A pair of bee hives — each one containing up to 15,000 bees – were taken from a field near the Arcadia subdivision in Kanata before Christmas, and their owner is asking the public for help find them.
Here’s part of an email interview with Marianne Gee, one of the owners of Dunrobin-based Gees Bees Honey Company.
STITTSVILLECENTRAL.CA: Where were the hives located? Can you describe what they looked like, how many bees you had, how long you’ve been keeping bees for?
MARIANNE GEE: My husband Matt and I are beekeepers. We have a business where we offer fully managed beehives to people who want to learn about beekeeping or want their own backyard honey. Minto was interested in helping the declining honeybee population so we put a couple of hives on their back fields behind the Arcadia development in Kanata. We had two beehives there – they are beige with Minto logos on them and unpainted wooden lids.
SC: When did you find out they were missing?
MG: We went to check on the bees on Boxing Day after the unusually warm weather and they were gone. They had been there a week or so earlier when we last checked on them.
SC: Any idea who might have taken them?
MG: I wish I knew who might have taken them. It would have to be someone with interest in keeping bees and who knew they were there. It would be an unusual time to get a “new” beehive. It is too cold for beekeepers to breed bees for sale or transport hives.
SC: Over 350 people have shared your Facebook post. What’s your reaction to the response from the community? Has it generated any leads?
MG: The response through social media has been amazing. It’s really reassuring to know that there are so many good people who want to help. Hopefully there’s some good natured person out there who saw who took them or knows where they are and can help us bring our bees home. It would be unusual to get new hives at this time of year.
