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Sports Turf Canada believes in giving back and supporting the industry which we serve.
Michael J. Bladon Scholarship
This professional development scholarship has received official approval from the STC Board of Directors and Executive Manager, Anne Baliva. The scholarship will be provided annually to a deserving member of STC by the Bladon Family Trust.
Successful recipient of the Michael J. Bladon Scholarship will:
- Stipulate that the scholarship be used to attend an education event in Canada and be someone without access to funding to normally attend such an event.
- Apply by providing a one-page letter summarizing why they are a deserving candidate.
- Supply a letter of support from their direct supervisor confirming the location of their employ.
- Be actively employed in an environment where managing sport related turfgrass is part of their department’s work scope.
- Be a Canadian resident.
The Michael J. Bladon Professional Development Scholarship will provide:
$1,000 base
- An additional $250 for anyone having to travel in excess of 600kms (round trip) but not more than 1200kms
- An additional $250 for anyone having to travel in excess of 1201 kms
- Scholarship maximum of $1,500 per annum supplied by the Bladon Family Trust
Application for scholarship can be sent to info@sportsturfcanada.com please include the following in the email:
- Subject line of email should be "Michael J. Bladon Scholarship"
- Applicants full name and contact information in email
- One-page letter summarizing why they are a deserving candidate
- Letter of support from their direct supervisor confirming the location of their employ
APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 12, 2023
Robert W. Sheard ScholarshipEstablished in 1993, Sports Turf Canada’s Robert W. Sheard Scholarship is named in recognition of Dr. Sheard’s immeasurable contribution and support provided to STC over two decades.Bob’s involvement with the fledgling organization began in 1990 upon his retirement as a Professor of Soil Science at the University of Guelph. He became STC’s first Executive Secretary and has played a role in most, if not all, association initiatives since that time. He was editor and a major contributor to the Sports Turf Newsletter, now the Sports Turf Manager. He edited and produced An Athletic Field Managers’ Guide and the Athletic Field Construction Manual, and penned the Constructing the Sports Field brochure and the text Understanding Turf Management, transferring ownership and donating all proceeds to the association. He has served on the boards of the International Turfgrass Society, the Guelph Turfgrass Institute and the Ontario Turfgrass Symposium, among others. The scholarship may be awarded annually and is funded through STC membership fees. The award is intended to assist students with the cost of tuition, books and related expenses. We encourage you to apply for the STC Robert W. Sheard Scholarship if you:
Scholarship Policies 1. Scholarships are non-renewable 2. Candidates will be judged on the basis of the information contained in their Scholarship Application Form and support material 3. Applications must be received by Aug 12th for consideration. 4. Incomplete applications will not be considered. 5. Presentation to the scholarship recipient will be made at an appropriate industry conference or event. Submit with your completed scholarship application form. 1. An official transcript of your grades for the previous two semesters in the required 2. A letter of recommendation from your current and/or previous employer; and from your academic advisor, course instructor or equivalent. 3. A typed essay, 1,200-1,500 words in length, on a sports turf related topic of your choice. Note: If selected as the recipient of the Sports Turf Canada Robert W. Sheard Scholarship, you will be asked to provide a photograph of yourself for publication in the Sports Turf Manager. APPLICATION DEADLINE: August 12, 2023 |
Sports Turf Manager of the Year Award
Sports Turf Canada established the Sports Turf Manager of the Year Award program in order to encourage, support and acknowledge those working in the sports turf industry.
We invite nominations for an individual who is:
- Engaged in a management or practitioner role in the sports turf industry
- Engaged in regular professional development activities
- Regarded as an active contributor to the profession and the industry
- Regarded as progressive, displaying outstanding performance in any one of a number of key categories, suggested but not limited to:
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- Community Outreach
- Commitment to Continuing Education and Professional Development (i.e. accrual of a diploma, degree or special certification)
- Environmental Stewardship/Green Initiatives (i.e. responsible nutrient management, carbon reductions, water conservation, habitat creation, facility improvements, etc.)
- Health and Safety (internal or external)
- Progressive Management Techniques for Sports Turf
- Project Management
- Special Promotion of the Profession
- Stewardship of Interns or Students
- Workplace Improvements and/or innovations
- Other
Eligibility
- Nominees must be current non-commercial members in good standing of Sports Turf Canada
- Members of the Association Board of Directors or Awards Committee are not eligible as nominator or nominee
- Sponsors are not eligible as nominator or nominee
Policies
- Nominees will be judged on the basis of the information contained in the above criteria and supplementary material
- Nominations must be received by February 28 for consideration.
- Presentation will be made to the award recipient at an appropriate industry conference or event
Nominator must submit:
- A completed Sports Turf Manager of the Year Nomination Form
- Supplementary information detailing the manner in which the Nominee meets the Criteria and the particulars of why the Nominee should be considered for the Sports Turf Manager of the Year Award. Letters of support (maximum of 3) will strengthen the nomination.
Sports Turf Manager of the Year 2014 – current
Ray Stukas, City of Toronto (2014)
Robert Heggie, BMO Stadium & KIA Training Ground Academy (2015)
Greg Lampman, Town of Oakville (2016)
Hugh Norris, City of Surrey BC (2017)
Joe Breedon, City of Barrie ON (2018)
Dave Boehmer, City of Guelph ON (2019)
Gorden Horsman, City of Moncton, NB (2020)
Trevor Warner, City of Woodstock, ON (2021)