Invasive Species Centre

Great Lakes Fishery Commission's Technoscience Webinar: Real-time observing systems
2025-02-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/Toronto) | Online
Thursday, February 13th, 2:00-3:00pm EST: Real-time observing systems
Register: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMucu-oqDMtGdC8ph4Qf5AT6i_cVAaYwdQE
Speakers:

Dr. Shelby Brunner, Dr. Jennifer Boehme, Great Lakes Observing System. “GLOS: A nexus of real-time information for multinational users”

Observations are essential to understanding the current state of the ecosystem, enabling direct measurements, future comparisons, and inclusion in models for validation purposes. Significant advances in real-time observation technologies and their applications have been made over the last 5 to 10 years, and GLOS has played a key role in the expansion of the Great Lakes observation system enterprise. The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) offers centralized access to real-time observations in and around the Great Lakes, serving diverse user needs and connecting Great Lakes communities and ecosystems. GLOS’ data platform, Seagull, was launched in 2022 and specifically designed to prioritize the end user experience. We will highlight the existing real-time observing network and the data sharing platform supported by GLOS along with future plans related to ecosystem and fisheries management to support a resilient Great Lakes.

Dr. Aaron Fisk, Katelynn Johnson, Rylie Robinson, Todd Leadley and Lydia Paulic, Realtime Aquatic Ecosystem Observation Network (RAEON), University of Windsor. “Simultaneous detection of fish and collection of environmental data in the Great Lakes”

The Great Lakes Acoustic Telemetry Observation System (GLATOS) has revolutionized our understanding of fish movement and behaviour in the Great Lakes. As GLATOS expands to all corners of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystem and to fish species large and small, there is the opportunity to understand how environmental conditions influence fish ecology that will ultimately improve fish management and conservation. Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) and novel buoys now provide simultaneous measurement of environmental data and acoustically tagged fish in the Great Lakes. This seminar will highlight recent research in Lakes Huron, Erie and Ontario that demonstrate the potential of AUVs and buoys to quantify environmental conditions associated with fish detections and better identify the drivers of fish movement in the Great Lakes.

2025 Invasive Species Forum
2025-02-18 - 2025-02-20 | Online
Save the dates for the 2025 Invasive Species Forum! The upcoming Forum will take place from Feb. 18 to 20. The 2025 theme is Advancing Community Action.
The virtual Invasive Species Forum is a free annual event that brings attention to invasive species issues, research, and advances in prevention and management occurring across Canada, and in neighbouring U.S. States.
Registration is now open for the 2025 Invasive Species Forum. Follow the link for more details on how to register.

The Forest Conference
2025-02-19 - 2025-02-20 | Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites, 5875 Airport Rd, Mississauga, ON L4V 1N1
Diverse, healthy forests sustain biodiversity, healthy people, and a healthy economy – but as we face the threats of a changing climate and biodiversity loss, it’s more important than ever that we get together to talk about how we can conserve, restore, and grow forests for the wellbeing of people and planet.

If you are passionate about Canada’s forests, you won’t want to miss our next annual conference featuring expert speakers, valuable networking opportunities, and informative discussions about the critical issues affecting Canada’s forested landscapes.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week 2025
2025-02-24 - 2025-02-28 | Various locations
National Invasive Species Awareness Week is an international event to raise awareness about invasive species, the threat that they pose, and what can be done to prevent their spread.

NISAW is led by The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) which supports local, state, tribal, federal, regional, and national organizations.

Visit their website for information on educational webinars, meetings, local events, and access to their social media toolkit.

Invasive Species in Our Forests: ISAW Livestream
2025-02-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Zoom
Hosted by Forests Canada as part of Invasive Species Awareness Week
Invasive species can be found throughout Ontario, causing major impacts to our forests, communities and economy. This presentation for students grades 4-8 will look at what makes a species invasive and what invasive species can be found in Ontario’s forests. The presentation will also explore common invasive plants, fungi and insects and will teach students how they can help prevent the spread of invasive species.

Forest Pest Workshop
2025-02-26 08:00 - 17:00 | The Gasworks, 141 Park St N, Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 2N4, Canada
Celebrate Invasive Species Awareness Week by learning more about some of the invasives that threaten forests in Canada! Join us to hear all about hemlock woolly adelgid, spotted lanternfly, and beech leaf disease.
*This FREE workshop includes an outdoor tour of infested hemlock stands at Royal Botanical Gardens! Please dress appropriately for the weather.
*Use code ISAW2025 for a chance to win a $250 Atmosphere gift card. Please note, only those who use this code AND attend the workshop will be entered in the draw.
*Refreshments provided.
*Free take-home resources provided.
The Gasworks (in the Theatre Room)
141 Park St N, Hamilton, ON L8R 2N4

EAB & Black Ash Workshop @ Science North
2025-02-27 09:00 - 15:30 | Science North, 100 Ramsey Lake Rd, Sudbury, Ontario, P3E 5S9, Canada
Join us for a free full-day workshop at Science North in Sudbury, Ontario! Learn about the ISC’s latest initiative to mitigate the impacts of the emerald ash borer on surviving ash trees, with a special focus on black ash, a species at risk in Ontario. Hear from leading experts on the latest research surrounding emerald ash borer, the importance of seed collection for species conservation and preservation, and the Indigenous perspectives. Light breakfast refreshments and lunch will be provided. Registration is required to attend.
Location: Science North/Ramsey Room, 100 Ramsey Lake Rd, Greater Sudbury, ON P3E 5S9

Invasive Species Symposium: From Knowledge to Action
2025-02-27 13:00 - 15:30 | Zoom Events
Join us for a dynamic and impactful afternoon of learning and collaboration at the From Knowledge to Action symposium, part of Invasive Species Awareness Week. This event is designed for nonprofit organizations, community leaders, environmental advocates, and anyone passionate about preserving local ecosystems.
Attendees will gain critical knowledge about the threat invasive species pose to natural environments and communities. But knowledge is only the beginning—this symposium will also provide tangible strategies and actionable tools for making a real difference.
Presentations will focus on practical ways to manage invasive species, including community-based initiatives and education efforts. Participants will also get the chance to interact with speakers during a panel discussion.
Whether you are just starting your journey in invasive species management or are already involved in environmental work, From Knowledge to Action will equip you with the skills, resources, and inspiration to create lasting change.
Event Agenda

1 p.m. – Grow Me Instead | Presented by Emily Mitchell, Ontario Invasive Plant Council
1:20 p.m. – Mystery Snail Removal Program | Presented by Brook Shryer, Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program, Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters
1:40 p.m. – FOCA Lake Associations: Taking Action Against Aquatic Invasive Species | Presented by Deanna Forgie, Federation of Ontario Cottagers’ Associations
2 p.m. – Delivering Coordinated Phragmites Management | Presented by Luke King, Nature Conservancy of Canada
2:20 p.m. – Developing New Tools for Invasive Species Management | Presented by Matt Bolding, Ducks Unlimited Canada
2:40 p.m. – Eye Spy Spotted Lanternfly | Presented by Emily Posteraro, Invasive Species Centre
3 p.m. – Panel discussion

Unwelcome Guests: The Threat of Invasive Species
2025-02-27 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
Introduction and moderation by Isabel Savransky, Sustainability Planner at Ontario Tech University.
The first presentation will be by Adam Peltenburg, a computer science student at Ontario Tech University. Adam will be presenting on his experience learning and identifying inavsive plants as well as the challenges he encourtered and what he learned working on the largest remaining wetland in the Greater Toronto Area.
The second presentation will be by Flavia Breje, a PhD candidate in Dr. Andrea Kirkwood’s Aquatic Ecology Lab, where she studies how aquatic plants and macroalgae in the Trent-Severn Waterway respond to environmental stressors. Her presentation will focus on the response of the invasive macroalga, starry stonewort, to lakewide algal blooms in Lakes Simcoe and Scugog.
The final presentation will be by Dr. Laura Meyerson, a professor at the University of Rhode Island in the Department of Natural Resources Science where she conducts research, teaches courses on invasion science and restoration ecology, and trains graduate students. Her presentation will be on non-native species on Indigenous people’s lands.

Alberta Invasive Species Council 12th Annual Conference
2025-03-05 - 2025-03-06 | Olds, Alberta
The Conference will include a variety of sessions focused on invasive species as well as certified pesticide applicator credits and CEU credits will be offered. AISC will be hosting a poster session and opportunities for networking and sponsorship – please contact the host at communications@abinvasives.ca to inquire.

2025 National Invasive Species Webinar Series
2025-03-05 - 2025-03-31 | Online
As part of Canada’s Invasive Species Awareness Week (February 24 – March 2), CCIS is working to increase awareness about invasive species in Canada through our annual webinar series. This series will bring together experts, researchers, and partners to highlight impactful projects, new research and upcoming threats that are shaping the landscape of invasive species action across Canada.
Visit the website for links and registration details
This year’s presentations include:
Leveraging Behaviour Change Principles to Support Prevention of Invasive Species (Wednesday, March 5th)
On the Edge of Invasion (Monday, March 10th)
Invasive Management: New and Alternative Tools in the Toolbox (Wednesday, March 19th)
Strategies to Prevent the Impact of Free-Range Domestic Cats (Wednesday, March 26th)
Invasive Wild Pigs: Collaborative Management Efforts in British Columbia (Thursday, March 27th)
To Catch a Killer: Eradication of the Asian Giant Hornet in the US (Monday, March 31st)

Save the Date - Annual RISCC Symposium
2025-03-11 - 2025-03-12 | Online
NE RISCC hosts a free, virtual symposium every year. The NE RISCC symposium brings together invasive species practitioners, researchers, policymakers, and any interested parties to discuss challenges and solutions to managing invasive species in a changing climate.
More information to come.

Pacific RISCC March Webinar - Advancing invasive species management in a changing climate
2025-03-19 19:00 - 20:00 | Online
The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework calls for the conservation of 30% of the world’s ecosystems and the reduction of invasive species introductions and impacts by identifying and managing introduction pathways and preventing the introduction and establishment of priority invasive alien species. While protected areas have historically limited the introduction and spread of non-native species, climate change is expected to increase their susceptibility to invasions. However, our understanding how climate change may alter pathways into protected areas remains incomplete. This presentation will explore how climate change may impact introduction pathways in terrestrial, freshwater, marine, and island ecosystems and present a climate-smart approach to biosecurity which includes the incorporation of new tools and technologies (horizon scanning, hotspot analysis, network analysis, culturomics) and integrated planning through risk analyses and scenario planning. Additionally, It will present the information on an ongoing horizon scan to identify range shifting forest pests as an example of how we can better inform invasive species management and prevention in a changing world.

National Forum on Biological Control Conference
2025-04-14 - 2025-04-17 | The Graduate Hotel, Annapolis, Maryland
The USDA Forest Service is organizing a National Forum for Biological Control in Natural Areas Conference in partnership with NAISMA and the National Association of State Foresters and will be held April 14-17, 2025 in Annapolis, MD at the Graduate Hotel. The meeting will focus on both weed and arthropod biocontrol and will be a venue for all biocontrol practitioners, researchers, and policy makers to come together to address the shared challenges (i.e., communication, capacity, changing landscapes) and opportunities that exist in this area. The meeting themes are centered around biocontrol research, management, and impacts in natural areas.

Ontario Fish Identification Workshops
2025-04-22 - 2025-05-15 | University of Guelph Science Complex (unless otherwise noted)
These workshops are designed primarily for professionals, technicians, field biologists, and environmental consultants, but other interested individuals – including university and college students – are welcome.
Workshops will be offered in April and May 2025, at the University of Guelph Science Complex (unless otherwise noted).
A variety of courses are being offered this year, check out the website for more details

Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association 2025 Conference & AGM
2025-04-23 - 2025-04-25 | Superior Inn Hotel & Conference Centre in Thunder Bay
The conference theme this year is “Innovation” and will be a great opportunity to provide timely updates, showcase best practices, share local initiatives, network, and provide municipalities with critical knowledge to help them prepare for the changes that are to come.

Watersheds Canada National Conference 2025
2025-05-01 - 2025-05-02 | 4252 Haliburton County Road 21 Haliburton, ON K0M 1S0
Connecting Leaders, Inspiring Change: Practical Stewardship for Canada’s Freshwater
Immerse yourself in Watersheds Canada’s inaugural conference where inspiration leads to action.
Join fellow lake and watershed enthusiasts for an engaging experience that takes you beyond the conference room and into the field with hands-on stewardship project demonstrations and interactive seminars.
Network with passionate lake leaders and environmental professionals, share innovative success stories and discover science-driven practical solutions.
Leave empowered, connected, and ready to make a tangible impact on Canada’s watersheds and your own community
Learn more at https://watersheds.ca/conference/

St. Joseph Island Hunters and Anglers Association's Outdoors Show
2025-05-04 08:00 - 17:00 | Johnson Township Community Centre Arena, 3 Johnson Dr, Johnson, Ontario, Canada
Location: Johnson Township Community Centre ArenaEntry by Cash DonationCash Required for raffles and many on-site purchases (No ATM on Site – closest ATM at nearby restaurant)

This event gets bigger every year! With over 100 tables of indoor and outdoor vendors with firearms, hunting, fishing, ATVs, boats, and other outdoor gear.

If you have outdoors equipment, fishing or hunting gear you’d like to advertise or sell contact Jane Perry 705-206-6454

Quality retail and private owner firearms tables (Valid PAL Licence required for firearms, ammunition, and magazine purchases, please ensure your email is up to date with RCMP to ensure a smooth exchange)

Outdoor Themed Presentations at 11am and 1:30pm (Topics to be announced)
Free Family Activities for all ages: Archery, Tomahawk Throwing, Rod Casting, CO2 Powered Nerf Gun Shooting Gallery
Knife Sharpening Booth for a fee
Sault College Deer Check Station Booth will have free antler measuring – bring your rack big or small!
Raffles and Draws with fantastic prizes for everyone
Food and Drink Available On Site all day

Parking on site with overflow parking close-by and a free shuttle

Draw Information:
Each year at the Outdoors and Gun Show the St. Joseph Island Hunters and Anglers Association hosts a number of draws. There are two draws this year that require you to pay for a ticket to enter the draw and these are licensed by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario and help to raise money to support events like todays. Funds are also used to support other conservation initiatives undertaken by the Association.

Draw #1: Gun/Bow Package Draw $20 per ticketWinner gets a choice of one of the below packages:Excalibur Crossbow with Case and accessoriesWinchester Rifle with ScopeTraditions Nitrofire MuzzleloaderRemington Semi-Auto Shotgun

International Young Researchers Conference on Invasive Species - 2025
2025-05-06 - 2025-05-07 | Online
The International Young Researchers Conference on Invasive Species is a forum to discuss invasive species worldwide. Communications are limited to young researchers: postgraduate students, master’s students, PhD candidate, and first-year postdoc.

Environmental DNA Workshop 2025
2025-05-11 - 2025-05-16
The Queen’s University Biological Station is hosting an immersive training program from May 11–16, 2025, featuring lectures, hands-on field and lab activities, and instruction in sampling, data collection, processing, analysis, and interpretation. An optional Oxford Nanopore Long Read Sequencing Workshop will be available on May 16–17. Open to students, industry professionals, and the public. Participants will receive a Queen’s University micro-credential.
For more information, visit https://qubs.ca/eDNAWorkshop

2025 Invasive Species Research Conference
2025-05-13 - 2025-05-15 | Kelowna, British Columbia
Call for Proposals Ends November 15, 2024
Invasive species researchers and practitioners from North America and beyond are invited to participate and to submit scientific research abstracts for presentations at the Invasive Species Research Conference. All those working or interested in invasive species research are encouraged to attend.

2025 Ontario Biodiversity Summit
2025-05-21 - 2025-05-22 | Trent University, Peterborough-Nogojiwanong, Ontario
Everyone has a role to play to conserve biodiversity in Ontario and to set a path towards a resilient future for nature and people.
The 2025 Ontario Biodiversity Summit: Our Turning Point for Nature, will find common threads between different sectors, areas of expertise and knowledge systems and weave them together to build our turning point for nature. The Summit and its outcomes will also drive implementation of Ontario’s Biodiversity Strategy and its 13 targets and 43 priority actions.
Learn more and register: https://event.fourwaves.com/obs-2025

Webinar: Beyond Buckthorn: Innovative Strategies for Invasive Control
2025-05-21 | Online
Invasive buckthorn continues to threaten native ecosystems, but new and creative management approaches are showing promising results. This webinar will explore cutting-edge strategies to control and replace buckthorn, including the Cover It Up program, which utilizes native plantings to suppress regrowth, targeted goat grazing, and the use of fungal pathogens to weaken buckthorn populations. Join experts as they share research-backed insights, real-world applications, and success stories from the field. Whether you’re a land manager, conservationist, or homeowner, this session will equip you with practical tools to restore habitat and reclaim invaded landscapes.

Volunteer Event: Garlic Mustard Pull in Schomberg, Ontario
2025-05-27 17:30 - 19:30 | StarCliff Nature Reserve, Schomberg, Ontario
Join the annual Garlic Mustard pull. Help manage the spread of this invasive plant at the StarCliff Nature Reserve in Schomberg. Garlic Mustard is easy to manually remove, with no tools or training required. Protect biodiversity, spend an afternoon in the woods, and become a part of our volunteer community.

Accessibility: please note that the trail at this site contains some steep inclines and uneven terrain. It is not accessible for community members with limited mobility.

Millennium Forest Celebration
2025-06-05 11:00 - 14:00 | Roberta Bondar Park in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
An anniversary ceremony will take place at the Millennium Forest from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm, followed by a celebration at the Roberta Bondar Park until 2:00 pm. This includes socializing, informational displays and food on site available for purchase.
This celebration is a unique opportunity to engage with the local forestry community, showcase your services and join us in commemorating a significant milestone for the Millennium Forest. Booth space and/or a table will be available. There is no cost to participate as an exhibitor.
To discuss this celebration further, please reach out to Megan Smith (megan.smith@ontario.ca, 705-255-8622).

NAISMA Webinar: Invasive Freshwater Jellyfish
2025-06-18 14:00 - 15:00 | Online
Many people have recently noticed small jellyfish floating around in summer in lakes. These are mostly a single invasive species known officially as Craspedacusta sowerbii or sometimes as the Peach-blossom jellyfish. If you have noticed them, you may think you are seeing things, but they are probably real. I will discuss what we know about this invasive species in North American lakes and why they are being noticed more and more often. While scientists still have a lot to learn about these organisms, I will discuss in this webinar the knowledge we currently have, providing some insight into their life histories and ecology, as well as how they might be affecting food webs in our lakes.

Great Lakes Aquatic Invasive Species Landing Blitz
2025-06-30 - 2025-07-13
Boaters and other recreators learn about the risks of spreading aquatic invasive species (AIS) at public and private boating access sites across the Great Lakes region every summer. The Great Lakes AIS “Landing Blitz” events take place over a two-week period, emphasizing the need to Clean, Drain, Dry boats whenever they come out of the water, and Dispose of any unwanted bait in the trash.

Local volunteers partner with state and provincial agencies to deliver consistent messaging about preventing the introduction and spread of AIS from the movement of watercraft and equipment between water bodies. Information on these events, including educational materials, locations and volunteer opportunities are posted on this page as they become available.

See the map on their website to view events

Beech Leaf Disease Workshop
2025-07-24 | King Edward Park Community Centre 75 Elizabeth St, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
The Invasive Species Centre, in coordination with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is hosting an in-person beech leaf disease workshop to raise awareness about this disease and what we can do to protect beech.
Attendees will learn about beech leaf disease biology, prevention, identification, reporting, research, and more!
*This workshop involves a field tour to see beech leaf disease and its impacts – please dress appropriately for the weather.
*Morning refreshments and lunch are provided.
*The Invasive Species Centre has applied for ISA CEU’s

Beech Leaf Disease Workshop
2025-07-24 09:00 - 14:30 | King Edward Park Community Centre 75 Elizabeth St, Brighton, ON K0K 1H0
On July 24, the Invasive Species Centre, in coordination with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and MNR, will be hosting a free workshop in Brighton to increase awareness and reporting of beech leaf disease.
Beech leaf disease can impact all species of beech and is thought to be caused by an invasive foliar-feeding nematode. It has been spreading rapidly through Ontario, with known detections from Windsor to Prince Edward County. This workshop will cover beech leaf disease identification, biology, spread, prevention, management, and research. Join us to learn more about how you can help protect beech!
A few workshop highlights:

There is an indoor and outdoor portion of the workshop – See beech leaf disease and its impacts firsthand during an outdoor walk through Proctor Park Conservation Area
Lunch is provided
A request has been made to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to offer CEUs for certified individuals attending this workshop

Spotted Lanternfly Workshop
2025-08-06 09:30 - 11:00 | The Gasworks, 141 Park St N, Hamilton, Ontario, L8R 2N4, Canada
The focus of this workshop is the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest spreading in the northeastern United States, with populations as close to Canada as Buffalo, New York. Although not currently in Canada, if spotted lanternfly were to establish, it could have immense impacts on agricultural production and the natural environment within Ontario’s Greenbelt. Presented by the Invasive Species Centre with support from the Greenbelt Foundation, this workshop will provide training, key information and tools to prevent, identify and report spotted lanternfly.
This in-person workshop is free of cost and is taking place on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Advance registration is required at the link below. There are a limited number of registrations available, so be sure to secure your place as soon as possible!
Can’t attend the workshop? Try the Invasive Species Centre’s free online course, Spotted Lanternfly Training through our Invasive Species Training Program.
Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of the following:

what makes a species invasive,
the importance of the lands protected within the Greenbelt,
the impacts of spotted lanternfly and the importance of prevention, early detection and rapid response,
basic spotted lanternfly biology, life cycle, and pathways of spread,
tips and tools to identify and report spotted lanternfly and its host plant, tree-of-heaven; and
updates on current efforts and key government players in Ontario and Canada.

We encourage vineyard owners and staff, other horticulturalists, woodlot owners, arborists, government and conservation authority staff, gardeners, naturalists, students, and any interested members of the public to join us!
Attendance in full at this workshop is eligible for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Integrated Pest Management for Ontario Certified Crop Advisors. Approval is pending for eligibility of CEUs for the International Society of Arboriculture.
