The Invasive Species Centre (ISC) is celebrating its 10-Year Anniversary in 2021. The microgrant and related ISC10 projects are a way of commemorating the progress that ISC and partners have made together over the past 10 years, with a vision forward to the next 10 years and beyond. 

The microgrant is an award for a one-time, small size education and/or community action project that focuses on prevention and/or management of invasive species. 

ISC has awarded 24 microgrants of $1,000 each to support invasive species education and community action in Ontario.  Nominations were assessed with others from their geographic region based on impact of their project outcomes and strength of their project plan. 

We’re featuring these projects throughout the year to help amplify the exciting microgrant project work being completed this year to support prevention and management of invasive species. Check out the project profiles here.

Thanks to those individuals, groups and organizations that submitted applications.  

You can see more about the accepted projects below:

6-Mile Riparian Restoration (Society of Ecological Restoration, Niagara College Student Chapter), Niagara-on-the-Lake 

  • Restoration of a portion of the 6-Mile creek on Niagara College Campus to remove invasive phragmites and naturalize the riparian buffer. 

Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard removal project at Lawson Nature Reserve (Ontario Nature), Ingersoll 

  • Ontario Nature will partner with nature clubs and the public to remove Buckthorn and Garlic Mustard at Lawson Nature Reserve.   

Buckthorn Control at Massie Hills Management Unit (Grey Sauble Conservation Authority), Owen Sound 

  • The reduction of Invasive Buckthorn shrubs in a managed forest that also includes several Species at Risk. 

Communities for Conservation – Tackling Invasive Species with Action and Education through the Volunteer raresites Land Steward Program (rare Charitable Research Reserve), Cambridge 

  • Providing access to equipment, resources, and training to community members interested in monitoring trails and combatting invasive species at rare Charitable Research Reserve. 

Fighting Phragmites (Township of Woolwich), Woolwich 

  • To mow, cut and control patches of phragmites in an area undergoing naturalization. 

G2G Citizen Science (Goderich to Guelph Rail Trail Inc.), Goderich to Guelph 

  • Raising awareness of the trail community about differentiating invasive species and implementing action steps. 

Indigenous Food Trees (Mohawk Seedkeeper Gardens), Ohsweken 

  • Providing living examples of ancestral land management by enhancing community capacity and resiliency whilst preventing the spread of invasive species. 

Invasive Species Awareness Initiative (Toronto Master Gardeners), Toronto 

  • Education of the gardening public by a team of specifically trained TMGs with the goal of preventing and combatting the spread of invasive species. 

Let’s Dephrag the Marsh! – Public Education about Phragmites (Friends of Second Marsh), Oshawa 

  • To create a public awareness campaign about the impacts of Phragmites on our ecosystems and what can be done to manage its spread. 

Managing Invasive Species and Preserving TEK on Georgina Island First Nation (Chippewas of Georgina Island First Nation), Georgina Island 

  • Reducing the introduction, establishment, and spread of invasive species while preserving Traditional plants with outreach and education initiatives on Georgina Island. 

Oakville Invasive Species Action Campaign (Oakvillegreen Conservation Association), Oakville 

  • Building awareness among Oakville residents about the threats of invasive plant species and engaging them in hands-on action to restore the health of our urban forests. 

Ontario Youth Naturalist Program: Invasive Species module (Lakehead University), Orillia campus 

  • The Ontario Youth Naturalist Program’s Invasive species module enables youth to learn about invasives from Bob Bowles, and work with Parks Canada toward identification and eradication. 

Play Clean Go Tiny (Corporation of the Township of Tiny), Tiny 

  • The Township of Tiny will host Invasive Species webinars and install a NAISMA Boot Brush Station and educational signage along the Tiny Trail, part of the Trans Canada Trail System. 

Severn Sound Invasive Species Spotters (Severn Sound Environmental Association), Port McNicoll 

  • Volunteer citizen scientists will be recruited to collect scientific data on invasive Starry Stonewort in the Severn Sound area. 

5th Annual Garlic Mustard Invasive Plant Pull (EcoSuperior Environmental Programs), Thunder Bay 

  • EcoSuperior will host the 5th Annual Garlic Mustard Invasive Plant Pull at the McVicar Creek walking trail to control the spread of this harmful invasive in the Thunder Bay area. 

Grand Council Treaty #3 Zebra Mussel Early Detection Program (Grand Council Treaty #3), Kenora 

  • The Territorial Planning Unit will work with Treaty #3 communities to create a network for early detection of zebra mussels in Treaty #3 territory. 

Zebra Mussel Settlement Sampler Community Workshops (Lake of the Woods District Stewardship Association), Kenora 

  • Community workshops to construct zebra mussel samplers and learn how to prevent, monitor, and manage the spread of aquatic invasive species. 

Awareness to Weed Out Hogweed and Invasive Species (Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation), Manitoulin Island  

  • Community dissemination, tour to identify and provide proper equipment to remove hogweed and related species. 

Black Ash Inventory, Emerald Ash Borer Risk Assessment (Missanabie Cree First Nation), Sault Ste. Marie 

  • Inventory black ash on MCFN reserve lands in summer of 2021, survey for existence of Emerald Ash Borer, collect black ash seeds.  

Identifying Invasive Species of Wahnapitae First Nation (Wahnapitae First Nation), Capreol 

  • Obtain proper knowledge, training, protocols, control, and awareness of what invasive species can be found in our community. 

Invasive Species Education Plan (Municipality of Whitestone), Dunchurch 

  • Invasive species staff training, rate payer education and social media educational campaign. 

Smith Bay Creek Phragmites Removal (Manitoulin Streams Improvement Association), Manitowaning 

  • Removal of Phragmites from the mouth of Smith Bay Creek in order to protect native species and accessibility for migrating salmonids. 

Dog-strangling vine control and native species replanting (Northumberland Land Trust), Cobourg 

  • To control dog-strangling vine and replant with native species.

Mitigwakiing (Kingston Indigenous Languages Nest), Kingston 

  • The Enji-Goode project builds our capacity as an urban Indigenous community to promote biodiversity and manage invasive species. 

The Invasive Species Centre would like to thank the following organizations for their support: