Ground breaks for new 'dream' honey bee research centre

Honey bees were ‘a buzzin’ as the University of Guelph celebrated a new chapter with a new facility at a groundbreaking ceremony on Wednesday.

The new Honey Bee Research Centre (HBRC) on Stone Road will offer a state-of-the-art research and education/outreach destination, a facility that will provide honey bee research, education, advocacy and outreach dedicated to all aspects of honey bee health and well-being.

Paul Kelly, research and apiary manager at the centre, says it’s a dream come true as construction for the new facility is set to begin this summer.

“I can be a bit of a dreamer, but other people have really jumped in to make this happen,” Kelly said.

Kelly has managed the centre since 1987. His primary role is to manage honey bee colonies for research and teaching purposes.

Providing research support for hive health science, training for students and beekeepers, Kelly also coordinates and teaches beekeeping courses and conducts community facility tours.  

“We looked at improving our facility for accessibility. We thought about fixing what we had but then we soon realized that there was no way that it could fulfill our needs,” Kelly said.

“So, we started drawing pictures on a blackboard. It was just a dream then. Rene Van Acker, dean of the Ontario Agricultural College, championed this project from the start. Soon as we started talking about it, and everyone jumped on board.”

The new $16.1-million Honey Bee Research Centre will be located on a former U of G physical resources tree nursery, east of the main campus near the corner of Stone Road East and Victoria Road.

The current version of the Honey Bee Research Centre is at Townsend House, a 1960’s bungalow on Stone Road East.

Kelly says the centre outgrew its current facility a long time ago. The new HBRC will offer many opportunities, not only for the university, but for the community.

“Right now, we are in such a small facility and research is such a big priority of us, so we can’t be engaging with the public all of the time. The new centre will allow us to be able to have public and research spaces so we can do both at the same time,” Kelly said.

“The public can come in and learn about honey bees, pollination, and about other pollinators as well. It will be an attraction for sure. And we’ll be able to have event space, offer courses, workshops, and demonstrations year round.”

Among donors to the project, Lydia Luckevich, a 1979 U of G chemistry alumna, will provide $7.5 million. The centre will be named for her and for her late husband, Don Pinchin, founder of Pinchin Ltd., an environmental consulting firm.   

Luckevich met several years ago with Ontario Agricultural College faculty and administrators to discuss ideas for an updated research centre and her role in supporting the project.

In terms of accessibility, the centre will be near a bus and bike route, surrounded by pollinator gardens and walking trails.

In addition to a 100 hive apiary, the new HBRC will be a 15,000 sq.ft facility that includes space for research, production and outreach programs, a research laboratory, as well as office and classroom space.

It will also serve as a demonstration facility for best practices in commercial beekeeping and honey production, enable world class research on honey bee health, and act as a vehicle for increased community outreach and public education.  

Janet Tam, assistant at the Honey Bee Research Centre, says the new centre is going to open up all sorts of opportunities.

"This will be modern and up to date facility. Everything will be more efficiently placed for operations as well as for the public for education," Tam said.

"It’s going to be a tourist destination where people can come in and look at the displays or walk along our trails. Having this new building and having it open to the public will help promote education. We will now have the space for more teaching opportunities."

The University of Guelph has had a honey bee research centre and apiary since 1894, and today, has one of largest research apiaries in North America.

“A research apiary, a larger one than what we have. We do have one of the largest research apiaries in North America. So, this is a great opportunity for us to do things in a better and bigger way,” said John Cranfield, associate dean for external relations at the University of Guelph’s Agricultural College.

“A teaching apiary will also be added. This will give us some new opportunities, not just having one apiary, but several apiaries that will allow all of the team to do some amazing things.”

The completion of the new Honey Bee Research Centre is projected for fall 2024.

“Site preparation has begun with the removal of some dead and unhealthy trees. We will be replanting trees. We are just finalizing site plan approvals, and construction arrangements. We hope to begin building in the coming weeks and expect it to take 18-24 months," Cranfield said.

HBRC hopes to welcome everyone for a grand opening in spring of 2025.

With a significant increase in honey bee colony mortality over the last decade, research is becoming increasingly important.

“This new Honey Bee Research Centre will allow us to scale up research and outreach,” Cranfield said. 

“The new facility will give the centre space to grow its engagement with apiarists, with community members interested in learning more about pollinators and honeybees, and with young people looking to be a part of positive change to support pollinators and to ensure a healthy environment and a safe food supply.” 

 HBRC’S mandate is to support the future of honey bees through research, teaching and outreach.

“As we take in our site, I think it’s important to remember why we are here today, it’s because of the bees. Bees are an important part of the environment, and they rely on a healthy and thriving environment,” Cranfield said.

University of Guelph president and vice-chancellor, Charlotte Yates, said she was thankful to see something that is going to be meaningful, not just at the university, but across North America, and globally.

"This is hugely significant. This centre becomes local, but also global at the same time,” Yates said.

“We are all here today because of our love of honey bees. This is a dream come alive. Making these dreams come true just enhances the wonder of today.