Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver (ISCMV)
Overview
Live Site
www.iscmv.caClient Since
January 2020
ISCMV’s membership is uniquely diverse, composed of members from the public, stewardship groups, academic institutions, and all levels of government. Members work together to improve the way invasive species are managed in Metro Vancouver. ISCMV works in a 2,877 km² area on the Southwest mainland coast of British Columbia.
Hop Studios has supported ISCMV’s development needs by conducting upgrades, maintenance, and integrating tools to increase user engagement.
Services Provided
In early 2020, ISCMV reached out to Hop Studios for assistance with website maintenance. As a company that values environmental issues, we were thrilled at the opportunity to support an organization whose passion is to inform, educate, and manage the biological invaders that pose threats to native species, public safety, and the economy of Metro Vancouver. We recognized the critical role that ISCMV plays in preserving the region’s biodiversity and were eager to contribute to their efforts.
Later that spring, we conducted a major upgrade for ISCMV’s website, transitioning from ExpressionEngine 3 (v2.8.1) to ExpressionEngine 5 (5.3.0). Two notable aspects of the upgrade were the Solstice calendar add-on and template upgrade to version 3.x and the upgrade to Freeform Next. These changes enhanced both the site’s user experience and its functionality from the backend for ISCMV’s staff.
In the months following the EE upgrade, we continued to work with ISCMV to improve their site. Firstly, we built a simple Newsletter archive page using Mailchimp’s embed code, which made past Newsletters visible and accessible to users directly on the site. Next, we added email and newsletter sign-up forms using Mailchimp’s sign-up form tools. Lastly, in 2022, we upgraded ISCMV from Google Universal Analytics (GU-A) to Google Analytics 4 (GA4).
Overall, these upgrades and additions made over time have allowed ISCMV to engage more seamlessly with its users. Hop Studios remains committed to supporting ISCMV with maintenance and more as they continue to tackle Metro Vancouver’s invasive species. Be gone, Himalayan blackberry!
Testimonial
"We have had difficultly in the past finding qualified and professional web providers who have expertise using the Expression Engine. I’m so glad to have found Hop Studios. The Hop team is professional, responsive, creative, patient, and supportive. As a small non-profit with a limited budget and specialized content, they have helped me to prioritize tasks to make our website as functional as possible. I appreciate the time that Hop Studios has given to my small project and look forward to having them manage my content and site needs in the future. I unreservedly recommend Hop Studios for any project!"
Tasha MurrayExecutive Director, Invasive Species Council of Metro Vancouver