Beehives on federal buildings are a sweet deal
Our food supply is supported by the pollination activity of the humble honeybee. These amazing creatures visit 5 million flowers to produce a single kilogram of honey, spreading the pollen that plants need to reproduce.
Unfortunately, bee populations have been declining in recent years and need some help. Through sustainable approaches, urban beekeeping initiatives can increase the number of healthy bee colonies. The Government of Canada has stepped up to assist by installing beehives on a number of federal buildings. Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC) is responsible for selecting federally owned buildings that are suitable for beehives and arranging the contracts for the beehive installation and maintenance.
This environmental initiative has benefits beyond boosting bee colonies. It increases awareness of the importance of bees in our ecosystem and, of course, results in the production of honey. PSPC has found a delicious way to use some of the honey, which supports our pollinator friends and people in need.
Bringing in the bees and giving out the honey
Two federal lease-purchase sites in the National Capital Region that accommodate both beehives and public servants are the M.J. Nadon Building at 73 Leikin Drive and the James Michael Flaherty Building at 90 Elgin Street.
The landlord at the M.J. Nadon Building proposed the idea of adding the hives, since there’s room for them and green space nearby. “PSPC agreed to fund the project, and the landlord proceeded to award a contract to Montréal firm Alvéole to install and care for the rented hives,” explains Suzanne Jolicœur, Acting Asset Manager at PSPC.
The buzz about the new beehives reached the ears of PSPC staff responsible for the James Michael Flaherty Building. “They were looking for opportunities to add green features at this property and asked the landlord to award a contract to bring 2 hives there as well,” says Jolicœur.
As part of the educational component of the initiative, federal tenants in the buildings can attend information sessions led by the contractor to learn more about the beehives, urban beekeeping and connecting with nature. “A contest was even held for tenants to name the queen of one of the colonies, to increase interest in the hives outside of the information sessions,” Jolicœur says. With tenants now aware of the hives, the landlord of the M.J. Nadon Building has offered to donate an information session to a group of schoolchildren, which the contractor will deliver at their school.
The hives are registered with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, and the honey is extracted according to the ministry’s norms and standards. Hive maintenance is performed by expert urban beekeepers. They ensure that the colonies, which are populated by a docile breed of bees, are healthy and that honey is produced. For example, they cover the hives to help the bees survive the winter. They also put the honey in jars and give them to PSPC.
Together with his colleagues, Eric Charest, with PSPC’s Property and Facility Management team, sold the 400 jars produced during the 2022 season to others in the department, as part of the Government of Canada’s annual charity fundraising campaign. The proceeds of over $1,000 went to organizations that assist vulnerable Canadians. There was an additional stockpile of 500 honey jars from the pandemic that were donated to a local food bank, La Soupière de l’Amitié. “We’ll take the same approach with the next batches of honey,” Charest says. “We’ll use them for a good cause.”
For other articles about PSPC people and projects, visit Our stories.
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