Media story

Mississauga recognized for innovative goat grazing program

The City has received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation for its innovative goat grazing program.

Environment | May 13, 2026

The City of Mississauga has received the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation for its goat grazing program. The award recognizes Mississauga as the first municipality in Ontario to use goat grazing to manage invasive plants. Presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and administered by Ontario Heritage Trust, the award celebrates outstanding achievement in heritage conservation.

A natural solution to invasive plants

Prescribed goat grazing is a low‑impact and environmentally friendly way to control invasive plants without using herbicides. Invasive plants are not native to Mississauga. In large numbers, they can harm natural areas, wildlife habitats, ecosystems and the City’s urban forest.

Goats naturally have an appetite for many of Mississauga’s priority invasive plant species. They can safely graze in and around sensitive areas like wetlands and floodplains, and on hard‑to‑reach terrain where other control methods aren’t possible.

Program growth and success

The goat grazing program follows the adaptive management approach of the City’s Invasive Species Management Plan. It is a multi‑year program that targets invasive plants across 1.2 hectares at five locations across Mississauga, including wetlands, woodlands and grasslands.

The program began in 2024, when goats were brought in to manage invasive plants in Erindale Park and O’Connor Park. Following the program’s early success, it was expanded in 2025 to include Hewick Meadows, Totoredaca Park and King’s Park.

Why the City’s program stands out

The City’s prescribed goat grazing program has demonstrated excellence in conservation, innovation and community impact by:

Offering a creative solution to challenges with invasive species management. This includes disposing of the plants, removing the plants without spreading the seeds, accessing difficult terrain and reducing the use of herbicides.
Reducing herbicide use across 1.2 hectares of natural area. This helps protect the environment and lowers the risk of plants developing a resistance to herbicides.
Developing a monitoring system to track results at each site to improve future work and inform best practices.
Supporting other municipalities, Conservation Authorities and invasive species working groups with guidance and expertise on using goat grazing effectively.

Strong community interest

The City’s prescribed goat grazing program has also captured the interest and hearts of Mississauga’s residents. The program gives residents a clear, highly visible and engaging way to see how the City manages invasive plants. The goats have helped spark conversations and learning about how invasive species affect local ecosystems. They also show what actions the City is taking to manage invasive species and actions residents can take to support this work.

Goats return in 2026 and 2027

With the program’s huge success, the goats will be ‘herding’ back to Mississauga in 2026 and 2027. See them at the City’s Invasive Species Awareness Fair on Saturday, May 30, at Erindale Park.

Leading the way in invasive species management

Mississauga continues to be a leader in invasive species management through its Invasive Species Management Plan. Over the past five years, the City’s Forestry team has made strong progress at priority sites and is now more than halfway through full implementation of the plan.

This award and the City’s goat grazing program highlight the City’s long‑term commitment to protecting natural areas and reducing reliance on herbicide use while finding creative, sustainable solutions to invasive species management.

Learn more about invasive species found in Mississauga, including how to spot them, dispose of them, and report them.

Photo of the Amory Ngan, Manager, Forestry receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation from The Honourable Edith Dumont, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario and John Ecker, Chair, Ontario Heritage Trust on April 17, 2026. Photo credit: Dahlia Katz, Ontario Heritage Trust.

Photo of the City of Mississauga’s Forestry team (Allie Abram, Lauren Negrazis, Amory Ngan, Paul Tripodo) receiving the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation from Ontario Heritage Trust on April 17, 2026. Photo credit: Dahlia Katz, Ontario Heritage Trust.

About the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards

Established in 2006, the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Awards are annual juried awards administered by the Ontario Heritage Trust to recognize remarkable achievements in heritage conservation.

About the Ontario Heritage Trust

The Trust is committed to preserving Ontario’s cultural and natural heritage and ensuring its continued relevance for future generations. We are working towards an Ontario where heritage is not only preserved and valued, but is celebrated, enjoyed and used as a source of inspiration. The Trust will be a beacon in an Ontario where heritage is preserved, protected and promoted in ways that are sources of pride for all Ontarians.