The Honey Bee Research Centre

Drone's Eye View of Townsend HouseThe Honey Bee Research Centre includes a laboratory for molecular biology studies that functions at the Bovey building, and its apiculture facilities are located at 308 Stone Road East, adjacent to the Arboretum. We have approximately 1 ha of grounds, a large storage shed, an indoor over-wintering room and an office/class room/field lab/honey extraction building known as Townsend House. Our staff maintains 200-300 honey bee colonies, which are maintained primarily for research and teaching purposes, but also are used for extension, personnel training and demonstration activities. Additionally, the molecular biology laboratory serves as a reference laboratory for bee breeding and diagnosis of diseases and pests in Canada. Apiculture research and education at the University of Guelph are internationally renowned and have been part of a long beekeeping tradition that started in 1894 when the first beekeeping courses were taught at the Ontario Agricultural College. These facilities are unique not only in Ontario, but also in Canada. No other university or research centre in the country possesses more beekeeping infrastructure than the University of Guelph.

Creating a Bee Friendly Garden Brochure

 Overwintering Wraps at Townsend House