G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre
The funds to construct and equip the the G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre were raised by the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation through the support of many associations, companies, and individuals with an interest and understanding of the role turfgrass plays in modern society.
Mac and Beth Frost of Stouffville, Ontario provided the founding donation for construction of the centre in the 1990's. As developers, owners and managers of golf courses, the Frosts had an appreciation and understanding of the importance of turfgrass research and the value of turfgrass in the landscape.
Since 1992, the G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre has been the research, education, and information hub for the Canadian turfgrass industry. The new building, located at 364 College Ave East, officially opened in 2022. The facility includes office space for industry organizations including the Ontario Golf Superintendents Association, Sports Turf Canada and the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation. The facilities include meeting rooms, faculty/graduate student office and a field laboratory equipped to facilitate the research that takes place on the surrounding fields. The G.M. Frost Centre also provides space for conferences, lectures, and meetings
The G.M. Frost Research and Information Centre is an extraordinary example of progress that can be made through the cooperation of various agencies. The private sector, through the Ontario Turfgrass Research Foundation, provided funding for the new building and continues to support research projects undertaken at the facility. The University of Guelph provides ongoing research and management expertise. The Ontario government, through the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs historically provided the land, and site development support. The Agricultural Research Innovation Office was a key partner in facilitating the move from the historical property to the current location on the University of Guelph campus.
The move allowed for the construction of a new state-of-the-art research and teaching facility. The total physical area of the new grounds is approximately 17 acres. There are 14 new research plots, which include different combinations of turfgrass cultivars, mowing heights, and soil types.
The Guelph Turfgrass Institute and the University of Guelph continue to support and foster a strong Canadian turfgrass science program, offering degrees ranging from Associate Diploma to Ph.D. The research grounds, laboratories, diagnostics clinic, and study space continue to attract new generations of academics interested in studying turfgrass science here in Canada.
GTI Relocation Fundraising (2017– present)
We gratefully acknowledge the support of the companies, individuals, and organizations who supported the fundraising effort to establish the new facility of the Guelph Turfgrass Institute
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The Ontario Agricultural College
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The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
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The Chyc family
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OAC Class of 1971 and Class of 1972
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Landscape Ontario
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Greenhorizons Sod Farms
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The Schiedel family
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Vanden Bussche Irrigation & Equipment
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Ron Craig
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BASF Canada Inc
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Syngenta Canada
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Bayer CropScience Inc.
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Plant Products Inc.
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Ontario Seed Company Limited
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The DeCorso Family, Victoria Park East and Victoria Park Valley
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Neudorff North America
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Corrie Almack