The OAC Dean’s Office is pleased to announce that a new site location has been selected for the proposed new Honey Bee Research Centre. The new site utilizes unused space located off of Stone Road East, currently managed by Physical Resources, adjacent to the Arboretum.

The HBRC was originally slotted to be relocated to a site adjacent to the Guelph Centre for Urban Organic Farming.  Following concerns voiced by GCUOF stakeholders, new locations were identified and assessed.

“Our aim for the new HBRC is to create a place that brings people together in celebration and support of the honey bee,” says John Cranfield, OAC Associate Dean – External Relations. “It was clear that, to reach that key objective, a new location needed to be found.”

“I’m really excited about the new location and that the HBRC can support the reclamation of an underutilized outdoor space,” he adds.

The new proposed site would see an old tree nursery transformed into a pollinator oasis featuring a state-of-the art research, teaching and outreach centre. More on the new HBRC here. [1] 

“The whole steering committee is really excited about how the plans are progressing,” says Cranfield. “The original plans by Moriyama and Teshima Architects received a 2019 Canadian Architect Award of Excellence and now we are seeing them come to life. I think our community will be thrilled with the end result.”

Final plans and location are subject to approval by the University of Guelph Board of Governors, as well as municipal and environmental approvals.  The new centre is scheduled to open as early as summer 2022.

For more details, contact:

Prof. John Cranfield
OAC Associate Dean – External Relations
jcranfie@uoguelph.ca [2]
519-824-4120, Ext. 53708