News
Montreal-Mirabel will now be buzzing with activity
June 2, 2014, Montreal - Aeroports de Montreal (ADM) has announced that five beehives have been installed at Montreal-Mirabel International Airport. The project was developed jointly with the co-op Miel Montreal.
June 2, 2014 By Carey Fredericks
"Mindful of the importance of preserving these pollinators, which help save crops and maintain biodiversity, Aeroports de Montreal has taken this action as part of its commitments to protecting the environment, promoting sustainable development and mitigating the ecological impacts of its operations," said Christiane Beaulieu, ADM's Vice-President, Public Affairs and Communications.
Taking its cue from a number of European airports, Chicago's O'Hare became the first in North America to implement a beehive project, in May 2011. Montreal-Mirabel is now the first airport in Canada to follow suit. "Airports are prime sites for sustaining bee colonies, because of their broad expanses of land and abundant, diverse wildflower populations," Ms. Beaulieu added.
At the end of the beekeeping season, ADM will give part of the resulting honey production, estimated at more than 50 kg, to the Moisson Laurentides food bank.
To ensure the project goes smoothly, the beehives have been located sufficiently far away from companies' buildings at the airport. There will also be training sessions and a newsletter to raise awareness among employees of ADM and these companies.
This initiative complements other environmental stewardship projects implemented by ADM at Montreal-Mirabel, such as the 2011 partnership with CO2 Environnement for the planting of 96,000 trees on the airport lands.
