• Jeff Frame – Liability Lawyer, Burke/Frame
• Keith Lyall – Superintendent, Sun Peaks Resort and WCTA Board member
• Dave Fraser – Client Service Manager, WorksafeBC
• Peter Sorokovsky – City of Burnaby Parks and WCTA Board member
• Jeff Miniely – Client Service Manager, WorksafeBC

• The following is an excerpt from an email that was sent by Croplife Canada on June 5th. We have been in contact with the BC Pesticide License Officer but there is no further information on what direction the provincial government might take.
  
  Last week, the BC government was asked during Question Period what it planned to do about implementing a ban and the response from the government is a hopeful one for us.
  
  Minister Penner, the Minister responsible said, “Since it's apparent that the Environment critic couldn't find the time to do his own research and actually read what the throne speech commitment was, I'll read it into the record for all members: "British Columbians will be consulted on new statutory protections to further safeguard our environment from cosmetic chemical pesticides. …Mr. Speaker, that's exactly what's taken place. More than 8,000 submissions have been received from British Columbians across the province. Our ministry is busy reviewing those suggestions, those comments. I've asked ministry staff to develop a number of proposals. But all British Columbians should know that no substance is allowed to be sold in British Columbia unless it's first approved by experts at Health Canada.”
  
  He also said, “Everyone is concerned about cancer, but we also want to make sure that we have the best available science, and I can assure British Columbians right now that no substance is allowed to be sold unless it's first reviewed and approved for sale by Health Canada. They have literally hundreds of scientists and specialists that are engaged in this activity, and British Columbians have the right to know that.”

• Organization is well underway with the CGSA at the helm. Much discussion has taken place within the organizing committee in the speaker selection process. Daryl Nagy is working on the Dave Creamer memorial hockey game and there is talk about a golf tournament. More info will be out shortly, especially if you are an exhibitor.
• We are pleased to announce that the 2012 WCTA Conference and Trade Show will take place in Victoria from Jan 22 – 25 at the Victoria Conference Centre. Organizing the event has yet to begin so feel free to make suggestions for keynote speakers, pre-conference seminars, regular seminars and general programming and activities. If there’s someone you really want to see, please let us know!
• The June/July issue of the Turf Line News will be in your hands by now along with the WCTA member directory. The annual research report that comes out in August will be combined with the next Turf Line News making it the inaugural ‘Turf Research’ edition.
  
  

• The program is under full review and the WCTA Board, with help from the Research Committee, is working through creating protocols and procedures for the Committee along with project selection criteria. We are currently re-establishing the committee; you are welcome to become involved. Project funding is on hold until the review is complete.
• The Canadian Turf Research Foundation (CTRF) is in same boat having changed hands from the RCGA to the CGSA. The CTRF is also holding funding until at least the fall until a strategy is in place.

• Reminder that anyone who has started the re-certification process after June 1, 2009, the requirements change to (3) points minimum in each of the 3 categories.
• We have verbal confirmation that First Aid and WCB courses have approval for pesticide re-certification points in an effort to promote all types of ongoing education. Logistics are being worked on and we hope to announce the changes by the fall. These points will be limited to 2 per 5 year period.
• Check out www.wctaturf.com for upcoming CEC opportunities

• The WCTA is undergoing renovations to several of its administrative functions including accounting system, member information databases, record-keeping systems etc in an effort to better serve our members and provide better information for decision making on direction and initiatives.

• Earlier this spring, President Dave Duncan and Vice President Scott Mitchell provided an update at an NGCOA meeting regarding the pesticide situation in BC.
• I attended a day-long meeting with (almost) the entire BCLNA staff, who had approached the WCTA with open arms regarding the CanWest Hort Show program and other cooperative possibilities.
• The BCGSA has both Greg Austin and Rory Johnstone on the 2011 Vancouver conference committee and Dave Duncan, Adam Zubek and myself met on May 10 to discuss further collaborative efforts between the BCGSA and WCTA.
• Bob Wick and I attended the service for Paul Backman. Several weeks later I spoke with the NTA President, Chris Goodman about how the 2 groups could work together.
• CGSA has provided us with several of their policy and position documents on issues like pesticides, water use etc.

• No further news on the PCNB ban but we anticipate a decision very soon
• Proxy is still in the works and we anticipate news of its status very soon as well

1. Raise awareness for the similarities and differences that the turf sector struggles with in different countries
2. Compare the kinds of products in terms of relative safety
3. Hopefully – increase the understanding and willingness of a collaborative approach in registering the products in Canada.

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