There's a buzz at city hall over a plan to bring more residents into downtown Winnipeg. It’s not people, but bees.
There's a new plan to bring beehives to the downtown Fort Garry Hotel.
"It would be five hives. The amount of bees in a hive can vary greatly, from 10,000 at the beginning of the year, to (30,000), 40,000 per hive," said James Patterson, who wants beehives for the Winnipeg hotel.
Hotels in Toronto, New York and Hong Kong have had rooftop hives for years.
The University of Winnipeg has one too.
But a zoning bylaw forbids new hives downtown, which is why James Patterson and the Fort Garry Hotel want city hall to give them an amendment.
"It’s encouraging an innovation in our downtown that has environmental benefits. It makes things more interesting. It’s beneficial to the business of the Fort Garry Hotel," said Coun. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry).
While some people picture swarms of bees on the attack, James Patterson said those fears are misplaced.
"There currently are 100 hives in this city right now and we don't see a mad panic," he said.
The hotel said having bees will help the public understand urban agriculture, and it will also create some locally-produced honey for guests of the hotel.
The city administration will be preparing a report should be ready in a few months.
Any amendment to the zoning bylaw after that will have to be voted on by the full city council.
