[GREN-Exec] FW: Invitation

Wed Oct 11 17:21:21 EDT 2017

Even though I woke up being stung by a bumble bee on my cheek last week, I'm in favour of Susan beeing on the committee.  (It's one of the perks of drying laundry on a device called a clothes line.  Another perk was finding walnuts stashed in the laundry basket that I left for a couple of hours on the porch.)

- Greg

________________________________
From: Executive <executive-bounces at gren.ca> on behalf of Kevin Thomason <kevinthomason at mac.com>
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 12:55 PM
To: Susan
Cc: GREN Executive
Subject: Re: [GREN-Exec] FW: Invitation

Susan,

Sounds great to me.  Keep moving forward - these are good organizations and causes.

Cheers,
Kevin.

------------------------

Kevin Thomason

Phone: (519) 888-0519
Mobile Phone: (519) 240-1648
E-mail: kevinthomason at mac.com<mailto:kevinthomason at mac.com>

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On Oct 11, 2017, at 12:34 PM, Susan <susankoswan at execulink.com<mailto:susankoswan at execulink.com>> wrote:

Hi GREN Exec,

I’ve been contacted by Kimberley Fellows from Seeds of Diversity to join the Bee City Committee. (details below) As you can see below, the City of Kitchener is being approached to become a Bee City at the  Dec. 11 meeting. Kim just wants to know if she can list my affiliation as GREN for this committee and, I suppose, to show that GREN supports this initiative.

Awaiting your blessing....

Susan K

From: Kimberley Fellows [mailto:kimberley.fellows at gmail.com]
Sent: 3 October 2017 08:46
To: Susan Koswan
Subject: Invitation

Dear Susan,

I know Jennifer has excitedly told you much of this, but here is your official invite!

Much to my delight, efforts to have the City of Kitchener join a growing number of Bee City Canada affiliates may be realized on December 11th, pending council's approval.

The Bee City program started in the U.S. in 2012, originally in response to population declines that the honey bee industry has suffered since 2006. The main focus of the program is dedicated to creating sustainable habitats for pollinators.

Since Bee City began, founder Phyllis Stiles, other bee advocates and conservation scientists have come to understand three fundamental basics:

1) There are MANY more kinds of bees than honey bees, in the world. Canada hosts over 850 species of bees out of 20,000 worldwide species.

2) There are more pollinators than just bees. Other pollinators include butterflies and moths, flies, wasps, beetles, birds and bats (but there are no pollinating bats in Canada). However, in North America, bees perform 70% of the pollination. Hence the moniker "Bee City" -- besides the fact that "Pollinator City" is a mouthful!

3) While honey bees are important, they are not an endangered species. Please understand that being a Bee City is not synonymous with increasing the number of hives in our city. Although people with the best of intentions are taking up hobby beekeeping, it isn't the best way to "save the bees", especially in urban settings. On the other hand, a quarter to a third of our native bumble bees are on the decline, with one endangered designation in Canada (the rusty-patched bumble bee).

Having championed for pollinators through my work with Pollination Canada over the last six years, I am in full agreement with these fundamentals.

What is the best thing to do to "save the bees?" Plant native species for them, such that there are blooms providing food for them throughout the growing season. Share our space with them for nesting habitat, and protect them from pesticides. That will be the focus of Bee City Kitchener. The more native plant diversity, the more native pollinator diversity.

If the idea of positively influencing the ecology of Kitchener appeals to you, please consider joining the Bee City committee. Your commitment can vary from a physical appearance at (monthly) meetings or simply sitting in an advisory role  to offer your knowledge, support, and expertise.

Until council approves it in December, I would really appreciate your discretion about this matter. We will celebrate when it becomes reality!

Best regards,
Kim Fellows

"Bee City fosters ongoing dialogue in urban areas to raise awareness of the role pollinators play in our communities and what each of us can do to provide them with healthy habitat.” Bee City USA founder Phyllis Stiles
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