Ontario Turfgrass Symposium (OTS)

Registration is open for OTS 2026!

February 18 & 19, 2026 in Guelph, ON

Don't miss the early bird deadline. Register before Wednesday, January 28, 2026 and receive a 20% discount as an ORFA member.

Whether you're interested in sports, lawn care, golf, recreational facilities or nursery sod, there are sessions for you! The lineup for OTS 2026 includes:

• Experts from the GTI: Dr. Katerina Jordan, Dr. Eric Lyons, Sean Jordan & Dr. Sara Stricker
• Dr. Lee Miller, Associate professor from Purdue University
• Dr. Ed Nangle, Associate professor from Ohio State University
• Rob Heggie, BMO Field
• Jeff McMann, Horticultural and Arboricultural Consultant
• Dr. John Lauzon, Associate Professor at the University of Guelph
• And more!

2026 Sports Field and Facilities related sessions:

• Panel Discussion: Safety FIRST for Sports Fields and Play Spaces - Scott Belair, instructor for the Canadian Playground Safety Institute, Adam Bienenstock, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds Inc., Katie Glover, Ontario Physical Activity Safety Standards in Education
• Precision Turf Management – Dr. Eric Lyons, University of Guelph
• How Field Variability Impacts the Athlete Study – Ava Veith, Virginia Tech
• Raising the Standard: How to Stand Out in Sports Field Management – Ken Hoard, City of Belleville, CSFA’s (was STC) Sports Field Manager of the Year
• Play It Safe: Click Before You Dig – Sarah Burke, Ontario One Call
• Effective Lines, Better Fields: Practical Solutions for Sports Field Line Painting - Brent Baker, Simplistic Lines and Joe Breedon, City of Barrie
• Gearing Up For the FIFA World Cup: Putting The Finishing Touches on BMO Field – Robert Heggie, Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE)

OTS is an educational event and you can earn credits, points, and certification through the following industry partners:

• ORFA Professional Designation Credits
• GCSAA Education Points
• CGSA Accreditation Program
• Ontario Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Continuing Education Credits
• Certificate of attendance from Professional Lawn Care Association of Ontario