The City of Airdrie is hosting a workshop with a difference this coming weekend.  Well, maybe more than one difference!

For one thing, the workshop is absolutely free of charge.  For another, it's all about bees, and how to take care of them.

In support of Phase Two of the Urban Beekeeping pilot project they're currently running, the city will host a free, two-day workshop on March 30th and 31st.  According to Airdrie Senior Planner Gail Gibeau,  it will cover all the training you need to take part in the beekeeping pilot project.  Once you've completed the workshop, you'll receive a certificate from ABC Bees, the providers of the workshop, to say you've completed your Level One beekeeping course.

Gibeau says the greatest concern of most people going into beekeeping is management of the hive.   "So the trainer will be providing participants with tools of how to manage their bees, keep them healthy and have a really successful hive."

The city is hoping to find 20 Airdrie homeowners and 10 business owners to take part in this year's phase of the pilot project.  Gibeau says they're making this workshop free to help persuade people who might have thought they couldn't afford the beekeepers training.  

Gibeau says after the project is over for this year, there are some things they hope to learn from it.  They worked with the Calgary and District Beekeeper's Association to develop some guidelines that were tailor-made for Airdrie residents.  "At the end of the project we'll be able to say, were the guidelines sufficient?  Did they address the concerns that we've foreseen and are there additional concerns that we need to address?"

If you're hedging a little, unsure whether or not you should take the workshop, Gibeau has a promise for you.  "There's no strings attached to the workshop.  While we're hoping that people will participate in the pilot project attached to the workshop, there's no strings attached, so if someone is just interested in hearing about beekeeping and learning about managing their own hives, they're more than welcome to attend."

Space is limited in the workshop so if you'd like to attend you should email urbanbees@airdrie.com.  For more information visit airdrie.ca/urbanbees.

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