Community Engagement & Education
Mississauga Invasive Species Awareness Fair
Bringing prescribed grazing and environmental education together, one goat at a time.
Erindale Park | 2025 & 2026
Photography by Adam Pulicicchio.
Protecting Natural Areas Through Education
The City of Mississauga's Invasive Species Awareness Fair brings residents, environmental organizations, and municipal experts together to learn about invasive species and ways to protect local ecosystems.
At Erindale Park, Goats in the City helped bring that message to life through working prescribed grazing demonstrations and opportunities for residents to connect with the Eco-Herd.
May 24, 2025
2025 | A Hands-On Experience
On May 24, 2025, Goats in the City participated in the Invasive Species Awareness Fair with approximately 30 goats demonstrating prescribed grazing and 65 baby goats available for public interaction.
Visitors could observe the working herd browsing vegetation while families enjoyed the opportunity to meet the younger members of the Eco-Herd in a separate interactive enclosure.
This combination introduced prescribed grazing to residents of all ages while creating memorable connections between animals, nature, and environmental education.
May 30, 2026
2026 | The Working Eco-Herd Returns
Goats in the City returned to Erindale Park on May 30, 2026, with approximately 30 goats for another prescribed grazing demonstration.
This year's participation focused entirely on the working Eco-Herd, providing visitors with an opportunity to observe goats browsing vegetation in a natural woodland setting.
The demonstration highlighted how targeted grazing can contribute to vegetation management and public understanding of invasive species control.
Returning to the Same Ground: 2025 & 2026
The Eco-Herd grazed the same woodland area at Erindale Park during both the 2025 and 2026 Invasive Species Awareness Fairs.
Returning to previously grazed areas is part of a repeated vegetation management approach. Successive visits allow the herd to browse regrowth as part of ongoing care for the woodland, rather than treating grazing as a one-time intervention.
Meet Blizzard | Making Environmental Education Memorable
For the 2026 Invasive Species Awareness Fair, the City of Mississauga created a special stuffed toy inspired by Blizzard, a member of the Goats in the City Eco-Herd.
The toy was used as a giveaway to encourage visitors to explore educational booths throughout the event, connecting their interest in the goats with opportunities to learn about invasive species and environmental stewardship.
A Natural Approach to Invasive Species Awareness
Prescribed grazing offers a practical alternative or complement to conventional vegetation management.
Through carefully managed browsing, goats can help reduce unwanted vegetation while providing opportunities for environmental education.
At the fair, visitors had the opportunity to observe grazing firsthand and learn about the importance of targeted treatments, appropriate supervision, and ongoing vegetation management.
The events also helped connect residents with the City of Mississauga's broader efforts to protect natural areas.
Event Facts
- Location
- Erindale Park, Mississauga
- 2025
- May 24, approximately 30 working goats and 65 baby goats
- 2026
- May 30, approximately 30 working goats
- Focus
- Invasive species awareness, prescribed grazing, and public education
- Event organizer
- City of Mississauga
- Participating organization
- Goats in the City Inc.
The Fair in Pictures
City of Mississauga | Event Coverage
Two Years. One Environmental Message.
From introducing families to baby goats in 2025 to demonstrating the working Eco-Herd in 2026, Goats in the City helped bring environmental education to life at Erindale Park.
Together with the City of Mississauga, these events showed how prescribed grazing can connect communities with practical, nature-based approaches to vegetation management.