Movie in the Mountains

Last night Greywolf hosted our first ever "Movie in the Mountains."  A unique experience for guests, members, and staff.  Rango was the feature presentation.   The movie was put on by Fresh Air Cinema.  The only cost for those who participated was a donation to Panorama Fire Department’s charity - Muscular Dystrophy Canada.   An estimated 400 guests took part.  Unfortunately the weather did not cooperate and twenty minutes into the show a thunder storm blew in causing the cancellation of the event.  With the great turn out we will definitely be trying another movie night in the not too distant future.

Movie Screen next to first tee.

Movie screen being inflated

All Politics Are Local

There is no doubt that within the next five years British Columbia will have new pesticide legislation.  The NDP has introduced Bill M 203 before the legislature.  Liberal Premier Christy Clark has indicated she supports a cosmetic pesticide ban.   A crystal ball is not needed to see that changes are coming. 

I was thinking about changes to BC pesticide legislation as I was attending our Kootenay Chapter meeting of the British Columbia Golf Course Superintendent’s Association (BCGSA).  This meeting was a joint meeting with the Western Canadian Turfgrass Association (WCTA).  It was also the WCTA Traveling Annual Road Show which provided members with a chance to earn continuing education credits for  pesticide licenses and to meet with fellow turf managers.  Amanda Brown, a Regional Pesticide Officer from the Pesticide Management Regulatory Association (PMRA), spoke to the chapter about the PMRA’s evaluation process for pesticides and how the PMRA enforce their rules.

Jerry Rousseau WCTA Exec Director and Amanda Brown PMRA speak to BCGSA Kootenay Chapter

The discussion of pesticide issues was a prolific topic during the meeting and during the question and answer period with Amanda.   The fact that the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) had written a letter of support regarding Bill M 203 was also a source of frustration for all local superintendents.   It was surprising to many members that the RDEK would support legislation that would severely impact the business of golf and the spin-offs that the golf industry provides.   The proposed legislation that the RDEK supports would only allow pesticide usage on putting greens for five year. 

As the discussion about pesticide related issues went on I was asking myself questions.  Why would a local government support such legislation?  Have I done enough to put forward my side of the issue?