There is a buzz around Winnipeg’s City Hall. A beehive has been installed on the second floor of the Susan A Thompson Building.

“We are excited to have the beehive at City Hall because it serves as a great educational opportunity for visitors, and staff to experience urban beekeeping,” said Lindsay Mierau, Environmental Coordinator in the Office of Sustainability.

The hive is maintained through a partnership with Beeproject Apiaries. The local beekeeping business also hosts workshops for residents and civic employee to learn more about the hive at City Hall.

The hive is home to thousands of European honey bees. These bees are generally docile and only sting in self-defense or to protect the hive.

“This one beehive is capable of producing 100 lbs per year,” said Mierau.

“They will forage up to five kilometres from the hive on urban gardens, including fruit trees, basswood trees, and flowers such as lilacs, which give the honey a unique flavour and colour.”

Urban beekeeping has been allowed city-wide since October, 2017 with guidelines in place to manage the activity. The Province of Manitoba registers and inspects all beekeeping operations under the Bee Act of Manitoba.

If you would like to learn more about the hive at City Hall, consider signing up for the Extracting the Honey workshop on September 13, 2019 at noon. Registration is first come, first served.