Allowing urban beekeeping

Melissa Strle
Times Reporter

 

The Town of Strathmore received a letter from local resident Miranda Burns requesting council to amend the town’s animal control bylaw to allow for urban beekeeping within Strathmore limits.
Burns sent in an abundance of information regarding urban beekeeping for council to review, and at the Oct. 19 regular town council meeting, council directed town administration to investigate urban beekeeping and bring a report back to council for recommendations of changes to bylaws.
“The only question that I would ask that you guys bring back to us is what to do should someone in a neighbouring yard or neighbouring property have a severe allergy?” said Coun. Pat Fule. “What liability is in that kind of situation?”
Coun. Fule said bee stings are something that is going to happen but he wanted to create awareness of the issue for those who may be allergic to bee stings.
“I would love to have an answer to that because I’m allergic,” said Mayor Michael Ell.
Town of Strathmore Chief administrative officer James Thackray said there are some good examples out there that administration can bring forward concerning this subject. He said the liability of urban beekeeping is generally low but the nuisance factor can be “awkward” and sometimes urban beekeeping may attract hornets and wasps.
Coun. Denise Peterson moved that council instruct administration to investigate urban beekeeping and bring a report back to council with recommendations on bylaws and bylaw amendments.
“I’d just like to say that Calgary has had immense success in this,” said Coun. Peterson, who added that at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary, visitors can take the elevator to the tower and onto the roof where bees at the hotel have their own concierge.
“It’s an amazing cycle that they have instituted for very little money and huge economic returns,” she said. The hotel moves their “bee hotel” to the interior of British Columbia for the winter.
Mayor Ell made a motion on the floor at the council meeting for administration to investigate urban beekeeping and bring a report back to council. This motion was carried.
In the letter she sent to council, Burns addressed the fact that Calgary, Airdrie, Chestermere, Cochrane and Edmonton have all recently legalized urban beekeeping. Burns also stated in her letter alleged benefits that arise from urban beekeeping, such as being able to eat raw honey straight out of a hive has many great health benefits. She also noted the environment benefits from bees, and backyard beekeepers witness “dramatic improvements in their gardens’ yields,” in the form of larger fruits, flowers and vegetables. In addition, urban hives create a community aspect where many associations and groups like to come together and share their knowledge.
“The growing number of urban beekeepers is astounding,” stated Burns, who added that there may be concerns from local residents regarding urban beekeeping, but maintained that it is possible to allow beehives within town limits, “while still respecting our neighbours and their properties.”
Along with the letter Burns sent to town council, guidelines for safe urban beekeeping in Calgary were presented to council for consideration.
These guidelines were instituted by the City of Calgary to alleviate concerns that residents may have regarding urban beekeeping.
The guidelines address responsible management to ensure safety and goodwill with neighbours. Some specific items addressed in the guidelines include safety, hive management and disease control.