Update from the E.D. - June 2026
WCTA Update – mid-June, 2026
At the time of writing, the largest sporting event in the world is just getting underway. FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the biggest and most exciting edition of the tournament to date as 48 teams from around the globe compete in 104 fixtures at 16 venues across North America.
One of those venues is BC Place Stadium, hosting 7 matches over the period of June 13 through July 7. To qualify, the synthetic turf field needed to be replaced by natural grass as World Cup soccer players don’t do plastic.
The incredibly specialized, hybrid sod should interest any turf nerd and the process of prepping/growing/harvesting/installing/maintaining it for the tournament was as complex as it gets.
Seeing it through to reality, John Sorochan, a Canadian PhD at the University of Tennessee is one of two top turf researchers in charge of the pitches. An extremely challenging prospect, all pitches need to play the same no matter the location, climate, grass type and venue (covered or open).
Over a year in the making, Abbotsford, BC sod grower, Bos Sod, was picked to grow the World Cup grass for BC Place. Gary Bartley, Head Groundskeeper at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver Whitecaps Training Facility (& WCTA V.P.), was the lead turf consultant as BC Place staff are all engineers and operations people with no turf management experience. The WCTA was happy to help and played a small role in organizing pitch maintenance volunteers for the duration.
Congratulations to everyone involved! Photo anthology of sod harvesting and pitch installation at the following link:
https://www.wcta-online.com/content/75-industry-news/4636-bc-place-world-cup-pitch-install-photo-anthology
Looking ahead, the 63rd WCTA Annual Conference and Trade Show will take place February 9-11, 2027 at the one-of-a-kind River Rock Casino Resort. This will be our lucky #7th trip to the River Rock and we look forward to seeing you next year!
Foundations - Membership
As a unified voice for the professional golf and sportsfield management industry in western Canada, the WCTA is currently 692 members strong with 41 new members since the start of our fiscal year (Oct 1).
Foundations – Turf Research
The WCTA Board is pleased to announce it will continue supporting important and valuable turf research in 2026, approving approximately $14,000 in funding as follows:
• Alberta Turfgrass Research Foundation Cooperative Funding - $5000
• Northwest Turfgrass Association Cooperative Funding - $9000
Foundations – Advocacy
Citing low snowpack, construction work on a main supply artery and expected warm weather this summer, on June 1, Metro-Vancouver officials announced a move to Stage 3 water restrictions across the region effective Monday, June 8th.
A decade ago and along with allied groups, the WCTA successfully lobbied Metro-Vancouver for the use of approved water management plans (WMP’s) by golf courses and sportsfields, thereby avoiding the need for arbitrary restrictions like ‘one day a week’ or ‘greens only’ and allowing turf managers to adjust/reduce irrigation by volume.
Based on a California model, WMP’s have worked extremely well and we have since maintained a direct line of communication with the regulator, but neither the unprecedented move directly to Stage 2 water restrictions on May 1st of this year or the most recent Stage 3 restriction announcement, came with the typical industry heads up.
This surprise-move by Metro-Vancouver triggered immediate advocacy strategy discussions by the WCTA Board and I have been speaking with WCTA members most impacted. We have also been communicating with other stakeholders including the BCLNA, Allied Golf Association of BC, Irrigation Industry Association of BC, BC Golf Superintendents Association and the Canadian Golf Superintendents Association, to see what, if anything, they are planning.
The primary focus is always on awareness to respective memberships, but at this point, I’m not aware of any official advocacy steps taken. Compounding the challenge, while all stakeholders were still digesting implications of the direct move to Stage 2, the unexpected and earlier-than-ever-before implementation of Stage 3 restrictions has dramatically limited potential to impact Metro Vancouver’s water policy, at least in the short term.
Even with previous lobbying experience, creating an advocacy plan takes time, coordination and mobilization. In the mean time, individuals are speaking out – two prominent, long-time WCTA member sod growers were recently interviewed by various media regarding Metro-Vancouver’s severe water restrictions and the resulting negative impacts to businesses, quality of life and the environment. We will keep the professional turf management industry informed as the issue develops.
CBC Radio Early Edition - Metro Vancouver’s move to Stage 3 water restrictions is affecting multiple industries, from local landscaping crews to regional agricultural operations. Bos Sod Farms owner Bert Bos talks about how his business is being affected.
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-91-the-early-edition/clip/16218756-metro-vancouver-regional-district-brings-strictest-water-restrictions
Jas Johal Show, CKNW Radio 730 - Metro Vancouver’s water restrictions leave some businesses running dry (12:12)
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/allen-schoenborn-granted-a-conditional-discharge-is/id1135887105?i=1000771242067
Global News - Water restrictions worry turf farm operators
https://globalnews.ca/video/11891441/water-restrictions-worry-turf-farm-operators
Provincially, I have been in communication with the Ministry of Environment regarding well water restrictions and was told they are currently planning a 2026 drought strategy. Well water users in impacted regions, including golf courses, should expect a letter asking for voluntary reductions in water usage.
Water advocacy strategy continues to be discussed amongst stakeholders but unlike Metro-Vancouver, the Province is not interesting in implementing water management plans for well water due to the administrative burden involved. With assistance from David Phipps, GCSAA Northwest Rep, we have put together a draft water conservation BMP for British Columbia golf courses but it’s not yet vetted.
As always, there is much more going on than can fit in this report - check-out www.wcta-online.com for news and updates.
All the best throughout the 2026 season!
Respectfully submitted,
Jerry Rousseau
Executive Director
Western Canada Turfgrass Association