Julia Ruhl will be presenting “Preventing the Introduction of Invasive Pests into Canada“. Think Emerald Ash Borer … for which she was the outreach and media spokesperson when the invasive Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into northern Ontario.
What else are we aware of? Hemlock Adelgid? Lantern Fly? Lyme Disease and the other associated illnesses?
Julia will talk about:
- the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in respect to preventing the introduction of invasive plant pests into Canada
- rules and regulations of importing plants and plant material into Canada
- what are invasive pests and their significance to the environment, economy and trade
- examples of regulated pest introductions
- what can we do to prevent such potential introductions
Julia Ruhl has an Honours B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from the University of Guelph. She worked for the federal government for 30 years in a variety of scientific positions including inspection, auditing and administration in several locations in Ontario. For the last 10 years she was a Plant Protection Program Officer with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in the Plant Health division providing scientific, technical and regulatory advice to inspection staff and management. She was involved in outreach and media spokesperson roles when the invasive pest, the Emerald Ash Borer was introduced into northern Ontario.
Julia lives with her family and furred and feathered friends on 10 acres near Beeton, Ontario and continues to be passionate in the biological world of gardening and farming.
Join us Tuesday evening, 7:00 – 9:00 P.M., September 26th, at the Orangeville Seniors Centre on Bythia Street.
Our upcoming roster of Speakers:
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- Oct 24/23: Steve Burrows: The Birder Murder Mysteries
- Nov 28/23: Don Scallen: Turtles of Ontario
- Dec (late): Christmas Bird Count: details coming in the next month
- Jan 30/24: Gary Hall: How a photographer sees nature
- Feb 27/24: Robin and crew, Nature Nerd Night — oh, the fun!!!
- March 26/24: Sarah Griffith: Clear as Mud – Using Geoscience for Decisions, Advice, and Accountability
- April 30/24: Fiona Reid:, Moths and Butterflies as Pollinators
- May 28/24: Jennifer Baici: Wild Turkeys in Ontario: a life history
(Details about each session will come out in the month before the actual event.)
To whet your appetite for the Nature Nerd Night, some of us saw this at the last Photography Workshop at the Mono Pollinator Garden. What is it? (It is not from an invasive species!)

Burrows from Digger Crayfish, one of several species in different genera in Ontario that form chimneys at the entrance to their burrows: genuine Nature Nerd stuff!