Education

*CVBC Monthly Meetings – last Tuesday of the month, except December.
Our monthly Club meetings include opportunities for new beekeepers to ask questions.   Seasonal advice and tips are discussed, usually in the second half of each meeting and it’s a great time to raise questions.  It is strongly recommended that new beekeepers attend Club meetings as often as possible.  

*Club Apiary Tours and Field Days(see Club minutes or Announcements page for dates).
As a new beekeeper, you will want to see how colonies are managed in many different apiaries – it’s a great way to observe and learn from others, as this will help you choose an approach and develop your own methods.  The Club organizes a Field Day or workshop once a month.

*Club Library Loans
The Club has a good number of and electronic resources, and more are available each year.
Contact Cris at crispomeray@gmail.com 

*Ministry of Agriculture “Introduction to Beekeeping” Course with Provincial Apiarist, Paul van Westendorp.  This course is a 4-sesssion webinar format, available once a year (4 Saturday morning sessions in February) and requires pre-registration.
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees/bee-courses

*BC Min Agriculture bulletins – essential reading:  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/industry/agriculture-seafood/animals-and-crops/animal-production/bees/beekeeping-bulletins

Tech Transfer Program: www.ttp-bchpa.ca/our-coures#explore

Note:  Be cautious with advice and tips from online resources – the beekeeper’s geographic location may not be similar to our “wet coast” and so the information will not be useful to you.  Always verify where the speaker is located and if necessary, confirm new information with your mentor or other local experienced beekeepers.

*University of Guelph Honeybee Research Centre
https://www.youtube.com/c/UoGHoneyBeeResearchCentre/featured
The Research Centre offers more than 65 short “how-to” video lessons on practical aspects of beekeeping.  This is a good resource for beginners and experienced beekeepers alike. 
Honey Bee Lab Videos:  https://hbrc.ca/beekeeping-videos/

*96 Basic Beekeeping Online Lessons (96 free lessons taught by David & Sharon Burns)
Beekeeping advice from Illinois, USA.  Index of lessons starts down on the right hand side of the page, in blue.
http://basicbeekeeping.blogspot.com/2007/09/lesson-one-in-beekeeping-introduction.html 

Online Beginner Beekeeping Series with Instructor Julia Common ($195)
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/online-beginner-beekeeping-series-with-instructor-julia-common-tickets-243299694937?aff=ebdsoporgprofile

Courses available through BC Beekeeping Supplies
There is a range of fees and formats:  https://bcbeesupply.com/collections/beekeeping-courses

Courses available through West Coast Bee Supply
There is a range of fees and formats:  https://westcoastbeesupply.ca/collections/services

Deborah Acheson (Master Beekeeper, Smith Lake Farm) offers a spring beekeeper course leading to certification as a Beginner Beekeeper by the BCHPA (British Columbia Honey Producers Association) in Courtenay

https://www.smithlakefarm.com
Questions?  Contact Deborah:  dachesonqc@gmail.com

Wendi Gilson offers a hands-on, 8-month program, “Introduction to Beekeeping” in her bee yards in the vicinity of Cumberland.  For this course, there is also a mentor-based support group on social media (search Back Horse Apiary Mentorship Group).
Questions?  Contact Wendi:   wendigilson@yahoo.ca

Rachel Halliwell of Home Grown Bee here in the Comox Valley offers a one-on-one personal mentor service, on-line and in-person workshops 
https://www.homegrownbee.ca
Questions?  Contact Rachel:  rachel@homegrownbee.ca