The Urban Beekeeping Initiative

MAJOR has proudly partnered with Montreal-based Alvéole, an innovative urban beekeeping concept that specializes in installing honeybee hives on the grounds and on the roofs of urban buildings. Honeybees are a critical part of our food supply and help to support food growth and quality through cross-pollination. This supports a wide variety of foods such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, forage crops and more. In addition to increasing food production, honeybees play a vital role in supporting healthy ecosystems needed for clean air, stable soils and a diverse wildlife population.

Year over year, researchers have noticed a decline in the honeybee population, especially in urban areas. This is likely due to Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) which occurs when the majority of worker bees in a colony disappear. This leaves behind the queen bee and a few nurse bees to take care of remaining immature bees. As more research was implemented, experts learned the major cause of CCD in honeybees is from parasites and pests, pathogens, lack of habitat resources and exposure to pesticides.

Today, there has been a new focus on pollinator health in urban areas from companies like Alvéole to encourage regrowth in honeybee populations. Alvéole understands the importance of bringing back the honeybee population to build sustainable, connected communities goes a step further by educating others.

“In this partnership with Alvéole, we will keep honeybees at our facility and work directly with a local beekeeper,” said Jean Francois Fyfe, MAJOR’s Candiac Plant Director, and who initiated the project. “The beekeeper will provide employees with one-of-a-kind experiences and educational activities like honey extraction, beeswax candle-making, honeybee trivia and more.”