW NATURAL GRASS FIELD AT WILLOUGHBY COMMUNITY PARK. IIABC IRRIGATION AUDIT STATION IN FOREGROUND. 2. KWANTLEN UNIVERISTY TURF MANAGEMENT INSTRUCTOR STAN KAZYMERCHYK (LEFT) WELCOMES SPEAKER MARK LUCAS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 3. TAB BUCKNER (RIGHT) PRESENTS TOL MAYOR JACK FROESE WITH A SMALL TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FROM THE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE 4. UNIVERSITY OF GUELPH'S DR. ERIC LYONS PRESENTING HIS TALK ON ROOT ZONE MANAGEMENT. 1