Founded in 1954, the Cowichan Beekeepers Club celebrated its 55th anniversary in 2009. Originally the club was simply a way for like minded individuals to connect & share a common interest. Today, beekeepers are faced with several challenges and it is more important than ever that they are kept informed. The much publicized ‘colony collapse’ and ongoing issues of mites and other diseases have decimated many bee colonies throughout North America. The public is now much more aware of the vital importance of bees to many areas of agriculture and the need to sustain the beekeeping industry.

The Cowichan Valley is home to an estimated 400 bee keepers, with approximately 75 belonging to the club. The club keeps members up to date on current trends and best practices in order to keep the valley’s bee colonies strong and healthy. Anyone who is interested in beekeeping is welcome to attend, whether they are currently beekeeping or not. Members include professional honey producers and backyard hobbyists.

Bee keeping is a fascinating and rewarding hobby and the Cowichan Valley Bee keepers Club is the place to learn more about it. The experienced beekeepers are always willing to share their knowledge with the new ‘bees’.

Another opportunity for new or prospective bee keepers is the course ‘Beekeeping In The Warmland’. This course is offered through Vancouver Island University www.viu.ca, Cowichan Campus, and is taught by one of our members, Steve Mitchell.

At every monthly meeting there is:

Something special: a guest speaker, slide show, or discussions on topics of interest. And always coffee, goodies and socializing.  If you have any beekeeping questions there is a wealth of information to be gleaned from our experienced Club beekeepers.

Beekeeping Equipment
Use of the:
• uncapping knives.
• electric two-frame extractor.
• honey grader.
• hive bander and clips.

Bee Yard
• Use of a secure bee yard in the mountains.  Contact Carmen Dobbs, telephone: 743-5923.
• Duncan Forest Discovery Museum.  Fenced yard for all Club beekeepers.  Contact George Ferguson, telephone: 746-4248.

Special Events
• Field days, demonstrations and hands-on experiences.
• Annual picnic, all food and drinks supplied with fun and games.
• Christmas Potluck.
• Beekeepers Mentoring Program.
• The Club has a booth in the Cowichan Valley Exhibition, and there are ribbons and money for entries in the many bee related categories.

Library
• The Cowichan Beekeeper's has the best assortment of bee related books and periodicals in B.C. Free on loan to members only.
• Receive a Club newsletter five times a year.

Medications and Advice
• Available at the Thursday night meetings.  Apistan, $2.50 a strip.  Fumidil, $1.50 teaspoon. Terramycin, 10 free teaspoons.

Membership is open to all persons regardless of religion, racial origin, colour, creed or gender.  

Any person who supports the objectives of the club, has registered their hives and yards with the BC Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, and has paid the membership fee as may be fixed from time to time at the annual general meeting of the club, shall be entitled to membership and full voting rights.
There are two classes of membership in the Cowichan Beekeepers:

• A paid up member of the Club.
  
• Life membership. This is granted to a honey beekeeper with 10+ years service as an active member of the Cowichan Beekeepers Club with involvement and timely contributions to the Cowichan Club and beekeeping.
  

Each member in good standing shall be entitled to attend and receive notice of every general or special meeting of the club.

All applications for membership must be made in writing to the Treasurer. Membership becomes effective upon acceptance of the application and payment of membership of fees.

Only members of the Club shall have access to the club’s facilities such as library, extracting equipment, outyards, and such other facilities designated by the Executive Committee.

Membership fees shall be paid upon application. Persons joining the Cowichan Beekeepers at any time during the year, shall pay the full membership for the year.

The purposes of the Club:

1. To act as the voice of Cowichan Valley commercial and hobbyist beekeepers concerning their particular problems.
2. To promote and encourage the keeping of honeybees by the most suitable methods for their profitable management.
3. To assist members in the disposing of their honey, bees wax and other bee products to the best advantage by adoption of uniformity in grading, packaging, and labeling for market, all in accordance with Canadian Government regulations.
4. To obtain the most advantageous terms for members in purchasing bee supplies.
5. To promote and regulate exhibitions of bees, honey wax, etc., and arrange for judging of same.
6. To promote the growing of nectar-bearing plants.
7. To aid in the dissemination of reliable and practical information on beekeeping.
8. To assist in the dissemination of information on beekeeping through educational programmes; to encourage junior beekeeping through sponsorship of programmes such as 4-H Clubs.
9. To work with other beekeeping associations in B.C. and elsewhere on matters of mutual interest.
10. To assist the B.C. Apiary Branch in maintaining Vancouver Island and adjacent islands in controlling infestation of mites and honeybee viruses in the Vancouver Island bee breeding stock district.

(Within the Constitution are the By-laws which govern the Club. There are sections dealing with membership, fees, rules of order, the executive committee and terms of office.)