Great Year at Olds College

By Jason Pick

It’s been another great year for Olds College Turf, as we graduated fifty one Certificate, forty one Diploma, and nine Golf Course Management degree students this June.  A healthy intake into all three years of the program, we have established a modest waiting list into our first year.

At this years graduation we also said goodbye to long serving school President Dr. Tom Thompson, and Vice President Dr. Jason Dewling,  who welcomed new President Stuart Cullum and VP Tanya McDonald.

As part of convocation this year, we also recognized Arlene Dickinson, (CBC’s Dragons Den) as our Honorary Degree Recipient.   Among much entrepreneurial advice for our graduates and their families, Arlene shared an insightful global view of education - how lucky we are to stand among the worlds educated, and what great responsibility we have to innovate.

Also this June,  Olds College’s continuing education department completed the first delivery of our Turf Science Certificate. The three level online program graduated this first specialized professionals into Parks and Recreation, Sports and Athletic fields, and Golf Course Management sectors from Olds College.  Great thanks to Norley Calder of the City of Calgary Parks, (formerly Sagebrush Golf Club), and VP of the Western Canada Turfgrass Association who tirelessly contributed to its development and delivery.

The soon to be announced is the Prairie Turfgrass Research Day,  is also taking place at Olds College this August 24th. Free to all delegates,  sponsored by the National Sciences and Engineering Council, we welcome approximately 150 delegates to learn the latest research findings, gain CEU credits, and enjoy distributor demonstrations on the turf plots.

Approaching the half way point, our students have been working hard in their summer internships, tackling twelve learning goals from May through October.  With superintendent mentors active in their  learning goals, we encourage you to welcome an intern at your course next summer!

For more information about the Turfgrass certificate, diploma, and degree programs at Olds College, check out our website http://www.oldscollege.ca/programs/horticulture/turfgrass/   - https://www.oldscollege.ca/continuing-education/land-environment/Turf-Science-Certificate/