Beekeepers are looking to create more buzz about the hobby. Adrian St.Onge/CHAT News

By Adrian St.Onge

Beekeepers in Medicine Hat and area say drought and bylaws a challenge

Jul 28, 2024 | 8:13 PM

Beekeepers in Cypress County and Medicine Hat say drought and city bylaw misconceptions are major issues facing the industry at a local level despite a time of growth.

Bee populations and honey production is on the rise, with Alberta accounting for 40 per cent of the country’s honey production in 2023, according to Statistics Canada figures.

Bill Dick, an amateur beekeeper, has gone to desperate measures to make sure hives don’t drop off, including talking with city councillors and organizing a bee-bearding event.

Dick said that councillors have stated that Hatters are allowed to keep bees in their backyards and that he’s trying to create a conversation.

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“We want to bring bees to Medicine Hat for the public to have them in the back gardens and stuff,” Dick told CHAT News.

“They’re our friends and not enemies.”

Some hobby farms turn into part jobs, something that happened to Tilley beekeeper Russel Solon.

Solon began beekeeping in the Phillipines nearly 40 years ago and took the hobby with him when he moved to Canada.

His farm has grown to over 100 hives and he said that beekeeping and the importance of pollinators is something everyone should educated about.

“I want to encourage everyone. Not only the, you know, the commercial [beekeepers and apiaries]. Hobby beekeeping is really good. I’m very happy that they do beekeeping.,” Solon said.

Solon said that honey production was down last year but has rebounded because of good crop yields.