As the new Education and Outreach Coordinator for PRAMP my first assignment was to join Karla Reesor and Mike Bisaga on a tour of honey producing operations in our Airshed.

After farming canola last summer, I knew that wildfire smoke affects growth, maturity and yield. What I hadn’t considered was the impact air quality would have on honey bees.

Extended hours of summer daylight, cool nights and abundant foraging opportunities make the Peace region a honey making legend. Most of the honey produced here is canola honey, prized for its light colour and mild flavor.

The apiarists we visited had different responses to why poor air quality, particularly smoky air, means less honey is produced. They all agreed on one thing: when air quality is poor, especially smoky, honey production suffers. 

Our tour included three apiaries of different sizes, from seventh generation operator, Denis Simoneau, who specializes in onsite sales and bee awareness education, to Mike and Corinna Williams’ MCW Apiaries, whose honey is distributed through the Alberta Honey Producers Co-operative and local markets, to the largest organic apiary in Canada, Honey Bunny, whose Peace River Honey product is widely available in retail stores including some Costco locations.

The honey bee tour was an eye opening way to start my job as Education and Outreach Coordinator. Sharing PRAMP activities and data with area residents and schools is sure to be a sweet deal all the way around.

PRAMP’s first AQHI station and the first air monitoring station on Woodland Cree First Nation was open for tours at our recent Community Open House.

We had a great turnout at the Mamowintowin Hall sharing air quality information and answering questions from community members. We also gave away local honey products from Peace River area producers MCW Apiaries and Honey Bunny and used the opportunity to talk about how bees need clean air too.

The AQHI station near Cadotte Lake will soon be providing data on pollutants such as particulate matter, as well as inform the Air Quality Health Index for the area. Earlier this summer smoke from wildfires impacted the region, so those in attendance were happy to know that they will have a straight-forward health index to follow on smoky days.

Thank you to board member Elvis Thomas for arranging and facilitating the Open House and to those board members in attendance.

We look forward to learning more about the air quality in the area and getting to know the residents of Woodland Cree First Nation.

Now that kids are settled into school we look forward to bringing air quality monitoring education into as many area classrooms as possible. PRAMP has been developing school programming that fits well with the grade five science curriculum under the weather section.

We have been learning from well-established school programs like those offered by LICA (Lakeland Industry and Community Association). We are now finalizing our presentations and contacting grade five teachers. Our interactive classroom sessions will include topics such as: What is in the air? Where do greenhouse gases come from? How can poor air quality affect people and the environment? What can I do to keep the air healthy?