Membership is open to all BC beekeepers. It benefits the hundreds of beekeepers in the province by allowing us to work together and to stay in touch with other beekeepers on the most recent information on hive health, the state of the industry, and tips and tricks of the trade. Your membership helps to fund many programs, research, membership in the Canadian Honey Council, our quarterly magazine and semi-annual meetings. The BCHPA is supported through volunteer work.
Membership includes a one-year subscription to both quarterly publications: BeesCene magazine with up-to-date information, advertising opportunities, advance notification of workshops and events and updates on the Association and Hive Lights, the Canadian Honey Council publication. Memberships are purchased annually and are effective January through December and can be renewed at anytime.
The BCHPA Liability Insurance Policy is the only one of its kind available in the province. By pooling our membership, we can offer this comprehensive liability insurance as well as forest fire fighting expense endorsements for a fraction of what it would cost individuals on their own.
Members may attend the business/information days of the BCHPA Annual General Meeting and the semi-annual meeting in March without charge (meals not included).
Members benefit from the work of an active volunteer Executive including:
Marketing
- Day of the Honey Bee,
- Certified Producer Program
- Pollination brochures
- Listing and Links to Pollinators and Bee Breeders on website.
- Links to suppliers
- Advertising opportunities for suppliers and members
Education
- Symposiums and workshops to exchange ideas and experience plus comprehensive workshop publications;
- Participation in national sustainability issues.
- Training in specialty areas such as queen rearing and integrated pest management;
- Website providing valuable links to programs, materials, technical papers, advertising, educational resources and marketing information;
- Organized collaborations of beekeepers to prepare instructional materials for new beekeepers;
- Annual conference which include high calibre Guest Speakers of international acclaim;
- Support for bee research through the Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust and other projects such as the APIS Genome Project at UBC, and member research into Varroa Sensitive Hygiene Traits;
- Collaboration with Small Scale Food Processors on food safety issues;
- Support for Pollinators, Bee Breeders and Growers;
Advocacy
- BCHPA is the representative of all beekeepers in BC
- Regular communication with Provincial Apiarist and Minister of Agriculture regarding Bee Act and other issues impacting beekeepers.
- participation in Bee Stock Risk Management Symposium
- Ongoing government and media relations
Communication
- Regional representation,
- Clubs,
- BeesCene,
- Website, meetings, Links, bee supplier contacts
The BCHPA is a proud member of and provides financial support to the Canadian Honey Council, working on our behalf to advocate beekeeping at the federal level.