The bee’s knees: MacEwan University marks a decade of urban beekeeping

The beekeepers at MacEwan University are waiting to see how many of their bees survived a frosty winter in Edmonton. Miriam Valdes-Carletti has the story.

While the flowers are yet to bloom, students were busy unwrapping bee hives atop MacEwan University Wednesday, marking a decade of the school’s urban beekeeping program.

The eight hives are wrapped with insulation to increase the chances of the bees surviving the winter months and the queen can begin to lay eggs, despite the cold temperatures.

“It’s our first check for the spring, see who survived, who did not,” said MacEwan’s beekeeper Troy Donovan. “We bring in some other bees to help with the DNA growth of the different colonies.”

Over the last decade, the number of hives has doubled from four to eight. Honey harvested from the hives is sold at the MacEwan bookstore.

“The honey production has been great, and the amount of engagement from the students and faculty and all the staff has just been great here,” said Donovan. “It’s been so much fun.”

Manojna Tumma, a second-year nursing student, said volunteering for the program is helping her deal with her fear of bugs.

“I was originally volunteering for the Tower Gardens, and then I heard about the Urban Beekeeping projects and I was really intrigued to join,” she told CTV News Edmonton. “I’m someone who fears bugs a lot, so this is a little bit of exposure therapy, but became something I’m really passionate about. I love the bees.”

While Donovan was in the midst of proposing the idea to MacEwan, the City of Edmonton had just wrapped up piloting urban beekeeping that would allow for residents to manage and harvest hives at home.

“It’s a nice way to realize the importance of bees and to stay connected,” said Donovan.

There are currently 218 licensed urban beekeepers in Edmonton, said the city in an email.

Starting May 19, Edmontonians will be allowed to have a maximum of two hives per residence.

“I think little things you can have in your backyard … like urban beekeeping or backyard chickens, those are such cool things to do,” said volunteer and former MacEwan student Angelina Vasquez.

Residents who wish to beekeep are required to obtain an Urban Livestock Licence by notifying neighbours, reviewing the city’s beekeeping guidelines, and other formalities.

With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti