by Vivian Guido
Vivian is the Sustainability Communications and Events assistant in Humber’s Office of Sustainability. She is an interdisciplinary environmental professional with experience in science communications, youth engagement, and sustainability education.
What is Pollinator Week?
Pollinator Week Canada, taking place from June 16–22, 2025, serves as a national celebration to raise awareness about the vital role pollinators play in our natural ecosystems and food systems. Organized by Pollinator Partnership Canada, this week-long event invites individuals, communities, and organizations to engage in activities that support pollinator health and conservation.
The Importance of Pollinators
Pollinators, such as bees, butterflies, moths, bats, beetles, hummingbirds and more, are essential to produce many necessary crops and maintain crucial biodiversity. Their decline is due to factors like habitat loss, pesticide use, and climate change, posing a significant threat to both nature and agriculture.
In southern Ontario specifically, the Government of Canada is investing over $623,000 in projects aimed at improving pollinator habitats, including those of Honeybees and the Monarch Butterfly. Many of these initiatives include habitat restoration, pesticide reduction, research and public education, as well as policy and legislation.
Humber Polytechnic’s Bee Campus Certification
In Ontario and across Canada, Humber Polytechnic stands out as a leader in sustainability and environmental stewardship. The institution has earned certification as a Bee Campus through its partnership with Bee City Canada. This certification recognizes Humber’s commitment to creating pollinator-friendly spaces and educating its community about the importance of pollinators. Utilizing native plants and pollinator gardens around campus and installing hives at the North and Lakeshore campuses, as well as in the Humber Arboretum, emphasizes their commitment to educating the community on pollinator conservation.
How can you Help
As Pollinator Week approaches, Humber Polytechnic exemplifies how educational institutions can lead by example in fostering a culture of sustainability. Their dedication to pollinator conservation and awareness serves as an inspiration for other communities to act in support of these essential creatures.
To support pollinators on an individual level, consider planting native flowers in your garden, reducing pesticide use, or creating a bee-friendly habitat in your own backyard. Together, we can ensure a thriving future for pollinators and the ecosystems they support.
Upcoming events:
Humber’s Office of Sustainability will be hosting 2 Pollinator week events, use the links below to register.
June 18th, 2025, 10am-12pm- Lakeshore Campus: Pollinator Week Campus Cleanup Register here: https://simpli.events/e/lakecleanup
June 19th, 2025, 1-3pm- North Campus: Invasive Plant & Pollinator Workshop (CRR credit is also available for this event) Register here: https://simpli.events/e/Workshop
Humber's Office of Sustainability 