In Canada, the cold climate presents challenges for beekeepers, as highlighted in a 2025 report by the Canadian Association of Professional Apiculturists revealing that more than 41% of honeybee colonies in Alberta failed during that winter.
Addressing this issue, Beekeeping Innovations Ltd. based in Okotoks, near Calgary, has introduced an innovative solution called the Bee Cube. This apiary offers a fully climate-controlled environment to support multiple honeybee colonies through the winter comfortably, according to the company’s CEO, Herman Van Reekum.
The Bee Cube not only aims to ensure bee survival during winter but also presents an opportunity to revolutionize Canada’s beekeeping industry. Van Reekum emphasized the significance of the Bee Cube in efficiently producing queens in a safe and cost-effective manner, reducing the need to import foreign queen bees.
Canadian beekeepers heavily rely on importing approximately 300,000 foreign queen bees annually from countries like Australia, New Zealand, and certain U.S. states. Van Reekum cautioned about the risks associated with introducing foreign bees, such as the spread of harmful pests like varroa mites, which have caused significant damage to honeybee colonies worldwide.
Notably, the potential threat of the Tropilaelaps mite, though not yet established in North America, poses a severe risk to local bee populations. Van Reekum stressed the importance of developing domestic sources of queens to mitigate the risks associated with importing foreign bees.
The process of queen bee production involves selecting and nurturing a larva with royal jelly to become a queen. This critical role of the queen bee in the hive underscores the significance of controlled queen bee breeding to ensure the health and resilience of bee colonies.
With a focus on breeding local queens, Van Reekum highlighted the benefits of creating genetically resilient bees capable of withstanding Canadian winters. By producing a substantial number of queens within the Bee Cube, the company aims to enhance the quality and sustainability of bee populations in Canada.
Alberta stands out as Canada’s primary honey producer, housing a significant portion of the country’s bee colonies. The province plays a vital role in the national honey industry, contributing to Canada’s $241 million honey harvest in 2025. Additionally, Canadian beekeeping significantly impacts agricultural sustainability by providing essential pollination services crucial for crop production.
Van Reekum emphasized the indispensable role of bees in pollinating various crops, highlighting their contribution to the agricultural sector and the overall food supply chain in Canada.
