Invasive Species Centre Awards

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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.