The 13th International Conference on Plant Growth Substances was held from the 17th to the 26th July, 1988 in Calgary, Alberta Canada under the auspices of the IPGSA (International Plant Growth Substances Association) and the University of Calgary. Over 550 participants from allover the world attended, along with 70 Associates and 25 University of Calgary graduate students who assisted in audiovisual presentations when not attending the scientific sessions. Fine weather prevailed, as was usual for summer on the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies, and participants arriving early visited the famous Calgary Stampede. A hosted buffet opened the Conference on Sunday evening. On Wednesday evening, following an afternoon field trip into the mountains of the Kananaskis Valley, the IPGSA traditional banquet became a western barbecue on Richards' Ghost River Ranch in the foothills of the Rockies, with folk and country and western music provided by the Great Western Orchestra. The fine Alberta weather continued through the weekend, and the Conference ended with a field trip to Sun shine Meadows, a World Heritage Site in Banff National Park.