SHERBROOKE, QC, April 29, 2026 /CNW/ - A community-science tick surveillance platform developed at Bishop's University will expand its national reach through a new $1‑million partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada.

This three-year partnership will expand the reach and capacity of eTick, an image-based surveillance system developed by Dr. Jade Savage, Full Professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry. The agreement formalizes Bishop's role as the primary provider of passive tick surveillance data to the Government of Canada, strengthens national efforts to monitor tick populations and supports public health officials in tracking the spread of tick species across the country.

"Ticks are spreading to new areas across Canada, which increases the chances of people and animals coming in contact with them and the diseases they may carry. This partnership with Bishop's University brings together community and technology to make it easy to report tick sightings. This will strengthen our surveillance and understanding of ticks, so that we can keep our communities informed and safe," said Dr. Joss Reimer, Chief Public Health Officer of Canada.

"Dr. Savage's work demonstrates the importance of curiosity-driven, community-engaged research", said Dr. Kerry Hull, Vice-Principal Academic and Research at Bishop's University. "What began as an interest in tick identification has grown into a nationwide initiative that contributes to public safety and wellbeing—in this case, literally one tick at a time".

"Tick surveillance works best if it's consistent, and consistency is expensive", said Dr. Jade Savage. "This partnership ensures the platform can keep running and improving, generating the long-term data we need to understand where and when Canadians and their pets and livestock encounter ticks. People submit photos for identification and eTick turns those everyday observations into scientific data that helps us track in real-time where ticks are appearing across Canada."

eTick is a free community science platform that allows people across Canada to submit tick photos for expert identification. The platform currently hosts over 83,00 publicly accessible tick records representing 25 species across the country. Within two days of a photo submission, eTick provides rapid, personalized and region-specific information that can help people understand potential health risks and provides tips on tick bite prevention. The platform also increases awareness of where ticks are emerging or becoming more common in various communities.

Led by Dr. Savage, the eTick network includes faculty and students from six universities and public health representatives from most provinces and territories.

Related links:

• eTick
• Public Health Agency of Canada: Ticks and tick-borne diseases

About Bishop's University  

Founded in 1843 and located on the traditional territory of the Abenaki people (W8banakiak wdakiw8k), Bishop's University is a unique English-language, primarily undergraduate institution located in the historic and picturesque Eastern Townships region of Québec. Our 550-acre campus offers an immersive educational experience within a close-knit community.  

With a student population of approximately 2,600 full-time students, Bishop's fosters deep academic engagement through personalized course of study, small class sizes and meaningful interaction between students and professors. We offer over 100 programs across five faculties: Arts, Humanities, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Business, and Education.  

For more than 180 years, Bishop's has cultivated leaders and changemakers through interdisciplinary learning, experiential opportunities, and extensive student support. Whether studying abroad, conducting research, participating in an athletic team, or learning by doing, Bishop's students are empowered to pursue academic excellence and personal growth in an inclusive and dynamic environment.

SOURCE Bishop's University