Chapter Updates – Summer 2025

Our Chapters have been busy this past field season!  

Tackling field work, in-person outreach and education, our Chapters have been active in preventing the spread of invasive species in their provinces. From coast to coast to coast, they continue to protect and restore local ecosystems with on-the-ground projects and community outreach. Dive into our latest updates to see what they’ve accomplished this past season!

Invasives Canada has established a strong network of chapters spanning across Canada, from coast to coast to coast. Each of our 10 chapters is a provincial or territorial invasive species organization with a unique structure and mandate. They work together to create partnerships and address local issues while ensuring consistent messaging and resources to help people in Canada to take responsible actions.

Our Chapters include:

Invasives Canada chapter map

 

Alberta Invasive Species Council:

  • The AISC has completed another season of their Biocontrol Release Program where they provide host-specific insects for landowners and land managers to manage infestations of invasive plants. This summer they were able to offer three agents for release: leafy spurge beetles, spotted and diffuse knapweed seed head weevils and root weevils. A total of 75 orders were released for control of leafy spurge and spotted knapweed infestations in Alberta. The 2025 Annual Report will be sent out in the AISC’s quarterly newsletter in September – subscribe here! 
  • Thanks to the Environmental Damages Funding, the AISC has officially launched the new ‘Protect Our Waters’ campaign to stop aquatic invaders in their tracks by promoting messages such as ‘Don’t Move a Mussel’, ‘If it Floats, it’s a Boat’, ‘No Free Ride for Invasive Species’ and ‘Clean Drain Dry’ and hosted a special event on July 30 featuring live invasive species demos, new merch, the new CD3 watercraft cleaning station in Sir Wilfred Laurier Park and a DIY tote bag screen-printing with SNAP Gallery to empower the public to take action, so we can protect the waters we love from aquatic invaders! 
  • The AISC is known for their detailed factsheets that help Albertans identify and manage invasive species. Recently, the AISC added several new factsheets to its collection, including Kochia, New Zealand mud snail, roof rat and emerald ash borer. 

 

Invasives Species Council of BC

Mark your calendars! The INVASIVES 2026 Forum returns February 9–12 at the Anvil Centre in New Westminster, B.C. This year’s theme, One Landscape, One Future, highlights how we are connected through shared landscapes and the collective action needed to protect them. Expect fresh keynote perspectives, dynamic sessions, and networking that drives real-world impact. Stay tuned for agenda details and registration updates.

We have also been advancing projects across the province:

  • The Agriculture Training Project is delivering workshops, virtual training, and new resources to help fruit, berry, viticulture, and forage producers reduce invasive plants, pests, and diseases.
  • Our Tree Project is mapping ashes, elms, and the invasive tree of heaven across B.C., strengthening efforts to track and manage threats like emerald ash borer, Dutch elm disease, and spotted lanternfly.
  • Our Collaborative Response to Japanese Beetle is now in its eighth year. While 2024 saw zero detections in Vancouver, new detections in Kamloops reinforce the importance of strong partnerships to keep B.C.’s Japanese beetle pest-free status.
  • Our Behaviour Change Programming is growing, with new initiatives in the pet and aquarium trade, angling, and Buy Local Burn Local. We’re preparing fresh education materials for retailers and the public this winter and spring.

We look forward to sharing more updates and connecting at the INVASIVES 2026 Forum.

 

New Brunswick Invasive Species Council

 

Outreach & Visibility 

  •  NBISC has had a busy summer building community connection and strengthening visibility. In July, we partnered with the Fredericton Botanic Garden for a guided invasive plant walk with naturalist Dr. Jim Goltz, followed two weeks later by a successful multiflora rose removal in the pollinator gardens. Our team also participated in a staff field day at St. Andrew’s Wharf with Dr. Claire Goodman, Research scientist at Huntsman Marine Science Centre where we assisted with identifying aquatic invasive species around the wharf. In August, we joined a site visit to Brothers Island organized by the Wolastoqey Nation in New Brunswick (WNNB), creating opportunities for new collaboration around conservation and invasive species management.   

Aquatics Update 

  •  Our aquatic programs have been in full swing with zebra mussel monitoring, including the installation of 20 collector plates, eDNA sampling at 26 sites, and veliger sampling at 5 Wolastoq locations. We also soft-launched the Water Watchers program, hosting plant paddles and training events to encourage aquatic plant ID. A dedicated webpage and new materials are currently in development and will be launched later this fall. 
  • The mobile boat washing station has been especially successful this year, attending more than 10 angling events. We’ve seen significantly higher uptake from boaters—with about 75% or more choosing to stop for cleaning compared to much lower participation when we first started last year. This strong improvement highlights growing awareness and acceptance of Clean Drain Dry practices among the boating community. 
  • Finally, we partnered with a local filmmaker to produce a Clean Drain Dry video, capturing multiple perspectives on prevention, with a fall release expected.

Terrestrial Update 

  • NBISC has been working with numerous partners to conduct forest pest monitoring throughout the province. We successfully put out 13 EAB traps and 5 HWA traps this season. 
  • We have been working on developing a boot brush station network in the province, including installing 5 boot brush stations. This work was delayed by the forest closures in NB, but with those restrictions lifted we are back on track. We have already installed one station and plan to get the other 4 installed in September.   
  • The Phragmites Working Gour took a small pause for the field season but resumed meeting in August. The working group is presently focused on developing shared mapping tools, shared survey methodologies, and creating a prioritization matrix for future survey efforts.  

Staffing & Capacity 

  • Finally, we are excited to share that one of our Canada Summer Jobs environmental technicians, Alicia Lowe has joined us full time, helping us carry forward the momentum from a busy field season into our year-round programming. 

 

Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council

  • We held an outreach event at Bass Pro on August 22, and though we took the DECON, we didn’t operate it. We talked to the public and gave away some stickers. I would like to acknowledge Bass Pro in Dartmouth and also their staff member, Ava Berry, who helped us set it up and provided great hospitality while we were on site
  • This month, our eDNA Pilot Monitoring Project Partners conducted eDNA sampling in East Hants (Municipality of East Hants) and the Truro area (Maritime Aboriginal People’s Council).  As we near the end of the season, we have one sampling partner left (Coastal Action) to conduct sampling in September.  This has been a busy project with eDNA water sampling, and settling plate deployment in numerous watersheds, and across several municipalities.   
  • We are getting ready to attend Paddlefest in Bridgewater on September 21!  We hope to clean 100+ kayaks/canoes.  
  • Maybe we can put a huge thank you to the summer interns in the newsletter.  (Kate MacLeod, Sean Donnelly) and a farewell to Chris Lord as he heads off the NSCC for Oceans Technology.   
  • We’d like to thank the Annapolis Royal Fire Department for providing water for our first Kejimkujik trip, prior to the fires. 
  • Finally, we’d like to say Thank You and Farwell to our summer interns, Kate MacLeod and Sean Donnelly, as well as staff member Chris Lord who heads off to the NSCC for Oceans Technology!

Ontario Invasive Plant Council

  • We are bidding farewell to long-term OIPC science communications and event coordinator Emily Mitchell, who is continuing her education this fall. Emily has brought a quiet, calming presence to the team — she is technically excellent and always approached her work with professionalism and thoughtfulness. We wish Emily every success as she takes this next step in her career. 
  • We are pleased to share that Julien Robertson will be gradually transitioning into the role of Council Supervisor for the Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC) over the coming months. Julien brings strong experience in collaboration, partnerships, and grant development from his time with Invasives Canada, where he has played a key role in advancing national initiatives. We are excited to welcome Julien into this new role and look forward to the expertise and energy he will bring to supporting the Ontario Invasive Plant Council’s growth and impact.

 

News & Events Categories

Stop The Spread: Report Invasive Species

How to Prevent and Manage Invasive Species

The Impact of Invasive Species on Canada’s Ecosystems and Economy

Invasive Species Resources: Guides, Manuals, and Best Practices