March 1, 2019
Yellowknife’s Chateau Nova Hotel was buzzing!
Bee keepers, honey processors, producers and the public came together to discuss the importance of healthy bees February 23-24.
Bees, as pollinators, are an essential part of any agricultural system. They are recognized in the Northwest Territories Agriculture Strategy as an important element of the GNWT’s commitment to maintain the natural biodiversity of the NWT.
The 2019 bee symposium provided an opportunity to discuss the unique challenges encountered by northern beekeepers. Individual beekeepers from the South Slave, North Slave and Dehcho attended and spoke of their experiences. The outline of topics covered included:
- Introduction to beekeeping
- Tools and equipment
- Stings, allergic reactions, and precautions
- Food safety
- Bee diseases and pests
- Guidelines for apiculture in the North
A session on Gwich’in names and stories about NWT’s bees were part and parcel with the symposium.
While funded though the NWT Agriculture Strategy, the 2019 bee symposium was presented by Ecology North and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
