
In 2022, the Invasive Species Centre launched an awards program to celebrate “10 Years Together”. The awards will be given annually and will recognize and celebrate the leadership and commitment of individuals or organizations who help keep Canada’s land and water free from invasive species.
The core award categories recognize individuals or organizations who champion and demonstrate values of excellence, innovation, and leadership in invasive species prevention and management in Canada.
Award Categories
The Career Achievement Award:
The individual or organization who will receive the Career Achievement Award will meet the following criteria:
- Consistently demonstrates high value and high-quality results over a long-term period (20 years or more)
- Contributions to invasive species prevention and management in Canada are significant and sustained through outstanding and long-lasting achievement
The Innovation Award:
The individual or organization who will receive The Innovation Award will meet the following criteria:
- Has moved a creative idea to a practical reality, thereby transforming or improving invasive species prevention and management in Canada
- Has made substantive and enduring outcomes through the skillful application of novel and useful ideas
The Leadership Award
The individual or organization who will receive The Leadership Award will meet the following criteria:
- Champions and breaks ground, leading and thereby transforming or improving invasive species prevention and management in Canada
- Has created meaningful and long-lasting impact in their communities through their forward-thinking and dedication
The Young Professional Award
The individual who will receive The Young Professional Award will meet the following criteria:
- Between the ages of 19 and 40 practicing in the field of invasive species
- Has demonstrated outstanding achievement early on in their career through their contributions to address invasive species issues
2022 Award Nominees and Winners
Young Professional Award Nominees
Fraser Smith, FSmith Consulting
Tamara Brincat, Severn Sound Environmental Association
Tyler Harrow-Lyle, Ryerson University
Vincent Gagné, Fyto Inc.
Young Professional Award Winner:
Vincent Gagné, Fyto Inc.

Leadership Award Nominees
David Hawke, The Couchiching Conservancy Land Trust
Hemlock Heroes of Sporting Lake, Medway Community Forest Coop
Michelle Vala, Lanark County, Public Works
Brenda Martin, Malcolm Ardoch Lakes and Landowners Association (MALLA)
Nancy Vidler, Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group
The Manitoulin Phragmites Project
Master Gardeners of Ontario Facebook Group, Master Gardeners of Ontario Inc.
Leadership Award Winners
In this category we presented two winners as there was a tie in the scoring:
- Nancy Vidler, Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group
- Brenda Martin, Malcolm Ardoch Lakes and Landowners Association (MALLA)


Innovation Award Nominees
Lab of Dr. Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan
Vincent Gagné, Fyto Inc.
Kyle Borrowman, Ducks Unlimited Canada
Nancy Vidler, Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group
Jim McCready, Forest Health Network, Eastern Ontario Model Forest
Janice Gilbert, Invasive Phragmites Control Centre
Innovation Award Winner
Janice Gilbert, Invasive Phragmites Control Centre

Career Achievement Award Nominees
Dan McKenney – Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service
Janice Gilbert, Invasive Phragmites Control Centre
Jim McCready, Forest Health Network, Eastern Ontario Model Forest
Tom Borg, Red Rock Indian Band
Career Achievement Award Winner
Dan McKenney – Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service

Evaluation Process
Submissions are provided to an independent panel of judges and include an instruction not to share with third parties. Note: All information in the submission may be used in publications unless otherwise instructed or marked as “confidential” on the submission form. The independent judging panel assess and score each submission according to the criteria of the applicable category. Judges’ scores are aggregated to produce a single Winner in each category.
For any questions about the ISC Awards, please contact events@invasivespeciescentre.ca.