Sports Turf Canada Announces Manager of the Year

Sports Turf Canada is pleased to announce that Ray Stukas is the 2014 Sports Turf Manager of the Year.

The Sports Turf Manager of the Year award is a prestigious honour which recognizes an individual’s professional ability and contribution to the Canadian sports turf industry and shows appreciation for his or her proactive and progressive efforts within the profession.

Mr. Stukas is Manager of Parks, Toronto & East York District, for the City of Toronto, Ontario. With over 30 years experience in parks operations and maintenance including turf management involving sports fields, Ray, in 2012 and into 2013, served in the leadership role organizing Toronto’s new Outdoor Sports Field Improvement Program addressing more than 650 sports fields across the city. Communication with sports field stakeholders city wide was also guided by Ray and involved 16 public meetings that discussed permit issues, capital planning for field upgrades and field maintenance.

“With the leadership and commitment displayed by Ray Stukas in the areas of community consultation, public engagement and best practice initiatives, among others, we are pleased to honour him as the inaugural Sports Turf Manager of the Year,” announced association president Tennessee Propedo.

By sponsoring this award, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute assists in the recognition of sports turf managers who exemplify vision and leadership in the sports turf industry. “The GTI is honoured to partner with Sports Turf Canada in the creation of this award that will help promote and recognize outstanding sports turf managers in Canada”, added GTI director Rob Witherspoon.

The nomination deadline for the 2015 Sports Turf Manager of the Year is December 1, 2014. Visit www.sportsturfcanada.com for eligibility, criteria and the nomination form.

About Sports Turf Canada

Sports Turf Canada was established in 1987 when after a brain storming session at the University of Guelph a broad segment of the turf industry endorsed its need. Of particular concern at that meeting was the need to minimize and avoid injury to participants using athletic fields where they relate to sports turf. Over a quarter-century later later Sports Turf Canada continues to promote better, safer sports turf through innovation, education and professional programs.

About the Guelph Turfgrass Institute

Home to Sports Turf Canada, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute was established in 1987 to conduct research and extension and provide information on turfgrass production and management to members of the Canadian turfgrass industry. Part of the University of Guelph, the institute is supported by the university, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and the turfgrass industry. The first of its kind in Canada, the institute is already recognized as a world-class centre for research, extension work and professional development for the study of turf. Building on the University of Guelph's long-standing expertise in turfgrass science, the research activities of the institute continue to focus in areas such as the environmental aspects of pesticide use (fate and persistence), evaluation of grass species, varieties and seeding methods, sports field construction, fertility and management programs, pesticide use and the biological and cultural control of diseases and weeds.