While studying abroad in Manchester, I am constantly encountering bees. As the city’s mascot for over 150 years, the worker bee represents the work ethic of the residents and hive of activity that the city tends to be. I see them on every bus, garbage can, and souvenir. When I return home, I will have to look a bit harder to find bees, but they are nonetheless integral to the Fraser Valley’s ecosystem and economy.
British Columbia holds 42.8 per cent of Canada’s fruit farms, with blueberries being Canada’s largest fruit export, bringing in about $400 million in revenue annually. These berries, alongside other produce, rely on pollination for a reliable fruit set. Abbotsford has been nicknamed the “Raspberry Capital of Canada” and it could not be without the bees’ hard work in the region.
Wild bees play a vital role in preserving biodiversity as they facilitate numerous plant species’ reproduction through pollination. A loss of wild pollinators would mean a loss of native plant species and farmers would potentially face higher costs in growing crops dependent on pollinators.
According to the summer 2025 edition of BC Honey Producers’ Association seasonal magazine the BeesCene, control of the Varroa mites is a high topic of concern. The mites cause bees significant weight loss, impaired flight performance, reduced lifespan, difficulty feeding, and the transfer of various viruses that impact bees’ health. The magazine encouraged increased self sufficiency and a reduction of imported bees to protect from the introduction of exotic pests. The trade magazine highlighted that the spring season presents the principal risk factor of Small Hive Beetle coming in from the United States (U.S.) to disrupt Canadian bee colonies that contribute to blueberry pollination near the Canada-U.S. border in the Fraser Valley.
The Township of Langley has made a definite commitment to these hard working insects. They recently became an official Bee City, with the promise to dedicate more median roadways with additional plantings that will support local habitats and increase native bee populations. Bee City Canada has programs for cities, universities, and schools to become a Bee Community. All participants in the program must commit to developing and maintaining pollinator habitats, educating their community members about the vitality of pollinators, and celebrating bees during National Pollinator Week or at another time in the year.
If you are interested in helping out our bee friends, you can start in your own backyard. The main contributor to pollinator decline is habitat loss. If you have a lawn, you can introduce wildflowers alongside the typical grass, and plant native, pollen rich plants in your garden. To maintain the health of these gardens for the bees however, avoid the use of chemical products. If you have money to spare, you can adopt a bee at $20 for one or $50 for three through the Native Bee Society of BC.This initiative helps their educational and research work around native bees.
These little guys are a key part of upkeeping our healthy food and ecosystems. It is a reciprocal system, our health and the bees’ health are not disconnected — we take care of the bees, and the bees take care of us.
