Author: Mel Saari

Here’s something totally different from what normally appears in this blog. Never mind, you have to read it anyway.

Some of you may have heard that our little cousins, wild bees (not a rival gang), are facing adversity. Wild bee populations are being threatened by the following factors:

• Loss of natural habitat due to urbanization and other human development.
• Diseases due to importation of bees from other countries.
• Use of pesticides harmful to bees.

Why are wild bees important? About eighty percent of the plants we eat depend on bees for pollination. Without bees, many fruits and vegetables would no longer be available. Wild bees are also very important to biodiversity in nature. We must not allow them become extinct. Fortunately, there are a number of ways we can help our little cousins.

We can grow plants native that attract wild bees, monarch butterflies, and other pollinators. For plant recommendations click here. We can also monitor our insecticide use closely (or not use them at all) — even if it’s labeled “organic” — and follow all label instructions before use. For bee-safe insecticide recommendations click here. If we have a garden, we can let it go … just a little bit! Allowing our veggie and herb plants to flower and some dandelions to bloom, will offer forage opportunities for bees. Lastly, we can educate our children, relatives, friends and politicians about the importance of bees and what we can all do to help them thrive.

Let’s make an effort to help our wild bee cousins. It’s for our benefit as well.

Besides being an alternate method to get to a coffee shop, there may be 10 other benefits to cycling.  Who knew?

By the way, there are only about 60 sleeps until the start of cycling season for you hardy ones out there, 90 sleeps for the softies – if you’re counting that is. 

In the meantime there is snow to play in.  Contact Biggi or Mel for snow-play dates and times.

The BC Cancer Foundation has established a Legacy Student Internship Fund in memory of Alistair Baillie, our dear friend and long-time fellow Killer Beez member, who passed away earlier this year.  The purpose of his fund is to support a Summer Student in Medical Physics at the Kelowna Cancer Centre.

Because of his modesty, most of us never knew much about Alistair’s work, other than he worked at the Cancer Centre.  Click here for a summary of the exceptional accomplishments of this soft-spoken, unassuming man, and for information regarding his legacy fund, plus how you may contribute.

Do you have a mountain bike gathering dust in the basement or garage over the winter?  Well then, you might be interested to know that you can turn that little beauty into a snowcycle and go play with your snowmobile friends, if you have some.  Here’s how.

Or you could just sell the mountain bike and get a fat bike plus some cross-country skis.  Now we’re talking.

Whatever.  Get out there and play in the snow.

It is with very heavy hearts that we report the recent passing of our dear friend and fellow Killer Bee, Alistair Baillie,  after a courageous battle with mesothelioma.  We will miss him greatly.  Alistair was known to all of us for his good nature, kindness, generosity, gentle manner, and sense of humour.  A regular on the Beez Wednesday and Sunday rides for many years,  Alistair also enthusiastically participated in our hikes plus cross-country skiing and other special events.  Our sincere condolences go to his family and wife, Lynne.

 

Following is a collection of pictures which will bring back fond memories of happy times spent with Alistair. 

Gone but never forgotten.  Rest in peace Alistair.