Become a Branch of the BCHPA

Benefits of Becoming a Branch of the BC Honey Producers’ Association (BCHPA)

Overview

The BC Honey Producers’ Association (BCHPA) is the provincial voice for beekeepers in British Columbia. Established in 1920 as a registered non‑profit society, the BCHPA represents the largest and most diverse group of beekeepers in the province, from hobbyists and sideliners to commercial operators.

Becoming a BCHPA Branch connects regional beekeeper groups to a strong, stable provincial organization while preserving the local identity, priorities, and needs of each region. Branches are a vital part of BCHPA’s structure, ensuring that all areas of the province are represented, informed, and supported.

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Why Become a BCHPA Branch?

1. Strength Through Provincial Representation

The BCHPA represents all levels of beekeepers across British Columbia. As a branch, your group becomes part of the largest organized body of beekeepers in the province, strengthening advocacy efforts and ensuring regional concerns are heard at higher levels.

Branches benefit from the BCHPA’s established presence and credibility with the BC Ministry of Agriculture and by extension Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and other regulatory bodies such as Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA).  Our primary national representation is through membership with the Canadian Honey Council (CHC). This representation ensures that both provincial and regional beekeeper interests are considered in policy development, biosecurity planning, research priorities, and industry advocacy.

2.  Governance, Structure, and Compliance

The BCHPA provides branches with a solid operational foundation through its comprehensive constitution, bylaws, and policies. This framework supports consistent, transparent, and compliant branch operations while reducing administrative burden.

Key governance benefits include:

• Alignment with the BC Societies Act

• Clear operational and reporting structures

• Oversight and guidance from an elected Provincial Executive

• Support in maintaining good governance practices

For many regional groups, this removes the complexity of maintaining compliance independently and provides confidence that branch operations meet provincial requirements.

3.  Financial Accountability and Risk Protection

The BCHPA supports branches by ensuring strong financial accountability and risk management across the association.

Benefits include:

• Guidance and oversight for financial reporting

• Integration into a province‑wide accountability structure

• Access to Directors and Officers Liability Insurance (DOLI)

This protection helps safeguard volunteer board members and branch leaders, allowing them to focus on serving their local beekeeping community with confidence.

4.  Leadership, Education, and Program Support

Branches benefit from the leadership and experience of the BCHPA’s elected Provincial Executive, which provides:

• Strategic direction

• Operational guidance

• Support for branch initiatives and challenges

In addition, the BCHPA provides on-going educational programs and events and partners with its Technology Transfer Program to deliver education, research findings, and best practices across the province. Branches play a key role in shaping these programs by identifying region‑specific needs and priorities.

5.  Two‑Way Communication and Regional Relevance

Branches are essential to BCHPA’s ability to represent all regions of British Columbia effectively. This relationship is collaborative and reciprocal.

The BCHPA provides branches with:

• Timely information relevant to regional conditions

• Access to provincial and national updates

• Education tailored to local challenges

In return, branches provide:

• Regional feedback to the Provincial Executive

• Insight into local issues, risks, and opportunities

• Requests that help shape BCHPA programs and deliverables

This two‑way flow ensures that the BCHPA remains responsive, relevant, and regionally informed.

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What Branches Contribute to BCHPA

Branches are a cornerstone of the association’s success. By becoming a BCHPA Branch, regional groups contribute to the strength and health of the provincial organization by:

• Providing regional representation across British Columbia

• Offering local insight that informs provincial programs and education

• Encouraging individual membership in BCHPA

• Strengthening the overall community of beekeepers in the province

• Submitting regular branch updates and financial information to support transparency and organizational health

This collaboration ensures the BCHPA remains a unified yet regionally diverse organization.

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A Shared Commitment to BC Beekeeping

Becoming a branch of the BC Honey Producers’ Association is more than an administrative decision—it is a partnership. Branches retain their regional identity while gaining the strength, stability, and influence of a province‑wide organization that has supported BC beekeepers for over a century.

Together, the BCHPA and its branches work to advance beekeeping, support education and research, advocate for the industry, and build a resilient future for honey bees and beekeepers across British Columbia.

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How to Become a Branch

Branches are established to represent the interests of the BCHPA and its members and are granted at the discretion of the current elected provincial executive. To become a recognized branch of the BCHPA, the following conditions must be met:

1.  The branch must have a minimum of 5 members in good standing with the BCHPA at standard membership rates. The more members the better the foundation.

2.  The branch must have a history of regular meetings and healthy attendance.

3.  The goals and aspiration of the group must align with the BCHPA.

4.  The group must agree to the constitutional requirements of branches – Appendix A.

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Constitutional Information about Branches

The BCHPA may establish constituent parts to be known as branches.

a) Branches may be established to represent the interests of the BCHPA in certain geographical areas, or in areas of particular interest to BCHPA members.

b) Upon its application to the BCHPA executive, initial recognition of a branch may be granted. Once branch status is granted to a branch it shall remain a branch providing all the following requirements are met:

     i) All branches of the BCHPA shall abide by the Constitution, Bylaws and Standing Rules of Order of the BCHPA.

     ii) Active membership in the BCHPA is a requirement for membership in a branch.

     iii) Any active BCHPA member may join a branch or more than one branch.

     iv) The membership year of each branch will be the same as the membership year of the BCHPA as established in Bylaw 4.

     v) A branch may set a meeting attendance fee for persons who are not, or do not wish to become, BCHPA members but those persons shall not vote or hold office in the branch.

     vi) Each branch shall have at least five members.

     vii) Each branch shall have at least one meeting a year and it shall, if practicable, notify the secretary of the BCHPA of those dates for inclusion in upcoming issues of the BeesCene.

     viii) Each branch shall elect branch directors/executive composed of a president, a vice-president or vice presidents, a secretary, a treasurer and (optionally) other directors decided by the branch. Should, for any reason, a branch wish to combine certain positions on its executive it may do so provided that its directors/executive shall be composed of at least three members.

     ix) The branch executive shall be responsible for designating its signing officers, and the person or persons responsible for compiling and submitting the records required in Bylaw 6a (ix), (x), (xi), (xii) (xiii) and (xix). The financial records of the branch shall be reviewed by at least two branch directors other than the Treasurer before being submitted to the BCHPA.

     x) When the branch conducts elections for its directors/executive it shall notify the secretary of the BCHPA names of the successful candidates within 30 days.

     xi) Each branch shall maintain membership lists, financial records and minutes of its meetings.

     xii) Each branch shall submit the branch’s list of directors and a statement that the branch meets the membership requirement, to the secretary of the BCHPA by March 31 of each year.

     xiii) Minutes of the branch’s annual meeting and a copy of its financial statements shall be submitted to the secretary of the BCHPA by March 31 of the year following the end of their fiscal year.

     xix) The financial year of each branch shall be the same as the BCHPA financial year.

c) Termination of branch status

     a) Should a branch be unable to meet the requirements for branch status as established in Bylaw X (a), the BCHPA executive shall attempt to assist the branch to meet those requirements.

     b) Should, after those efforts at assistance and a reasonable period of time, a branch still be unable to meet the requirements, the BCHPA executive shall recommend that the BCHPA AGM terminate the branch’s status as a constituent part of the BCHPA. Termination of a branch’s status shall require a motion requiring a majority vote at the BCHPA AGM. The presiding officer, if any, of the branch shall be invited to address the BCHPA AGM before the motion is considered.

     c) The directors of a branch shall have full authority over the branch’s funds. Should a branch cease to exist, any residual funds shall be transferred to the treasurer of the BCHPA to be held in trust for a period of five years. Within that time period the BCHPA shall use those funds to create a new branch in the same or nearby geographical area, or the same or similar area of interest. Subject solely to the directions of a general meeting of the branch and this Constitution and Bylaws, the Directors of the branch shall have full authority over the branch’s funds.

     d) Should a branch cease to exist, all its residual funds shall be transferred to the Treasurer of the BCHPA to be held in trust for a period of five (5) years. Within that time period the BCHPA shall use those funds to create a new branch in the same or nearby geographical area, or the same or similar area of interest.