City celebrates first year as official “Bee City”

The City of Kawartha Lakes is celebrating their one year anniversary this July of its designation as a Bee City, thanks to the hard work and effort that has been made by City residents, communities and organizations towards raising awareness about the importance of pollination. The Kawartha Lakes Environmental Advisory Committee’s Pollinator Action Committee has been providing education and bringing attention to our native pollinators and what we can do to support them.

The Committee continues to participate in community events such as Settlers’ Day in Bobcaygeon, Omemee Days, Frost Campus’ 10th Eco Health Conference, and the Kawartha Region Conservation Authority 150. “It was a wonderful and encouraging thing to see so many people visiting our display tables and expressing so much interest and concern for pollinators,” says Susan Blayney, chair of the City of Kawartha Lakes Pollinator Action Committee.

One of the most important things that can be done for pollinators is to create habitats for them, which is the main goal of the Kawartha Lakes Pollinator Pathway mapping project. Residents can get involved by using the resources outlined on the dedicated website provided by the City and the Committee to build pollinator-friendly environments. Any resident who registers will also receive a free “Pollinator Pathway” garden sign to proudly display on their property.

The Committee also has several large projects underway, including working with Kawartha Regional Conservation Authority to plant pollinator patches at Windy Ridge, assisting the Frost Campus to enhance their butterfly garden as well as maintaining the newly established 1.5 acres of habitat created for the Fenelon Landfill Pollinator project.

“The Pollinator Action Committee, with the support from the City of Kawartha Lakes, is very pleased with what has been accomplished during the first year of being a Bee City,” says Blayney.

The plight of the bees cannot be fixed over the course of one year, but the City of Kawartha Lakes community is off to a strong start. The City and Pollinator Action Committee are dedicated to providing the community with resources and information to raising pollinator awareness, education and working on creating habitats for years to come. To learn more, visit the City’s Bee City webpage.