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Bee City Canada has given official designation to the County of Simcoe as a “Bee City”. With this designation, the County of Simcoe is committed to raise awareness and support pollinator protection. Communities with pollinator habitats, including native pollinator-friendly plants, enhance the physical and mental health of residents by connecting people with nature and encouraging healthy food habits.
“We are proud of our innovation and leadership shown by Tourism Simcoe County, in conjunction with Economic Development Officers from the region, through the development of a pilot tourism trail in 2018 related to bees and honey production,” said Warden George Cornell. “With agri-tourism on the rise across the province, the work of D.A. Jones in Beeton is a great place to begin looking further into the region’s rich history of bees and honey. I encourage everyone to come and see what Simcoe County has to offer as a designated Bee City.”
Following the launch of the Simcoe County Honey Trail, Tourism Simcoe County is starting to expand from the smaller Simcoe County Honey Trail to a County-wide Bees and Honey program, which draws attention to how important pollinator health is to the whole of Simcoe County.
Tourism Simcoe County is currently developing a Bees and Honey themed video and written materials that will be used to promote local operators. These promotions are intended to educate the public on the importance of supporting local farms as a means of protecting pollinator populations and will tell the story of how shopping local can help support bee populations. The story and a number of suggested itineraries to encourage people to engage with local retailers and beekeepers will be shared in 2022 as a way of supporting fragile pollinator populations.
What is a Bee City?
A Bee City is part of a North American movement to support pollinator protection. With this designation, the County of Simcoe is committed to creating and supporting activities related to the health and sustainability of pollinators in the region. Within the County of Simcoe, the municipalities of Barrie, Collingwood, Midland, New Tecumseth, Orillia, and Severn have also received Bee City Designation. For more information about Bee City Canada, visit beecitycanada.org.