Companies are installing beehives on the rooftops of their Toronto offices (PHOTOS)
There will soon be beehives on the rooftops of the Great-West Life, London Life and Canada Life buildings.
The installation of the new beehives will be in Winnipeg, London and Toronto.
According to Great-West Life, the hives will produce sustainable honey and help boost declining honeybee populations, which are important pollinators for local green spaces and food production.
“We believe it’s important that our offices integrate with their natural environment and support the overall health and well-being of the local community,” said Stefan Kristjanson, President and Chief Operating Officer, Great-West Life in a statement.
“With honeybee populations being threatened across Canada, our urban beekeeping initiative will help ensure these vital pollinators can flourish, keeping our communities vibrant and green.”
The company said it has teamed up with local beekeeping firms to install and maintain the hives.
Alvéole is caring for two hives installed at 330 University Avenue in Toronto.
Courtesy of Great-West Life
“The honeybees installed at Great-West Life will pollinate local gardens and fruit trees, produce honey and engage the community in important environmental discussions,” said Lindsay Nikkel, Co-Owner and Urban Beekeeper, Beeproject Apiaries.
Beeproject Apiaries estimates that nearly one-third of our food is dependent on pollinators like the honey bee.
Courtesy of Great-West Life
“The hives at the Canada Life building have affected the way the company thinks about bees, farming and the plight of pollinators,” said Blake Retter, Bee Director, Alvéole Toronto. “Together, we’re not only producing local honey, but also inspiring people to become ambassadors for a bee-friendly environment.”
Each hive installation contains as many as 50,000 honey bees and will produce up to 25 kilograms of honey. The company says that the honey will be harvested annually and bottled in accordance with food regulations.