An invasive beetle species — infamous for decimating ash tree populations in North America — is making its way west across Canada, and Calgary is bracing for its potential arrival. The emerald ash borer was first detected in Canada in 2002, in Ontario. Despite efforts to contained it, the beetle eventually spread to Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Manitoba and, most recently, British Columbia. Now, the City of Calgary predicts the species could arrive this year. With more than 70,000 ash trees on public land and many more on private property, the city says the insect poses a severe threat to Calgary’s urban canopy. …Entomologists and municipalities that have spent millions of dollars trying to fight the spread of the emerald ash borer say monitoring is important but the public could play a crucial role in keeping Calgary’s tree canopy safe. The emerald ash borer has killed millions of trees in Canada.