Via Rail begins beekeeping initiative
By Adnews Staff
Via Rail has begun an initiative with beekeeping company Alvéole intended to raise awareness of the importance of bees to the environment. Through this agreement, Via will install beehives on the rooftops of four rail stations in Vancouver, Winnipeg, Ottawa and Quebec City. The hives will host up to 100,000 bees. Their output, in the form of honey, soap bars, candles and lip balm, will be donated to local charities. The start of the effort is timed to coincide with Earth Day.
“Our decisions are always guided by our desire to mitigate the impacts of our operations and of our passengers on the environment,” said Yves Desjardins-Siciliano, president and CEO of Via Rail. “While we see the importance in celebrating this annual event, we feel that every day is Earth Day at Via Rail. It is through partnerships like the one with Alvéole that we are able to build the foundations of a conscientious and responsible society. This project has a significant educational component, aiming to reconnect urban populations with fauna and flora. Like our partners at Alvéole, we want to generate a positive and sustainable impact for future generations. These beehives are the symbol of our commitment to lead Canadians towards a more sustainable future.”