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Bees buzz cop shop

There was a buzz of excitement at the Vancouver Police Department headquarters, Wednesday, when thousands of bees made an appearance.

Beekeepers from Hives for Humanity brought 30,000 bees to the VPD. They were placed in a temporary home at the building's third-floor community garden.

The hives and garden are funded and maintained by VPD civilian volunteers.

Hives for Humanity has grown from just one hive in September 2012 to more than 150 spread throughout Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside and Mount Pleasant communities.

The non-profit organization encourages community connections through apiculture.

The world population of honey bees is on the decline. But they have a crucial role in the pollination of plants and crops. An estimated 80 per cent of global agricultural pollination services are attributed to the domesticated honey bee.

They will usually travel up to three kilometers to locate a food source and gather pollen.

Each hive produces its own unique honey flavour, based on available food sources.

Honey from the VPD headquarter hives will be processed by Hives for Humanity, and all proceeds from its sale will go to support programming that builds inclusive communities through the culture of the beehive.



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