Future beekeeping discussed

By Miriam Ostermann, Associate Editor

A buzz around discussions concerning beekeeping at the Town of Strathmore’s committee of the whole meeting had town council largely in favour of the idea of hobby and urban beekeeping within the town.
The topic was brought forth at the Oct. 10 meeting, which serves as a platform for informal debate and preliminary consideration.
Chuck Procter, planner with the Town of Strathmore, is a beekeeper just outside of Strathmore. He presented town council with information relating to proper hive care, municipal rules and guidelines, complaints, liability and risks.
“My mission and administration’s mission (was) to get guidance from council … and there’s many directions that we can go, there’s a ton of resources out there and I know a lot of guest speakers that would be happy to come speak to us,” Procter said.
“Alberta is the largest producer of honey by quite a long shot in Canada. Staff have been approached a couple times in the past couple years from folks wanting to start this up and we thought it was about time we have a discussion with council.”
Edmonton, Calgary and Chestermere are among many Alberta communities that support beekeeping and follow the Bee Act and regulations set out by the Alberta government – regulations such as registering with the provincial apiculturist.
While Calgary currently has no bylaw specific to bees and allows its residents to keep the insects as a hobby in residential neighbourhoods, guidelines that recommend liability insurance, outline the number of hives and suggest their placement do exist.
According to Procter, the most common complaints in Calgary stem from neighbours who don’t get along with their fellow neighbour, beekeepers not providing enough water causing bees to visit pools and hot tubs, and too many hives being kept on one property.
Discussions last week addressed homeowner risks – where an individual may be held responsible when a neighbour is stung – along with hive registration, proper hive management, details around a preferred queen, disease control and swarming.
“I’m in favour of this concept; I have nothing against this and I think it’s a great hobby … (but) it’s the risks that do concern me,” said Coun. Bob Sobol. “Specifically, I have two members of my family that are definitely at risk of bee bites and so there is a serious concern there, but I think a lot of this can be mitigated.”
Coun. Tari Cockx expressed concern about the amount of work required to properly maintain hives, and Coun. Jason Montgomery questioned the financial impact of necessary enforcement and education. Procter informed council that future municipal requirements may include some sort of proof of attendance or qualification from a bee club.
Yet all of council expressed their support if risks were properly addressed.
“I have a lot of hope for this project in terms of the capacity to enhance environmental protective factors around bees – and everybody knows what they are – but one of the things that I think we have is a really good opportunity to set up a partnership with the county,” said Coun. Denise Peterson.
“Beekeeping is a lot of work. I think in this area there’s a 30 per cent chance of winterkill … and there’s also great potential for damage if people don’t know how to keep bees properly in terms of getting disease into the hives and spreading to others. It can be devastating and so municipalities have an obligation to look into that and to make sure that they do due diligence.
“I would really like to see it as a county partnership leading into an apprenticeship and gradually into urban beekeeping so that people who really were passionate about it would have an opportunity to do it.”
Procter said municipal rules and guidelines should be investigated to assure beekeeping occurs in a proper, safe and responsible manner should the practice be allowed in the future. Council directed administration to bring back a draft bylaw.