Belleville will be taking part in the International Pollinator Week this year, its first year as a Bee City.
Belleville’s Green Task Force will host a Pollinator Event on Saturday, June 18 in Market Square.
The event will run from 9:30 a.m. to noon in Market Square behind City Hall (169 Front St.) and will feature live speakers including representatives of Quinte Conservation, David Suzuki Foundation, hometown celebrity and gardening expert Carson Arthur, Quinte Field Naturalists Association and Pollinator Partnership Canada, as well as native plant and wildflower giveaways, flower pot making crafts for children and garden sign giveaways for pollinator gardens.
The event will run alongside the weekly Farmers’ Market.
“The goal of this event is to educate the public on the importance of pollinators, while also engaging residents in green initiatives and promoting healthy living with nature,” said City of Belleville Green Task Force Chair, Councillor Chris Malette. “When Belleville was declared a ‘Bee City’, we committed to building on our efforts in pollinator protection. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, bats and birds are responsible for one out of every three bites of food we eat. Without them, we would not be able to sustain our food supply. We hope all residents will join us during Pollinator Week in celebrating these incredible creatures and acknowledging the important role they play in our everyday life.”
There will be speakers on hand including gardening expert Carson Arthur, Quinte Field Naturalists Association and Pollinator Partnership Canada.
Those unable to make the city’s Pollinator Event are encouraged to take part in Pollinator Week in other ways:
- Post to social media using the hashtag #PollinatorWeek
- Take the Pollinator Protection Pledge
- Build your own native bee house
- Take part in an online webinar or workshop
- Plant habitat in your backyard using native plants
For more information and other Pollinator Week activities, visit: https://pollinatorpartnership.ca/en/pollinator-week-canada.