Western Canada Turfgrass Association - Biographies

Index

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Past Presidents

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Dena Gent - 2010

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President? Who knew? When I joined the Board back in 2004 I had no aspirations to become President. I wasn’t even sure at the time if I wanted to be on the Board.

I was asked to join the Board in the Fall of 2003. We had just purchased a home in Vancouver, my Mother had just been diagnosed with cancer and my sister was pregnant with her second child. There was a lot going on in my life at the time.

Three weeks before the Conference in 2004, my Mother sadly passed away after a very short battle with cancer. One week before the conference my sister gave birth to a very handsome boy, Sean.

I am very glad that I joined the Board and have now stepped up to become President. With so many exciting things going on with the WCTA with the transition of Executive Directors to trying out a new venue in Conference Centers next year. It is an honour and a privilege to me to be the WCTA President for the 2009 – 2010 year. I look forward to all of the challenges and the unknowns that this year of transition will surely provide with the assistance of my fantastic Board Members!

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Karen Hounsome - 2009

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President Plasteras asked me to tell the members of the Western Turf who I am. So I spoke to my therapists and they said in about fifty years I might be able to tell you. This is what happens when you work in the Irrigation industry for 27 years

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I was born in Quebec and moved to Nova Scotia soon after. In 1974 we moved to Victoria and I continued my education at Camosun College, University of Victoria and the BC Institute of Technology. I hold a Technologist Diploma in Landscape Horticulture and am a member of the ASTT, Applied Science Technologists of B.C. in Biological Sciences.

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In 1978 I started working for Rain bird Canada doing irrigation design for western Canada. At the time I thought this would be a temporary job "until something better came along", but as anyone who has worked in the Irrigation industry can attest, the vortex sucks you in. I worked in the Vancouver Area for ten years, transferred to Toronto and worked with an irrigation contractor there for two years. In 1988 I moved back to the Island to work for the Hunter distributor of Irrigation products.

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I currently live on Vancouver Island and work for Eljay Irrigation Ltd., managing the Victoria and the Burnaby branches.

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I have been actively involved with the IIABC (Irrigation Industry Association of B.C.) since it's inception in 1978. Over the past 18 years the IIABC has become more involved in the expansion of education to Contractors and end-users of irrigation systems. My passion in the industry is to see equipment used appropriately to eliminate waste, both water waste and financial waste. To this end I volunteer time with the IIABC education classes at their annual conference as well as volunteering with the Local Victoria Water District (CRD) in teaching homeowner workshops aimed at efficient irrigation. I teach and assist local Colleges on the Island with irrigation information for courses taught to students in the landscape and turf fields.

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I am certified through the Irrigation Industry Association of B.C. in Golf Irrigation Design, Commercial Irrigation Design and Water Auditing. I am also a Past President of the IIABC and currently serve on the Certification Board of the IIABC.

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My goal over the next few years is to help co-ordinate with the WTGA and the IIABC, to achieve our common goals of education and certification of qualified personnel for the advancement of public water use in the in our industry.

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Free time you ask? Buy me a bottle of wine at the next conference and I will tell you more than you want to know about music from the 40's and barbershop harmony.

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Thanks for your support in letting me serve on the Board for the WTGA; I am looking forward to having the opportunity to have a positive impact on our industry.

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Ron Olaussen - 2008

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I was born in Victoria B.C. November 27, 1963. My family moved into a house along side the 1st fairway of the Mount Brenton Golf Course (Chemainus) in 1964. During high school I was employed in the pro shop and began working on the grounds after graduating 1981. In 1982 I was offered and accepted a full time position with the grounds department at the Cowichan Golf Course. I married Diane on August 2nd 1986 and by December 1,1987 I had moved south again with the acceptance of the Assistant Superintendent position for the soon to open Arbutus Ridge Golf Course. In 1993 we had our 1st daughter (Samantha) and in 1995 we were blessed again with our other daughter (Amy). In 1994, I became a member of the Duncan Fire Department to ensure I would have absolutely no free time.

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I have served 16 years on the board of directors for the Vancouver Island Chapter of the BCGSA and currently as President. Have instructed the Turf Management component of the golf program at Camosun College (2000-2002). My hobbies are golf (12 hdcp), fishing, and hockey.

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Dan J. Rolfe - 2007

Dan J. Rolfe has been a member of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association since 1995. Actively involved with the association since 1998, Dan has served as a Director, Chair of the WCTA Research Committee, and was on the Executive as the 2006/2007 President of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association.

Dan’s involvement in the turfgrass industry began, like many, at a young age working on a golf course during the summer months between school years. Gaining much experience as a young turf manager at the Fort Langley Golf Course proved to be a pivotal time in his career endeavors. Construction, renovation and beloved maintenance experience opened doors within the booming turfgrass industry. Moving only kilometers away to Belmont Golf Course in 1992, Dan went on to become the Assistant Superintendent after a few years under tutelage of Golf Course Superintendent Joe Veller. In 1999 Dan moved to Coquitlam B.C. to become the Superintendent at the state of the art facility, Eaglequest Golf Centers. During the spring of 2003, Dan transitioned to the Vancouver Golf Club in Coquitlam as an Assistant Superintendent, where he worked for three years. With a much satisfying career managing public, semi-private and private golf courses he has now transitioned to a sales & technical position with Oakcreek Golf & Turf Equipment.