Two FREE invasive species workshops are coming up this summer hosted by the Invasive Species Centre.
On July 24 there will be an in-person workshop in Brighton focused on beech leaf disease.
On August 6, there will be a spotted lanternfly workshop in Hamilton.
Continue reading for more details on these workshops and links to register.
The invasive species centre encourages horticulturalists, woodlot owners, arborists, government and conservation authority staff, gardeners, naturalists, students, and any interested members of the public to join at these workshops. Approval is pending for eligibility of CEUs for the International Society of Arboriculture.
Beech Leaf Disease Workshop (Brighton, ON)
On July 24, the Invasive Species Centre, in coordination with the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the Ministry of Natural Resources, will be hosting a free workshop in Brighton to increase awareness and reporting of beech leaf disease.
Beech leaf disease can impact all species of beech and is thought to be caused by an invasive foliar-feeding nematode. It has been spreading rapidly through Ontario, with known detections from Windsor to Prince Edward County. This workshop will cover beech leaf disease identification, biology, spread, prevention, management, and research. Join us to learn more about how you can help protect beech!
A few workshop highlights:
- There is an indoor and outdoor portion of the workshop – See beech leaf disease and its impacts firsthand during an outdoor walk through Proctor Park Conservation Area
- Lunch is provided
- A request has been made to the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) to offer CEUs for certified individuals attending this workshop
Save your seat by clicking the link to register below!
Brighton BLD Workshop: Register here
Spotted Lanternfly Workshop (Hamilton, ON)
The focus of this workshop is the spotted lanternfly, an invasive pest spreading in the northeastern United States, with populations as close to Canada as Buffalo, New York. Although not currently in Canada, if spotted lanternfly were to establish, it could have immense impacts on agricultural production and the natural environment within Ontario’s Greenbelt. Presented by the Invasive Species Centre with support from the Greenbelt Foundation, this workshop will provide training, key information and tools to prevent, identify and report spotted lanternfly.
This in-person workshop is free of cost and is taking place on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Advance registration is required at the link below. There are a limited number of registrations available, so be sure to secure your place as soon as possible!
Workshop Details: Wednesday, August 6, 2025 | 9:30-11:00 a.m. EDT at The Gasworks
(141 Park St N Hamilton, Ontario)
Hamilton SLF Workshop: Register here
Participants will gain knowledge and understanding of the following:
- what makes a species invasive,
- the importance of the lands protected within the Greenbelt,
- the impacts of spotted lanternfly and the importance of prevention, early detection and rapid response,
- basic spotted lanternfly biology, life cycle, and pathways of spread,
- tips and tools to identify and report spotted lanternfly and its host plant, tree-of-heaven; and
- updates on current efforts and key government players in Ontario and Canada.
Attendance in full at this workshop is eligible for 1.5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) in Integrated Pest Management for Ontario Certified Crop Advisors. Approval is pending for eligibility of CEUs for the International Society of Arboriculture.
