September 2018 e-Bulletin
Greetings!
We are excited to announce the dates and to reveal who will be the 2019 keynote speaker at INVASIVES 2019 - our "not to be missed" annual Forum and AGM. If you missed it, check out our Executive Director's interview on Breakfast TV. Our webinar series continues with a close look at Smooth brome - register today! Learn about how community groups and kids are getting involved in stopping the spread of invasives. Realtors and land use professionals - arm yourselves with our free invasive species online training and help protect your clients.
September 25th Webinar: Integrating plants, roots & soil nematodes to restore northern prairie ecosystems
Date: September 25, 2018 from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Pacific Time
Presenters: Rafael Otfinowski, Assistant Professor, Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg and Victory Coffey, Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg.
Overview: Join September's webinar on Smooth brome, a Eurasian perennial grass, threatening the structure and composition of native prairies throughout the Great Plains. Our presenters will focus on interactions between Smooth brome and northern fescue prairies in Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba and describe the impacts of Smooth brome invasion on prairie soil communities.  Register today!
Forum Keynote to Bring Invasive Species Knowledge from "Oz"
Andrew Cox, CEO of Australia's Invasive Species Council, will be delivering the keynote presentation at INVASIVES 2019 - ISCBC's Annual Forum and AGM, which takes place February 5th - 7th in Richmond, BC. Be sure to save the date and be ready to learn, network and be entertained! Read more about INVASIVES 2019.
New Japanese Beetle Resources Launch
The new Japanese beetle vehicle decal is designed to help raise awareness and get more folks taking action to help stop the spread of Japanese beetle. Learn more .
If you missed the "Japanese Beetle - What You Need to Know" webinar with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, watch the recording online .
BC Youth are Becoming Invasive-wise
We have been hard at work delivering a new program for youth in BC. The Invasive-wise Youth Challenge inspires youth to take action to create healthy landscapes and communities free of invasive species. The program incorporates educational and outdoor interactive activities which teach children about the negative impacts of invasives, identification skills, and how they can help stop the spread of invasive species in their communities. Youth groups are then encouraged to adopt a community green space to make it invasive-free! Tatla Lake Elementary-Junior Secondary School was the first school to complete the challenge in BC, and four other youth groups have successfully completed the program to date.Read more on bcinvasives.ca .
Gail Wallin Talks About BC's Invasives on Breakfast TV
From fire ants to knotweed - Gail Wallin, Executive Director of the Invasive Species Council of BC, joins Breakfast Television in Vancouver's Riaz Meghji to look at five invasive species having an impact on local ecosystems and what you can do about it.
Indigenous Invasive Species Network Update
We are delighted to have launched the “Building Community Capacity to Manage Invasive Species on Indigenous Land” program with Rural Dividend funding and in partnership with six Indigenous communities in BC. So far, partner communities participated in a field tour with our invasive species expert, Dave Ralph, and identified which invasive species are threatening the community. Priority species and sites were selected and moving forward, our invasive species treatment teams will work with community members on treating the invasives. Program participants can take the Pesticide Applicator Certificate course and earn either one-year or five-year pesticide applicator certification which, coupled with the experience of invasive plant treatment in the community, will prepare participants for future work in invasive species management.
Community Spotlight: Williams Lake Weed Pull Hauls 45 Bags of Canada Thistle
Last month, members of our team joined community members in Williams Lake to tackle Canada thistle infestation on Chimney Valley Road in Williams Lake. Together, the group managed to pull 45 bags of Canada thistle! Thanks to Bel Hume and all the community weed pullers - together we can make a difference!
Free Online Training for Real Estate and Land Use Professionals!
In partnership with the British Columbia Society of Landscape Architects and with financial support from the Real Estate Foundation of BC, we have launched a new training opportunity to help land use and real estate professionals grow their knowledge and understanding of invasive species while providing sound advice and support to their clients. Read more about e-learning for real estate and land use professionals.