Agriculture and Food
British Columbians are encouraged to celebrate nature’s little workers as May 29, 2016, is proclaimed Day of the Honeybee.
Agriculture Minister Norm Letnick was joined by Surrey-Cloverdale MLA Stephanie Cadieux at the Honeybee Centre in Surrey to celebrate the occasion.
The provincial government recognizes the vital role honeybees play in British Columbia’s food production and environment and is working to support and expand bee habitat and health throughout the province. Potential initiatives could include enhancing bee habitat at government buildings by planting bee-friendly plants and looking into the potential of placing bee hives at appropriate government buildings, including the Parliament buildings, in the future. The B.C. government will also work with stakeholders to promote the inclusion of bee friendly plants at farms, and increase the sales and public planting of bee forage plants.
B.C. is home to more than 2,400 beekeepers and almost 47,000 colonies of bees. May 29 is recognized as the Day of the Honeybee to remind British Columbians of the significant role honeybees play every day and in modern agriculture. The day also signifies the strong partnership between government and beekeepers in B.C.
Honeybees have come to play a key role in agriculture as pollinators of crops since their arrival in the Victoria Harbour in 1858. Through pollination, honeybees contribute an estimated $470 million to the economy in British Columbia ($250 million in field crops and $220 million in greenhouse crops) as well as playing an important part in human survival.
(flickr.com) Quotes:
Norm Letnick, Minister of Agriculture –
“Bee habitat and health is key to our food supply, the environment and our daily lives. The B.C. government is committed to doing our part to support honeybees while continuing to grow the industry. By expanding bee habitat and creating a healthy environment for wild and domestic bees, we are ensuring the future of honeybees for generations to come.”
Stephanie Cadieux, Surrey-Cloverdale MLA –
“It’s a pleasure to be here in Surrey at the Honeybee Centre to celebrate honeybees and the role they play in B.C.’s agriculture industry. Honeybees may be small but their impact in the province is huge. They contribute to so many aspects of life and recognizing them is important to keep the honeybee sector thriving.”
Leanne Buhler, operations manager, Honeybee Centre –
“We’re so proud to support Day of the Honeybee. We love that it provides a platform to celebrate honeybees, as well as the education about pollination and supporting the natural environment that we share with pollinators and other creatures. Honeybee Centre began an initiative this year called the Community Bee Garden Project to raise awareness around honeybee and native pollinator health and about ways that individuals can help contribute to healthy, pollinator-friendly environments.”
Learn More:
Check out more information about the Honeybee Centre and the services they offer: www.honeybeecentre.com
For information about bees, apiculture and support services offered to British Columbian beekeepers: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees
Learn more about beekeeping and what you can do to support honeybees: http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees/beekeeping-bulletins
Link to Day of the Honeybee proclamation: http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/proclamations/proclamations/DayOfHoneybee2016
