B.C. Beekeepers buzz to Vernon for AGM

B.C. Beekeepers will "bee" connected with current issues in their industry to discuss as the B.C. Honey Producers' Association (BCHPA) holds its fall educational conference and annual general meeting Friday to Sunday, Oct. 25-27, at the Prestige Vernon Lodge.

"Beekeepers in British Columbia live in a paradoxical time," said the association in a release. "Never has the craft of beekeeping and producing honey been more popular. But it also is a time of great challenge and change.

"Whether it is the continuing difficulty of keeping healthy bees, the impacts of wildfires and climate change, or dealing with the increasing demand for local, fresh and raw honey, B.C.’s hobbyist, sideliner and commercial beekeepers face both opportunities and challenges."

The conference will feature speakers and topics over the three days that directly apply to the issues B.C.'s thousands of beekeepers deal with every day.

For more than a century the BCHPA has been the representative organization that speaks on behalf of the province’s more than 4,700 registered apiarists.

"Our education conference this year will look at practical solutions for growing healthy livestock and queen bees," said the association. "The interaction between managed honey bees and wild bees will be discussed. And inter-provincial and national concerns around the importation of honey bee stock, the availability of important bee medicines and best management practices are also on the agenda."

Industry leaders, researchers and government officials will be at the conference.

B.C.’s beekeeping industry, aided by a robust BCHPA-operated tech-transfer program, is a national participant in areas of honey bee research and management. The conference will look at some of the many innovative efforts being led by B.C., Canadian and international researchers to keep Canada’s bees, and beekeepers, strong and healthy.

There’s also many opportunities to learn, for new and young and old beekeepers. The conference trade show will feature some of Canada’s eminent equipment and service companies. And the BCHPA honey show, always a crowd favourite, will feature the province’s best honeys and meads (honey wines).