March 31, 2022
Province 'A-Buzz' with Funding for Northern Beekeeping Project
– – –Beekeeping Encourages Local Food Sustainability: Lagimodiere
The province is providing $8,000 to support the beekeeping project operated by Frontier School Division (FSD), Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations Minister Alan Lagimodiere announced today.
“Now more than ever with increased food costs, it is important for Manitobans to not only define their own food systems but strengthen community-led development,” said Lagimodiere. “By supporting the beekeeping project, our government is encouraging local food sustainability and providing educational opportunities to students by integrating local learnings into the curriculum.”
The Department of Indigenous Reconciliation and Northern Relations is supporting the FSD through its Northern Health Food Initiative program. Additional program assistance will be provided by Bayline Regional Roundtable and Northern Association of Community Councils, which have worked with communities to start beekeeping projects. An apiarist specialist from Manitoba Agriculture will also provide support.
FSD plans to start and maintain the project as part of its Grow North Program in Leaf Rapids with a goal to show successful care and management of bees, increased production of honey and knowledge of beekeeping. Excess honey would be available to the school and communities. The program would encourage field trips by local schools and communities, and once established, it would host small workshops to pass on knowledge to interested community members.
“The Frontier School Division Grow North program has been dedicated to developing the gardening skills of Indigenous youth in northern and remote communities,” said Don McCaskill, area 1 superintendent, Frontier School Division. “The beekeeping grant will enable students to further expand their knowledge and learn about new possibilities in entrepreneurship.”
Beekeeping is known to have positive ecological impacts, noted the minister, as bees support local food production through pollination and the honey produced also has potential health benefits and is rich in antioxidants, has antibacterial properties, can boost immune systems, improve digestion and heal wounds. Lagimodiere noted compared to processed sugar, honey does not increase blood sugar as quickly.
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