Photo description:

07092023 Members of Brandon University's Bee U program, Coordinators Dr. Deanna Smid (L) with the university english department, Grant Hamilton (second from left), Director, Marketing & Communications, and Bee U program co-op summer student Aidan Hosea (R) work with apiarist Mike Clark (second from right) to collect boxes of frames full of honeycomb from the university's four bee hives on Tuesday evening. The Bee U urban beekeeping program began in 2022. Brandon University was granted a five year bylaw variance by the city to allow for their pilot project as the city's bylaws currently don't allow for urban beekeeping. Last year they collected 117 KG of honey from their hives and are hoping to double the amount they collect this year. The university is hoping to have honey available for sale later this fall. The hives will be moved to the Wawanesa area for winter and then brought back to the university in the spring. According to Hamilton the bees have thrived so far in the city and provide a benefit to the overall bee population and to Brandon’s biodiversity by helping gardens through pollination. (Tim Smith/The Brandon Sun)