Save Bees in Niagara - Support Biodiversity Learning

I am a third generation beekeeper in Niagara and have been raising bees for over 40 years and the only thing becoming extinct faster than bees are beekeepers. Young people are not pursuing a career in beekeeping because it is no longer a viable industry. Niagara has always been an oasis for beekeeping with some of the largest pollinator fleets residing here. These fleets of bees are transported all the way to the east coast, pollinating fruit crops along the way. In the last four years, Niagara has lost over 20,000 hives. These beekeeping operations are shrinking because of the huge die off of bees across North America. No one wants to re-invest in the honeybee business and so what will our future be without bees and beekeepers?

Over the past 5 years, our not-for-profit organization, the Niagara Bee Group have been placing hives all over Niagara through our Host A Hive initiative. These hives help us gather data about the environment and where it is safe for bees to live. Our program trains young beekeepers, like Jolene Drouin, about the intricacies of our environment that affect the behavior and health of bees. Through beekeeping, she understands how delicate bees are and how everything humans do to our environment affects the bees. What we are putting into our soil, spraying on our plants and what is running into the water supply is consumed by these little creatures. The ailing health of our bees is an early warning system for humans because what is happening to them will eventually happen to us if we do not pay attention. The key to change is education and we are on a mission to educate the public in Niagara about best practices for protecting our pollinators.

Jolene is a single mother of two young boys who is dedicated to teaching her children how to, live in harmony with nature. Jolene practices what she preaches as an avid naturalist and homesteader, maple tree farmer and beekeeping instructor. Jolene has become a sought-after speaker and demonstrator in schools, summer camp programs, county fairs and community events.

Jolene offers a variety of workshops such as: beginner beekeeping, the beauty of honey and how it is made, protecting pollinators, the importance of birds and raptors, and native tree and plant identification.

This fundraising campaign aims to help cover the costs of sending Jolene into the community to share her knowledge of bees and biodiversity - and in doing so, helping to save the bees. In order to make this happen, we hope to raise $15,000 by Labour Day so that she can continue to provide educational workshops throughout the Niagara region. We appreciate your support!!!