The Beeproject Apiaries team installing hives at Great-West Life’s Winnipeg office at 60 Osborne Street North. (GREAT WEST LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY)
WINNIPEG — Great-West Life has installed two beehives on the rooftop of their Osborne Street building to help boost the declining bee population.
Managed by local beekeeping firm Beeproject Apiaries, the hives will allow bees to reproduce and continue their important work as pollinators for local greenspaces and food production.
“We are excited to be working with Great-West Life to help promote and protect the bees,” said Lindsay Nikkel, co-owner and urban beekeeper, Beeproject Apiaries.
“The honey bees installed at Great-West Life will pollinate local gardens and fruit trees, produce honey and engage the community in important environmental discussions.”
According to Beeproject Apiaries, honey bees typically forage for nectar within a three-kilometre radius of their hive, which helps pollinate local ecosystems and many of the fruits and vegetables available today. Beeproject Apiaries estimates that nearly one-third of our food is dependent on pollinators like the honey bee.
Each hive installation contains as many as 50,000 honey bees and will produce up to 25 kilograms of honey. The honey will be harvested annually and bottled in accordance with food regulations.
