Morel Showcase: Invasive species and Southwestern Ontario

Keep an eye on this page for updates on the Event.

Hosted by Morelmag.ca

Duration: 4.5 hours

Venue: To be confirmed

This month, the Ontario government moved forward on proposed legislation to assist with the control of the spread of invasive species. The decision to send Bill 37, An Act respecting Invasive Species, to committee after second reading was approved by 95 MPs in the provincial legislature on Sept. 15 with no MPs voicing an objection.

Bill 37 has been a long time in the making and marks a first, not only for Ontario but also for Canada in terms of legislation at the provincial level designed to combat the spread of invasive species. And no place in Canada is more vulnerable right now to the threat of invasive species than Southwestern Ontario’s distinctive woodlands, marshes and the three significant bodies of water (Lakes Erie, St. Claire and Huron/Georgian Bay) that define the region.

On November 7, Morelmag.ca, together with partners such as Carolinian Canada, will host an event to discuss the issue of invasive species, their impact, as well as the legislation being introduced to control them as well as other government and community strategies.

The roughly four-and-a-half hour interdisciplinary — and free — event is connected to an article recently published on Morelmag.ca that looked at the problem of Phragmites australis in our region (http://morelmag.ca/article/taking-mighty-phragmites-australis). It will include:

• A nature walk hosted by Carolinian Canada
• A discussion panel that will include:
• A representative from the Ontario Invasive Plants Council to moderate the panel
• A representative from Carolinian Canada to discuss the organization’s policy development concerning invasive species;
• Janice Gilbert, co-chair of the Ontario Phragmites Working Group
• A representative from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources
• A policy analyst familiar with the issue
• Each member of the panel will have 10 minutes to speak and their presentations will be followed by a question and answer session.

• Refreshments
• Readings by two featured Southwestern Ontario writers (Elizabeth Zetlin, a poet from Owen Sound, will be one of the featured poets)
• An open mike session for area writers/musicians to read/perform. Those signing up will be encouraged to bring work with an environmental theme.
• As well, throughout the event there will be book tables available to area publishers and self-publishers to feature their publications.