The Invasive Species Centre Awards are given annually to recognize and celebrate the leadership and commitment of individuals who help keep land and water in Canada free from invasive species. The core award categories recognize individuals who champion and demonstrate values of excellenceinnovation, and leadership in invasive species prevention and management in Canada.  

Review the award categories, eligibility requirements, and evaluation process

Award Categories

Career Achievement Award:

The individual 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


Innovation Award:

The individual 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


Leadership Award:

The individual 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


Young Professional Award:

The individual who will receive the Young Professional Award will meet the following criteria:

  • Between the ages of 18 and 30 practicing in the field of invasive species
  • Has demonstrated outstanding achievement early on in their career through their contributions to address invasive species issues

Eligibility Criteria

To receive an Invasive Species Centre Award, the nominee must meet the following criteria:  

  • Must be a resident of Canada or be a registered business/non-profit in Canada  
  • Not be an Invasive Species Centre employee  
  • Not have received an Invasive Species Centre Award in the last 3 years 

For any questions, please email events@invasivespeciescentre.ca.

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.


2024 Award Winners

Young Professional Award: Cassidy Egerdeen, City of Mississauga’s Forestry Division

Leadership Award: Dr. Rebecca Rooney, University of Waterloo; Founder of the Waterloo Wetland Lab

Innovation Award: Dr. Yoamel Milián-García, University of Guelph’s Department of Integrative Biology

Career Achievement Award: Dr. Nicholas Mandrak, University of Toronto Scarborough

Honoree: Errol Caldwell, Algoma University


2023 Award Winners

Young Professional Award: Ozero Solutions, founded by Olivier Liberge, Maxime Guay & Matys Tessier

Leadership Award: Dr. Pedro Antunes on behalf of the Algoma University Plant and Soil Ecology Lab

Leadership Award: Lakehead University Ontario Youth Naturalist Program, overseen by Dr. Linda Rodenburg

Innovation Award: Dr. Ryan Brook, University of Saskatchewan

Career Achievement Award: Jim McCready, Forest Health Network, Eastern Ontario Model Forest


2022 Award Winners

Young Professional Award: Vincent Gagné, Fyto Inc.

Leadership Award: Nancy Vidler, Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group

Leadership Award: Brenda Martin, Malcolm Ardoch Lakes and Landowners Association (MALLA)

Innovation Award Winner: Janice Gilbert, Invasive Phragmites Control Centre

Career Achievement Award Winner: Dan McKenney – Natural Resources Canada/Canadian Forest Service