Youth Eco Stewards & Chapter Updates – Summer 2026
It’s summer and field season! See what our Youth Eco Stewards and Chapters have been working on the past few months.
Our Chapters include:
- Alberta Invasive Species Council
- Invasive Species Council of BC
- Invasive Species Council of Manitoba
- New Brunswick Invasive Species Council
- Northwest Territories Council on Invasive Species, Pests and Pathogens
- Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council
- Ontario Invasive Plant Council
- Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council
- Saskatchewan Invasive Species Council
- Yukon Invasive Species Council
Invasive Species Council of British Columbia (ISCBC)
Events
Anglers and nature lovers across B.C. are invited to join the BC Fish Finders 2026 iNaturalist Project, running until September 21. By photographing and reporting any wild fish they encounter, participants can help map fish diversity, track vulnerable native species, and improve understanding of where invasive fish are being found.
Project Updates
Following B.C.’s first confirmed detections of Dutch elm disease in the Kootenay Boundary Regional District in July 2024, ISCBC is working with the B.C. Ministry of Agriculture and Food to better understand its distribution. Living Tree Environmental has been hired to survey American and Siberian elm trees within Castlegar, Cranbrook, Fruitvale, Grand Forks, Rossland, Salmo, and Trail, with the results helping to inform future management planning.
Outreach & Communications
ISCBC Executive Director Gail Wallin joined international colleagues at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Switzerland, to explore how community observations can support invasive species detection, reporting, and rapid response. The discussion drew interest from participants around the world and highlighted growing recognition that invasive species need greater attention within broader biodiversity conversations.
New Resources
ISCBC has released a new three-part case study exploring how First Nations across B.C. are experiencing and responding to invasive species.
Developed collaboratively by Two Row Innovations, the chapters share perspectives from Nlaka’pamux and syilx territories and coastal First Nations, highlighting Indigenous leadership, traditional knowledge, and culturally informed approaches to stewardship.
Other
ISCBC has recognized Gerald Michel of the Xwísten community, part of the St’át’imc Nation, and James Littley of the Okanagan Basin Water Board with its 2026 Together in Action Awards.
Gerald received the Indigenous Leadership Award for more than four decades of advocacy and stewardship, while James received the Leadership Excellence Award for advancing collaborative invasive species preparedness and prevention in the Okanagan and beyond.
New Brunswick Invasive Species Council (NBISC)
Events
Past Events
- June 6 – Killarney Youth Fishing Event (Fredericton) – Clean Drain Dry information booth.
- June 11 – Presentation to the Fredericton Rotary Club on invasive species prevention.
- June 13 – Belleisle Watershed Fishing Derby – Decontamination Station and Clean Drain Dry outreach.
- June 25 – Garrison Night Market (Fredericton) – Don’t Let It Loose and Clean Drain Dry information booth.
- July 9 – Provincial Invasive Species Update presentation to New Brunswick Department of Natural Resources and Energy Development staff at the Atlantic Salmon Museum in Doaktown.
- July 11 – Lake George Annual General Meeting – Clean Drain Dry and Don’t Let It Loose outreach.
- July 16 – Supec Acomu Community Event (Saint John) – invasive species outreach and information sharing.
- July 18 – Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee Outreach Event (Meenan’s Cove Beach) – Decontamination Station and Clean Drain Dry outreach.
- July 25 – Hook n’ Paddle (Wauklehegan Lake) – Decontamination Station and Clean Drain Dry education.
Upcoming Events
- August 2 – Woodstock Open Bass Tour – NBISC will provide decontamination services.
- August 10 or 17 – Community dog-strangling vine removal in partnership with the City of Moncton through NBISC’s Environmental Trust Fund Community Advocacy Project.
- August – Habitat Health Watch invasive plant removals in partnership with Nature Trust of New Brunswick at Hyla Park, Butternut Island, and additional removal sites in September.
- August 13–24 – Clean Drain Dry awareness campaign in partnership with ACAP, featuring shoreline walks, aquatic invasive plant identification, and public education promoting aquatic invasive species prevention.
Project Updates
Aquatic
Our zebra mussel monitoring program is well underway, with activities including collector plate installation and monitoring, environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling, water quality sampling, dock inspections, and visual shoreline surveys in priority watersheds. Nate Moore also participated in the Atlantic regional eDNA Partner Training hosted by the Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council.
NBISC continues providing boat decontamination services at fishing tournaments, paddling events, and community outreach activities while promoting Clean Drain Dry and aquatic invasive species prevention.
NBISC also partnered with the Kennebecasis Watershed Restoration Committee to pilot a curly-leaf pondweed removal on a private pond connected to a river system in Sussex to help evaluate future management approaches. The curly-leaf pondweed was removed by professional divers using the hand-pulling method.
Terrestrial
Japanese knotweed removals have been undertaken in collaboration with Ducks Unlimited Canada.
Additional invasive plant removals are being scheduled through the Habitat Health Watch program with Nature Trust of New Brunswick.
A community dog-strangling vine removal is also planned in partnership with the City of Moncton through the Environmental Trust Fund Community Advocacy Project.
NBISC also continues coordinating emerald ash borer trap deployment with partner organizations and supporting hemlock woolly adelgid preparedness activities throughout New Brunswick.
Outreach & Communications
NBISC continues to deliver invasive species outreach through presentations, information booths, webinars, community events, lake association meetings, and fishing tournaments across New Brunswick.
This summer, our outreach has focused heavily on Clean Drain Dry, Don’t Let It Loose, Water Watchers, invasive plant identification, and aquatic invasive species prevention.
Educational materials continue to be distributed to municipalities, watershed organizations, lake associations, and community partners, including Parks NB, throughout the province.
NBISC also continues responding to invasive species reports from the public and partners.
We continue to work with OneFish Graphic Design on website enhancements, including design improvements and updates to the English version of the NBISC website.
New Resources
New educational resources released this season include:
- Curly-leaf pondweed trifold brochure
- Beneficial Management Practices for Reed Canary Grass
- Emerald ash borer factsheet
- Hemlock woolly adelgid factsheet
NBISC has also distributed large quantities of Clean Drain Dry educational materials, invasive species identification resources, and outreach materials to municipalities, lake associations, watershed organizations, and partner groups throughout New Brunswick.
Other
NBISC welcomed Grayson Lister as its Canada Summer Jobs Environmental Technician for the 2026 field season.
Grayson started in May and has been supporting aquatic invasive species prevention through Clean Drain Dry outreach, boat wash stations, community events, monitoring activities, and public education across New Brunswick.
Nova Scotia Invasive Species Council (NSISC)
Events
- May 19 – eDNA Partner Training for the 2026–2027 Pilot Monitoring Program Year hosted by NSISC, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture – Inland Fisheries Division, and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO).
Training included eDNA water sampling protocols, aquatic invasive species monitoring for chain pickerel and smallmouth bass (including angling and identification), field Clean Drain Dry protocols, and presentation of the DECON unit.
Clean Drain Dry Marine signage, along with new chain pickerel and smallmouth bass signage, was distributed to all partners. More than 60 attendees from partnering organizations participated.
Project Updates
Aquatic
Current projects include the Habitat Stewardship Project, whose main component is the eDNA Pilot Monitoring Program with eight partners across eight or more watersheds and planned collection of 600 samples.
The Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Fund project is also underway. Major components include mobilization of the DECON unit at fishing derbies and community events throughout the summer, along with implementation of Don’t Let It Loose initiatives through outreach and education.
Terrestrial
Current projects include the dog-strangling vine management project funded through WWF-Canada.
The NSISC team has mapped dog-strangling vine populations at two Nova Scotia sites, and removals have begun. These sites span multiple property lines, requiring door-to-door public engagement.
Our project with the City of Halifax is also well underway. The NSISC team has assisted with treatment of more than 100 hemlock trees to protect against hemlock woolly adelgid and developed invasive species training for the City’s Adopt a Park program.
The NSISC team has also deployed eight emerald ash borer pheromone traps outside the species’ known distribution in Nova Scotia to monitor for range expansion.
Outreach & Communications
- May 23 – Friends of First Lake Speckled Trout Release
- June 6 – Acadia Plant Sale
- June 8 & 10 – Miners Marsh Goutweed Removal
- June 20 – Invasive Species Training (City of Halifax)
- June 22 – Little Albro Lake Yellow Floating Heart Outreach
- July 5 – Panuke Lake Derby
- July 5 – Invasive Species Guided Walk (Ecology Action Centre)
- July 11 – Clean Annapolis River Project’s Riverfest
- July 18 – Morris Lake NS Kayak Fishing Series Derby
- July 24 – Town of Mahone Bay Invasive Species Guided Walk
- July 26 – Grand Lake Shubenacadie Canadian Association Smallmouth Anglers Derby
Other
This summer, NSISC welcomed two Canada Summer Jobs interns—Amanda Tracy and Sarah Clements—along with Clean Leadership Intern Jillian Sullivan.
The NSISC team is also excited to announce that Five Bridge Lakes Wilderness Area is the first wild place in Canada to be added to WildSpotter.
Learn more at www.wildspotter.org.
Ontario Invasive Plant Council (OIPC)
Events
- July 11 – OIPC hosted an Invasives Hike in Aurora. With 21 volunteers, participants removed a large patch of dog-strangling vine before exploring the Ontario Heritage Trust’s Smith Property.
- August 8 – OIPC will host a Garden Escapee Walk in Pine Cliff Park, Mississauga.
Project Updates
OIPC is convening its first Grow Me Instead Task Force meeting on July 27.
The task force includes representatives from across Ontario’s horticulture sector who will help guide updates to and implementation of the Grow Me Instead initiative.
Outreach & Communications
OIPC is hosting a Summer Photo Contest.
Participants are encouraged to submit photos of garden escapees—plants that have escaped cultivation—in their favourite parks or greenspaces to help raise awareness about invasive ornamental plants.
Photos can be emailed to info@oninvasives.ca for a chance to win exclusive merchandise.
Other
OIPC welcomed two Canada Summer Jobs interns:
- Muznah Shamim – Communications Coordinator
- Tom Lee – Events Coordinator
Prince Edward Island Invasive Species Council (PEIISC)
Project Updates
- Anaerobic soil disinfestation as an organic treatment for Japanese knotweed is being researched through a Wildlife Conservation Fund project.
- Surveys for aquatic invasive species using canoe-based rake toss and eDNA methods have been completed.
- Phototoxic plant management (giant hogweed and wild parsnip) continues despite the intense heat.
- Previously managed sites for garlic mustard, Himalayan balsam, and giant hogweed have shown excellent progress compared to previous years, demonstrating the impact of ongoing management efforts.
- Hemlock woolly adelgid eDNA monitoring has been completed, with results pending.
Outreach & Communications
PEIISC participated in numerous events this summer, including:
- Teaching young anglers about aquatic invasive species at the Morell Family Fishing Derby.
- Visiting classrooms with a boat race activity demonstrating how aquatic invasive species spread.
- Partnering with Parks Canada for a three-day school event focused on how terrestrial invasive species impact forests.
- Training more than 60 seasonal conservation workers on identification of high-priority invasive species.
New Resources
PEIISC has released its new Grow Me Instead Guide for Prince Edward Island.
The guide helps residents identify invasive ornamental plants, discover native alternatives, and learn about responsible gardening practices.
Highlights include:
- Native plant gardening
- Responsible gardening and seed collection
- Wabanaki Forest information
- Reporting invasive species
- Invasive plant profiles with native alternatives
- Proper disposal guidance
- Recommended print and digital resources
A free digital copy is available at:
www.peiinvasives.com/horticulture
Yukon Invasive Species Council (YISC)
Events
YISC has returned to a fuller summer programming schedule, including community weed pulls and outreach at the Fireweed Community Market and Fridays in the Park.
Recent and upcoming events include weed pulls across Whitehorse, Alsek Valley/Haines Junction, Dawson City, Fish Lake, and the Atlin Road.
Project Updates
YISC continues community-based invasive plant management through public weed pulls and volunteer-supported stewardship.
Planning has also begun for:
- A 2027 Yukon roadside invasive plant survey to update long-term monitoring data, improve GPS/GIS consistency, and support mapping of priority invasive plants.
- An update to the online Spotters Network course, scheduled for completion by April 2027.
Outreach & Communications
The Fireweed Community Market has been an excellent outreach venue, generating 203 reported interactions across three booths.
The “Is dandelion invasive?” voting activity has been especially successful, with event reports noting strong public awareness, volunteer interest, and many visitors already pulling invasive plants independently.
A public talk about non-native earthworms in the Yukon is scheduled for later in August.
New Resources
YISC launched a new website on June 17 and has developed new branded outreach and volunteer appreciation materials, including T-shirts and tote bags.
The organization is also developing internal planning resources for events, outreach, and future monitoring projects.
Other
YISC is in one of its first years back to full programming after a period of transition.
Core operational funding from the Government of Yukon supports monitoring, education, and public outreach related to invasive species management.
Whitehorse visual and fibre artist Helen O’Connor is also presenting Kluane National Park and Reserve artist-in-residence programming focused on invasive plants and handmade paper.