September Issue 107
www.thenewsyneighbour.com
The City of Chestermere
Chestermere is designated as Western Canada’s first Bee
City
August 24, 2016– For
immediate release
Chestermere,
AB – The City of Chestermere is buzzing with excitement after
becoming western Canada’s first Bee City. Only the second city designated in Canada,
Chestermere is helping in the fight to save the
declining population of bees in Canada. Chestermere hopes to inspire other
communities to become Bee Cities and beautify spaces everywhere!
"It's always inspiring when members of our community
share their passion with the rest of us. Truly the Bee City application was a
result of those passionate community members bringing forward a great idea that
we could all participate in to make Chestermere even better!” said Mayor
Patricia Mathews.
Bees and other pollinators are struggling across Canada and
around the world. It is estimated that 85% of flowering plants (including
fruits and vegetables) depend on pollinators so a decline in their numbers
could devastate food production.
The importance of saving the bees and other pollinators has
been top of mind for Dr. Preston Pouteaux, a local beekeeper and advocate. In
an effort to raise further awareness about this critical issue, Pouteaux
approached Chestermere officials about becoming an official Bee City.
“Creating amazing neighbourhoods like those we have in
Chestermere requires that we care for the work of important pollinators. It
seems like a small thing, but the very best cities in the world pay attention
to the health of their ecosystems and gardens. We are the kind of vibrant
community that sees the value in our bees, our people, and every blossoming
corner of our City,” said Preston Pouteaux, founder of the Chestermere Honey
Bee Society.
Working with Pouteaux, City staff set up a Bee City
committee comprised of local community members and City staff. With the
approval of City Council, they brought an application to Bee City Canada and
were officially designated as a Bee City on July 27, 2016.
The designation highlights Chestermere’s current efforts to
promote healthy ecosystems such as the Community Garden, Chestermere in Bloom,
the Birth Forest, as well as more than 70 parks and green spaces around the
community.
Going forward, the Bee City committee will implement pollinator
friendly community initiatives and awareness opportunities. Residents are
encouraged to watch for programming, events and activities to learn more about
how they can support pollinator populations.
For more information on Chestermere becoming a Bee City
visit www.chestermere.ca/beecity.
For more information on Bee City Canada please visit www.beecitycanada.org.
Chestermere
is a dynamic recreational city in Southern Alberta. As one of Alberta’s fastest
growing municipalities, the City of Chestermere has
rapidly evolved from a lakeside summer village into a recreational
oasis for nearly 20,000 residents.
Bee City Canada is a group of
passionate and concerned citizens who believe that together, we can all take
action to reverse the decline of pollinators.
For more information, contact
Megan
Matthies
Communications
Strategist
(403)
207-7036
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