HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-17-081 - Bee City Canada - Becoming a Bee City Afiliate
REPORT TO: Environmental Committee
DATE OF MEETING: October 19, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Denise McGoldrick, Director, Operations – Environmental
Services. 519-741-2600 ext. 4567.
PREPARED BY: Joshua Shea, Natural Areas Coordinator, 519-741-2600 ext.
4177.
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: October 5, 2017
REPORT NO.: INS – 17-081
SUBJECT: BEE CITY CANADA – BECOMING A BEE CITY AFFILIATE
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RECOMMENDATION:
That the City of Kitchener become a Bee City affiliate.
BACKGROUND:
On June 16, 2016, a representative from Pollination Canada made a presentation to the
Environmental Committee and requested that the City of Kitchener become a Bee City
affiliate.
The Environmental Committee made the following recommendation to the Planning and
Strategic Initiatives Committee on August 8, 2016 “That staff investigate and report to
the Environmental Committee on the benefits of becoming a Bee City affiliate and how
such an affiliation coordinates with any current and planned City initiatives to support
pollination and pollinators in Kitchener.
REPORT:
Bee City Canada, through the Bee City program, has a mission to encourage city
leaders to celebrate and raise awareness of the contribution that bees and other
pollinators make to our world.
Bee City is part of a North American movement to support pollinator protection. Bee City
communities support collaboration and establish and maintain healthy pollinator habitat
within the municipality. As a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would set an example and
inspire residents with the knowledge that we all have a role to play in pollinator
protection and habitat conservation. Further, a Bee City improves its municipal
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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environment and the physical and mental health of the residents by connecting people
with nature and encouraging healthy, clean food consumption.
In becoming a Bee City, the City of Kitchener would be expected to commit to various
initiatives as a symbol of endorsement. These initiatives include but are not limited to:
Creating sustainable pollinator habitat on municipal lands;
Promoting public involvement in pollinator protection and habitat creation; and
Celebrating pollinators and the Bee City initiative as part of an existing or newly
created event or public forum.
In our ongoing efforts to ensure an environment that is ecologically sound and
supportive of the health and well-being of its residents, the City of Kitchener currently
engages in many initiatives which would not only be complementary to the goals of Bee
City Canada but would also directly support the City of Kitchener’s requirements to
being a Bee Friendly City with minimal effort.
These initiatives include but are not limited to:
A comprehensive horticulture program that plants thousands of flowers in
gardens, parks and city-owned properties across Kitchener;
The planting of specific varieties of street tree species which grow flowers and
support pollinating insects and bees;
The retrofit and re-naturalization of stormwater features including waterways
(e.g. Filsinger Greenway), and stormwater ponds;
The Neighbourhood Strategy, specifically the placemaking challenge and grant
which supports and encourages resident led projects including park
naturalization and pollinator habitat creation. A successful pollinator garden was
built and established along the Iron Horse Trail in 2016 as part of the
Neighbourhood Strategy initiative.
Kitchener’s Natural Areas Program (KNAP) which provides public education and
engagement opportunities to 5000+ residents annually and hosts two major
public education events – Earth Day (April) and Wonders of Nature (August).
KNAP also partners with local organizations (i.e. Waterloo Region Nature) to
promote public education and facilitate the stewardship of nature in our city; and
The City of Kitchener, through KNAP develops and implements natural area
restoration and park management plans including the intentional creation of
pollinator meadow habitats. Two meadow habitats have already been
established in Kitchener, one at Lakeside Park in 2016 and most recently in in
Gzowski Park in 2017. These KNAP projects are funded through an existing
capital funding account.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
The Bee City initiative aligns with the Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure
priority of the Strategic Plan.
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The Bee City request was identified on the 2017 Strategic Business Plan as Item
#NB41.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Any financial implications would be addressed within the already existing capital and
operating budgets as ongoing efforts supportive of environmental initiatives.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – Through the Environmental Committee on June 16, 2016, Pollination
Canada’s information material on becoming a Bee City affiliate was made available for
review on the City’s website.
The original request was presented June 16, 2016 and summarized in the Planning and
Strategic Initiatives Committee report Aug 8, 2016.
Further information will be presented Oct 19, 2017 at the Environmental Committee and
again Dec 4, 2017 at the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee.
CONSULT – At the June 16, 2016 Environmental Committee meeting, members of the
Committee were provided a presentation by Ms. K. Fellows, Pollination Canada seeking
support for the City of Kitchener in becoming an affiliate of Bee City Canada.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Cynthia Fletcher, Executive Director, Infrastructure Services.
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