News Release: Canadore College was successful in securing a grant from The TD Friends of the Environment Foundation to establish a Parry Sound and Area Community Apiary.
The $7,300 grant from TD was also bolstered by an additional $2,000 contribution from local company, Crofter’s Organic.
In May 2015, a workshop on honeybees, plants and food was hosted at Canadore’s West Parry Sound Campus with the help of the same partners. Based on the remarkable success and the interest taken by the broader community, Campus Manager Dr. Peter Istvan submitted the latest funding proposal to the charity.
“It was easy to take the next steps on this project because we had overwhelming support with our last program,” said Istvan. “The apiary will be a safe and hands-on education resource for the whole community. In addition, it will create ongoing awareness of the importance of pollinators in relationship to environmental changes, plants and food production.”
The Parry Sound and Area Community Apiary will be established in Spring 2016 and will initially consist of four beehives. The funding will be used to purchase the honeybees, hive equipment, honey extraction tools and other beekeeping accessories.
The apiary will enhance beekeeping-related programing and workshops at the campus, as well as serve as an educational resource for primary and secondary school teachers, the Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, the Horticultural Society and other groups.
“We are happy to support the apiary because it will be a resource to teach visitors about bees and current bee crisis and provide a hands-on experience,” said Kevin Powless from Crofter’s. “It will also encourage small-scale beekeeping among property-owners, giving them information, demonstrations, contacts for mentors, and a resource to help them”.
Canadore College will assume primary responsibility for the management of the apiary, but will also be assisted by a Parry Sound and Area Apiary Resource Team with membership from local beekeepers, the Ontario Beekeepers’ Association and the Muskoka-Parry Sound Beekeepers' Association.
People who are interested in becoming a beekeeper, or would like to be involved with the initiative, can attend an information session on October 28 from 6 - 7 p.m. It is free to attend, but registration is required – contact 705.746.9222.
