As May comes to a close, the days are growing longer and the flowers in Cloverdale are blooming in the early summer weather—just in time for the Day of the Honeybee on Monday, May 29.
Kwantlen Polytechnic University commercial beekeeping instructor John Gibeau and student Alex Schellenberg gave The Reporter an afternoon tour of a local hive to celebrate the nationally recognized day and to talk about B.C.’s beekeeping industry.
Gibeau, who owns the Honeybee Centre in Cloverdale, is a beekeeper with more than 50 years of experience. His class at KPU teaches everything from beehive care and colony management to honeybee business planning, management and growth.
The KPU program is now in its second year, and a dozen beekeepers-in-training, such as Schellenberg, are now starting their five-month practicums before entering into the industry in the fall.
More to come.