In Canada, the cold climate poses challenges for beekeepers, as shown by a 2025 report revealing that more than 41% of honeybee colonies in Alberta did not survive the winter. To address this issue, Beekeeping Innovations Ltd., based in the Calgary area, has introduced a unique solution called the Bee Cube. This climate-controlled apiary in Okotoks is designed to house multiple honeybee colonies, ensuring their comfort during the winter months.
Herman Van Reekum, the company’s CEO, highlighted that the primary objective of the Bee Cube is to facilitate the winter survival of bees in a controlled environment. Moreover, the innovation could revolutionize Canada’s beekeeping sector by offering a streamlined method for queen bee reproduction.
Van Reekum emphasized the significance of producing queens domestically to reduce the reliance on importing queen bees from overseas. Imported queens, especially from warmer regions like Australia and New Zealand, may struggle to adapt to the Canadian environment and can introduce harmful pests such as varroa mites.
The Bee Cube’s main focus is on queen bee production to establish a resilient and self-sustaining bee population in Canada. By breeding local queens, beekeepers hope to minimize mite infestations and enhance the bees’ ability to withstand harsh Canadian winters.
One crucial aspect of beekeeping is queen bee development, where special care is given to selected larvae to become queens through royal jelly feeding. The emergence of new queens involves a meticulous process to ensure their successful integration into hives for egg-laying and colony establishment.
In a bid to bolster the local beekeeping industry, Beekeeping Innovations Ltd. aims to significantly increase queen bee production in the coming years. By nurturing strong queen bees that can endure Canadian winters, the company strives to enhance the genetic resilience of bee populations across the country.
Alberta stands out as Canada’s leading honey producer, hosting a substantial portion of the nation’s bee colonies. The province plays a pivotal role in the country’s honey industry, which generated a value of $241 million in 2025. Additionally, Canadian beekeeping serves a critical function in agricultural pollination, contributing significantly to the economic impact of the farming sector.