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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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Born on the other side of the country in Toronto, I managed to slowly creep my way out West. I spent a lot of years in wonderful Winnipeg as a youth and stayed there until adult hood. Working in the brewery industry was a job envied by most Canadians I know, and I spent the better part of 17 years employed by Molson Brewery, where, I gained knowledge of working with high tech. machinery, and went on to become a crew leader of the Quality Control department. Sadly the company decided to close the operations based in Winnipeg, and I had to find myself another career. My next shift West was a couple province's over to Alberta. I attended Olds College in 1997 for the 2 year Turf Program. Having graduated from Olds in 1999. I made one more move West. This was the shortest move and I'd say the smartest.

I began my new career working with a great group of individuals at Westwood Plateau Golf Academy and the Country Club, in Coquitlam. It was here I learned more about Quality Control of a new version. This was the start of something great I thought. Working with a superintendent that has hosted 3 PGA tournament events where Quality Control is truly job #1 was a great way to cut my teeth in the industry. I spent 5 years at this facility sharpening my skills in order for me to take the "big step" one day. Volunteering for the Air Canada Championship, when it was held here in B.C. was something I'll not forget soon.

In 2004, I started working for the District of West Vancouver, as the Supervisor of Parks & Sports Fields. Shortly after the start of this position, I met a wonderful woman and go married just over a year ago. I am still with the Parks Department in West Vancouver, but my job has changed a little bit. My new position is Supervisor - Golf & Sports Field Operations. My education is still on going as I'm currently taking some on-line courses from the University of Pennsylvania. This is going to be my second term as a Director for the WCTA, and I look forward to challenges that face us.

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This is my second year serving on the Western Canada Turfgrass Association Board.  Since appointed as a director for the WCTA in February of 2005, I have enjoyed the experience of working with a dynamic group of individuals from a wide variety of professions within the turfgrass industry.  Although I have worked within the industry for over 25 years, I am happy to admit that learning never ends.  That is one of the main reasons this association exists and why I have a passion and respect for the WCTA and what it has achieved over the years.  I am inspired to serve another year to aid in enabling the WCTA to share and learn through research, education, literature and networking. 

I am presently employed with the City of Richmond as the Horticulture Trades Foreman, so my horticulture portfolio on the WCTA board fits well with me, and I am pleased to say that the interest within the WCTA horticulture portfolio is growing stronger each year.  Urban Forestry and Beautification are becoming an expectation of our citizens and our customs in urban areas and on the golf courses. 

I am also representing the WCTA board and its membership as a director of the Horticulture Education BC Board.  HEBC was officially launched in April of 2005 and is sanctioned by the Industry Training Authority Act as the Industry Training Organization.  The mandate of HEBC is to promote, develop, co-ordinate the delivery of effective and efficient training and qualifications in the BC ornamental horticulture industry by responding to the skills and training needs of trainees, workers and employers.  This will maintain and even increase the credibility of educators, up the standards of the trade and encourage future employees to enter into this industry as a career.  I look forward to serving the WCTA membership and working within the WCTA board into 2007.

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Born and raised in Kamloops BC, I have always worked in the landscape and construction industries. As a kid, I was the neighborhood lawn mower and would walk from house to house with my father’s antiquated mower, five dollars per yard. Thought I was rich. In the teen years I worked for a few different landscape contractors and farm & garden store. After a three year stint in the Canadian Armed Forces, I started working in landscape and residential construction. In the mid 90’s I took an apprentice program in carpentry, however shortly after, construction in Kamloops took a dive.

Faced with lack of construction jobs I applied at The Dunes of Kamloops, I remember one day the summer before I applied there. I was hanging trusses on a new house next to this golf course, it had to be 37 degrees out and I was dying. I remember looking out to this golf course and watching this one guy hand watering a newly seeded fairway. Every time his buddy drove by in his cart the watering guy (Rod Siddons) would soak the worker with his hose. As sweat poured into my eyes I remember thing “what a great job”.

I spent four summers there and worked with some of the best people I had ever met. In 1999 I attended the Horticulture Certificate program at TRU, then UCC. The following year I moved to Langley to attend Kwantlen’s Turfgrass Diploma program and worked for two years at Morgan Creek.

In 2002 I got the Assistant position at the Williams Lake Golf and Tennis Club. I missed the Kamloops area, and in 2004 I was hired as the second assistant at Sun Peaks Resort golf course. At that time the second nine was being constructed and it looked like a great opportunity. In 2005 the Superintendent left a month prior to the opening of the new nine, Kevin Neufeld and I worked our tails off to finish it. That September, I applied for the vacant superintendent’s position and was very fortunate to receive it and surpass my time frame expectations.

I am very honored to be elected to the WCTA Board of Directors, and I look forwarded to working with others to benefit the turfgrass and related industries.

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A passion for the game of golf and the venue it’s played on was my motivation to change careers and get involved in the Golf Course Industry.

I began my Turfgrass experience working part time at both Westwood Plateau Golf & Country Club and Eaglequest Golf Center. In 2001 I was offered my first Assistant position at Sun Peaks Resort. My experience at Sun Peaks allowed me the opportunity to manage the existing front nine, while getting hands on construction and grow-in experience on the back nine. During the winter months I transferred over to the Slopes department where operating a snow Cat on the midnight shift was truly a unique experience.

I moved to the Vancouver area in late 2005 where I began working for the Good Golf B.C. group at the Hazelmere Golf & Tennis Club. I transferred to Swan-e-Set Bay Resort & Country Club shortly after it was acquired in fall 2006 by the West Coast Golf Group.

Participating on the Board of the W.C.T.A as a director is realizing a 5-year personal goal and I look forward to serving.

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I was born in Seattle Washington but raised in Langley B.C. I began my horticulture career working the summers for the Township of Langley Parks Department while attending high school and university.

1988 was a big year for me; I graduated from the University of Victoria, got married to my wife Christine and started my tenure with the Langley School District Grounds Department.

In the late 90’s I decided if I wanted to expand my career horizon I would need a formal education in horticulture. So I enrolled at Kwantlen University College on both part-time and full-time basis until I graduated in 2002 with a diploma in Horticulture-Turfgrass Management.

In the spring of 2006 I returned to the Township of Langley. I accepted an exempt position in the Engineering Division – Operations Roads and Drainage Department as a Roads Supervisor. You are now probably wondering how does a Roads Supervisor have anything to do with horticulture? I manage the Township’s greenways and boulevards, which includes; landscaping, turf management, arboriculture, irrigation, sidewalks, street sweeping and the cleanliness of the community.

My first daughter Morgan was born in 1995 and my second daughter Lindsey followed in 1998. Since 2000 I have been actively coaching girls soccer for both my daughters teams.

In 2001 I decided to support my community, the Township of Langley, and joined the paid-called Fire Department, where I serve as a Lieutenant for Brooskwood Hall 5.

I am pleased to be able to serve the WCTA membership as a two-year director. I look forward to working with the board and help direct this organization towards a bright future.

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Having been born and raised in the beautiful Alberni Valley, being surrounded by a lush green environment only seems natural. I am currently the Parks Operations Supervisor for the City of Port Alberni and have the privilege of working with a great group of Parks maintenance professionals. Aside from being known as the "Community With A Heart", great fishing, and awesome natural beauty, our Community has pulled together and hosted all 4 BC Summer Games in 1992, Athletes with Disability in1995, Senior Games in 1998, and the Winter games in 2004.

I have always had a great deal of respect for the WCTA and the dedication of it's Directorship. The programming, conferences and networking opportunities have been tremendous. I am thankful for the encouragement and support of my fellow directors and hope to contribute as I can to the group.

On a personal note, my wife Mitzie and I have three wonderful teenaged daughters. I enjoy gardening, reading and volunteering in the community.

Best wishes to all the members of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association.

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Scott Mitchell is the Technical Sales Representative for the Golf Course and Sports Field Division of Target Products Ltd. covering B.C and Western Washington. Scott provides support to various organizations and individuals, from finding and recommending local acceptable materials to arranging lab tests with independent labs and working through logistics to get the best product to the job site in the most efficient and cost effective way.

Scott has been in the Golf Course Industry for over 15 years, his past experience includes working as the Superintendent at Aurora Highlands Golf Course in Ontario, as the Assistant Superintendent at the Fairmont Banff Springs Stanley Thompson Golf Course and Hotel Grounds, and on the grow-in at Westwood Plateau Golf and Country Club in Coquitlam B.C.

Scott graduated from the University of Guelph Turf grass Managers course and also from the University of Massachusetts School for Turf Managers.

One of the main reasons Scott volunteered to join the W.C.T.A. board of directors last year was the quality of the association, and its’ membership. As a member of the board Scott welcomes any comment or concerns from the membership and hopes you will contact him directly at (604) 614-7875 to discuss any issues that arise. Scott is also a member of the B.C.G.S.A., C.G.S.A and the G.C.S.A.A. and strongly believes in supporting these associations as he feels they help to strengthen the industry as a whole.

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Peter Sorokovsky has been in the golf industry for over 20 years. He received his Bachelors of Science degree at UBC in 1992 and then returned to do a Masters degree in Soil Science, graduating in 2005. He has worked at several courses over the years including his first course Predator Ridge. He was the assistant superintendent at Northview G & CC where he experienced 7 PGA tournaments. Currently Peter is the superintendent of golf operations for the City of Burnaby.

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