Chapter Updates – Fall 2024

As the leaves change, our Chapters remain active  

Rolling out fall initiatives and wrapping up a busy season of fieldwork. From coast to coast to coast, they continue to protect and restore local ecosystems with on-the-ground projects and community outreach. Dive into our latest updates to see what they’ve accomplished this past season!

The Canadian Council on Invasive Species has established a strong network of chapters spanning across Canada, from coast to coast to coast. Each of our 10 chapters is a provincial or territorial invasive species organization with a unique structure and mandate. They work together to create partnerships and address local issues while ensuring consistent messaging and resources to help people in Canada to take responsible actions.

Our Chapters include:

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Alberta Invasive Species Council:

Upcoming Events: 

  • The Alberta Invasive Species Council (AISC) has announced their conference dates for 2025! Join AISC in-person in Olds, AB on March 5th and 6th, 2025 for the 12th Annual Conference and AGM. The conference will dive into the latest innovations in invasive species research, technology, and management with sessions offering certified pesticide applicator credits. Registration opens January 2, 2025. In the meantime, don’t miss your chance to showcase your work – submit an abstract for an oral or poster presentation by November 15, 2024. There’s also opportunity to expand your reach and promote your organization or products to the AISC’s extensive audience of over 250 practitioners through our Call for Sponsorship! This is a once-a-year opportunity to connect and learn with top experts, AISC can’t wait to host you!
  • On November 5, 2024 at 11AM, the AISC will be hosting a FREE virtual forum to discuss the new Rat on Rats! Campaign in the province! AISC will talk with experts in the field about the history of the Alberta Rat Control Program, how we stay rat-free in the province, lessons learned from infestations and other areas, and how we move forward. Register here!
  • On November 12, 2024 at 11AM, the AISC will be hosting a FREE webinar! In this presentation, Dr. Howie Harshaw will introduce the concept of “human dimensions” and how it relates to the management of wildlife, and can inform our understandings, and management, of human-wildlife interactions. He will also summarize some of the challenges of managing invasive species, like goldfish and wild boar, and ways that incorporating people’s perspectives may help to achieve invasive species management goals. Register here!

Fieldwork:

  • Thanks to the Environmental Damages Funding, the AISC just got a new CD3 mobile boat wash unit that will roam new waters around the province to steer motorized and non-motorized watercrafts clear of invasive species! They’ll debut the mobile CD3 unit at the Edmonton Boat & Sportsmen’s Show on March 20-23, 2025, at the Edmonton Expo Centre, as well as during the summer in the North Saskatchewan Watershed at various events.

New Staff:

  • The AISC welcomed their new Finance and Admin Officer, Jane Fulton! Jane will play a vital role in overseeing the financial operations and administrative tasks that support our work addressing invasive species in the province. Her expertise will be instrumental in ensuring the smooth execution of various initiatives, including the Environmental Damages Funds to address the threat of aquatic invasive species in the North Saskatchewan Watershed. Jane will collaborate with the team to manage resources and support the program’s growth and outreach efforts.

 

Invasive Species Council of British Columbia

Preventing Feral Pig Problems in B.C.

  • With support from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, ISCBC is launching a project to tackle the risks invasive pigs pose to B.C. Designed to prevent the risk of introducing and spreading African Swine Fever, this initiative will keep invasive pigs from establishing in B.C. while raising awareness about their impacts. We’re increasing our ability to respond quickly and effectively through outreach, camera monitoring, and trapping preparedness. This program unites Indigenous representatives, provincial leaders, industry, and academia—ensuring a strong, coordinated effort.

Invasive Species are Bad for your Health

  • The impacts of invasive species on health got in front of a key audience in B.C. in October. An inquiry from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control led to a presentation to the Health Officers Council of B.C. introducing the many threats to personal health and community wellness posed by invasive species. B.C. doctors are aware, paying attention and keen to learn more!

INVASIVES 2025 Forum Registration is LIVE!

  • Registration for the INVASIVES 2025 Forum is now open! Join us as we mark the 20th anniversary of this event, February 24th-27th, 2025 in New Westminster, B.C. Featuring a robust agenda with a nod to some of the best from the past, and great expectations for the future, we invite you to go ‘Back to the Future’ with us! Check out this link for more and join us for this major milestone!

Research Forum: Call for Proposals is open!

  • The abstract submission period is underway for the 2025 Invasive Species Research Conference ‘Getting Ahead of the Invasion Curve: Bridging the Gap Between Research and Management.’ Abstracts for the conference will be accepted through November 30th, 2024.  This in person event takes place May 13th-15th, 2025, at the University of British Columbia Okanagan Campus in Kelowna, BC. Check out this link for more.

 

Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council

Presentations:
  • The Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council (NSISC) provided an Aquatics Projects presentation at the Nova Scotia Environmental Network online AGM on September 24.
  • NSISC provided a general presentation in person, at the Shubenacadie Watershed Environmental Protection Society AGM in Fall River.
New Resources:
  • Numerous resources were developed over the course of the summer by our intern, Julie Gaal.  They include:
    • Aquarium Decontamination Guide, Field and Watercraft Decon Guides (shared with Atlantic Water Network for distribution to aquatics field teams and environmental technicians), numerous invasive species resources, such as Chinese Mystery snail, Chain Pickerel, Small Mouth Bass, Marine AIS, Yellow Floating Heart Resource Guide, and presentations that will be used for Don’t Let It Loose training and engagement activities.
Fieldwork and Events (Aquatics)
  • NSISC Aquatics team visited the Digby Visitor Information Centre and set up on location to provide decontamination services to trailered watercraft entering the province via NB/NS Ferry.
  • NSISC was joined by Conservation and Protection officers at Shubenacadie Grand Lake to encourage watercraft users to decontaminate their vessels and trailers before and after entering a lake.  Numerous derbies were attended throughout the summer and early fall to provide decon services, and to provide information and resources about preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in NS waterways.  
  • On September 25, Halifax Regional Municipality was assisted by the Department of Inland Fisheries in the application of a herbicide treatment to remove the yellow floating heart from Little Albro Lake in Dartmouth.  The NSISC Aquatics team provided Decontamination services with our mobile Decon unit at Stantec, the consulting company for the project.  The gear that was decontaminated included netting, boat and various equipment that was used in Little Albro Lake during the sampling and preparations for the treatment/removal of the yellow floating heart.  We rescued a green frog that was stuck in the netting and out of water for several days, and relocated him safely to Big Albro Lake, where the removed fish were placed before the herbicide treatment.  Our team also was onsite during the removal for public outreach and to provide information. 
  • As part of our zebra mussel project, the NSISC conducted environmental DNA swabbing/sampling at Perth Andover, NB. Swab samples were taken on of watercraft from NS and NB, exiting the St. John River at Perth/Andover after a derby.  Boat hulls, live wells, and propellers were sampled.  Analysis for Zebra Mussel DNA will be done at DFO labs.
  • While in NB, NSISC hosted a booth at the Maritime Reptile and Pet Expo on October 6, in Moncton to promote the Don’t Let It Loose program., reaching over 150 visitors.
  • NSISC attended the Atlantic Pet Expo, in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on October 19 and 20, to promote the Don’t Let It Loose program, providing information to over 200 visitors to the NSISC booth.
Monitoring efforts:
  • The NSISC Aquatics team continued water sampling for calcium levels in untested lakes in Colchester County, NS, part of the zebra mussel project, determining habitat suitability for species like zebra mussels.
Settling Plate Retrieval:
  • Removal and swabbing of settling plates that were deployed earlier in the season. Plates were environmental DNA-swabbed, as part of our zebra mussel project in Morris Lake, Bissett Lake, Shubenacadie Grand Lake and others.
NSISC thanks local fire departments (Digby Fire Department, and Enfield Fire Department) who assisted with providing water for DECON services in remote areas.

Ontario Invasive Plant Council

Past Events:
  • The Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) hosted a variety of events this past summer including:
    • Grow Me Instead – Promoting Invasive-free Gardening Across Ontario Webinar (April 18th, 2024) which saw over 200 attendees and is the most well attended OIPC webinar to date.  The recording is available to watch on our YouTube channel: https://youtu.be/OURS30yv0Tc
    • An Introduction to Invasive Plants (May 16th, 2024 and May 23rd, 2024).
    • An Introduction to Aquatic Invasive Plans (June 20th, 2024)
    • An Introduction to Woody Invasive Plants (July 18th, 2024)
    • Emerging Invasive Pests Webinar (August 29th, 2024)
    • An in-person Grow Me Instead Webinar at Belmont Library – Presenter Vicki Simkovic (October 3rd, 2024)
    • Haliburton Highlands Land Trust Webinar – Introduction to Terrestrial Invasive Plants of Haliburton County (October 21st and October 23rd)
    • Georgian Bay Horticultural Club, Grow Me Instead Webinar (October 21st)
    • District 10 Fall Executive Workshop – Grow Me Instead webinar (pre-recorded for the executive workshop on October 26th)
New and Upcoming OIPC Resources:
  • Two NEW Best Management Practices have now been completed and are posted on our website:
  • Two NEW Best Management Practices are in the final stages of desktop publishing:
    • Oriental Bittersweet Best Management Practices
    • Winged Euonymus Best Management Practices
  • CBC news article (Vicki was interviewed for this article): Lakefront homeowners in Sudbury denied permission to use herbicides to kill an invasive plant species.
  • Aquatic Invasive Plant Best Management Practices Guide: Features 19 plants on the Ontario Aquatic Invasive Plant List. We are in the process of updating this document for release at the end of February 2025.
Upcoming OIPC Events:
**Registration details will be posted here as they become available: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/events.   
  • OIPC Annual General Meeting (AGM) – OIPC will host our Annual General Meeting on November 14th, 2024 1pm – 3pm EST. This meeting will also feature a keynote presentation from Dr. Peter Stoett of Ontario Tech University. He will be speaking about the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (ISBES) Assessment on Invasive Alien Species: Bad and Good News. Registration is FREE and non-members are welcome to attend, however, only OIPC members can vote. Find more information and register here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/934509171087?aff=oddtdtcreator
  • 2025 OIPC and OPWG Conferences – OIPC will host their annual Ontario Invasive Plant Council Conference and Ontario Phragmites Working Group Meeting virtually on January 16th, 2025 and January 23rd, 2025, respectively. Stay tuned for registration details.
    • The 2025 OIPC conference theme is The Leading Edge of Invasion. This year’s theme will address how we can stay ahead of the “invasion curve”. It will showcase new and upcoming invasive species, cutting-edge research to detect and mitigate their impacts, and emphasize the importance of adaptive management strategies. This event will encourage people to explore innovative strategies, programs and partnerships to address the future spread of invasive species through a “leading-edge” perspective. Click here for more information: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/events/2025-ontario-invasive-plant-council-conference/
      • We are currently accepting abstract submissions until November 15th, 2024.
        • The OIPC invites proposals from all fields, with projects focused on showcasing new and upcoming invasive species, cutting-edge research to detect and mitigate their impacts, and emphasize the importance of adaptive management strategies. While this conference is primarily focused in Ontario, we will be including perspectives outside Ontario as well. Click this link for more details: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/2025-oipc-conference-call-for-abstracts/
    • The 2025 OPWG conference theme is The Leading Edge of Invasion. Although Invasive Phragmites is not a new invader, our understanding of this invasive plant, its “invasion curve” and its management are continuously evolving. This event will showcase cutting-edge research to mitigate the impacts of Invasive Phragmites and emphasize the importance of adaptive management strategies. It will encourage people to explore innovative strategies, programs and partnerships to address the future spread of Invasive Phragmites through a “leading-edge” perspective. Click here for more information: https://www.ontarioinvasiveplants.ca/events/2025-ontario-phragmites-working-group-meeting/

 

Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council

PEI Field Work Updates:

  • The Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council (PEIISC) has completed its first year of work on PEI’s largest known population of invasive Scotch broom in Georgetown, PE. This site is a high-priority as it is located within a staging area for construction projects which could contribute to the unintentional spread on this plant with a currently limited distribution on the Island. With support from the PEI Dept. of Transportation and the J. Frank Gaudet Tree Nursery, ~500 m2 was cleared of Scotch broom and replanted with native trees.
  • Following the late-season discovery of PEI’s now largest known population of giant hogweed, the PEIISC partnered with the PEI Forest, Fish and Wildlife Department, Island Nature Trust, Central Queens Wildlife Federation, and South Shore Watershed Association to remove 100kg of seed heads in an effort to reduce next years growth.
  • And finally, PEI’s annual monitoring for emerald ash borer was completed without any confirmed detections across the island!
PEI Outreach Updates:
  • In September the PEIISC held its annual Invasive Species Forum event which attracted 75 attendees to the Farm Centre in Charlottetown. Guests heard from expert speakers who presented on topics such as citizen science, native gardening, seed collection, as well as research projects on electrical weeding and management strategies for invasive yellow nut-sedge in potato crops on PEI.
  • The PEIISC also spent time engaging children in invasive species education with the NaturePEI Young Naturalists Club, the Wild Child Young Ecologists Camp, and the Belfast Area Watershed Group’s Family Fun Day at the Cape Bear Lighthouse.

Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council

Field Work Updates:

  • The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council wrapped up their Flowering Rush early detection and rapid response project earlier this year.
  • It has committed in-kind support to a similar project undertaken by one of its member organizations, the Native Plant Society
    of Saskatchewan, which has been mapping and removing Flowering Rush in the three known locations in Saskatchewan as well as sending targeted communications to affected areas.

Outreach and Resources:

  • The Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council also continues to work on education and awareness materials and updating the website.
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