Waterloo recognized as 12th Bee City in Canada, joining Kitchener and Stratford

The City of Waterloo has been recently recognized as a "bee city" for their ongoing support to the bee and pollinator population and their habitats by Bee City Canada.

Waterloo is the country's 12th bee city.

"I think it's a great news story and I think it's important to get the message out there,"Jeff Silcox-Childs, director of environment and parks services for the City of Waterloo, told CBC News. 

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Silcox-Childs said the recognition goes beyond helping the bee population to benefiting all pollinators. 

"There's many different insects that carries pollen from one plant to another, which includes flies, it also includes beetles and many other insects," he said.

Any Canadian city can apply to be recognized as a bee city through Bee City Canada. Kitchener and Stratford are among the recognized 12.

How Waterloo supports pollinators

Waterloo has naturalized large grass areas, parks, creeks and pond areas with pollinator flowers, trees and shrubs.

Silcox-Childs said the city also has some initiatives to support pollinators. Some examples are the Partners in Parks program and Laurel Creek's citizens working group, both educational programming for residents.

Moving forward, Waterloo will have to continue its efforts to maintain the well-being of pollinators through awareness-raising outreach activities and pollinator habitats.

The city has plans to establish a pollinator working group, which will include 12 community volunteers. They will be asked to plan activities, educate the public and maintain pollinator habitats.

"They're the voices for bee city," he said. "[Volunteers] will be out there in the public spreading the word, hopefully recruiting more volunteers and promoting the program."

The city will recruit volunteers until April 23.