Graeme Evans, beekeeper, The Fairmont Waterfront Hotel

Whether you're a honey bee or a human, being a guest at The Fairmont Waterfront means four-star service. Graeme Evans makes sure of it. Evans has the dual distinction of being the Fairmont Waterfront's director of Housekeeping, and since February 2009, resident beekeeper. Several years ago, when Fairmont Hotels decided to adopt signature environmental programs for its properties, the Fairmont Waterfront environmental committee decided to delve into bee-keeping. The hotel (especially the kitchen staff) loved the idea and set up hives on the hotel's third floor terrace, high above the busy downtown streets. The hives, just metres from the Health Club's outdoor pool and near the hotel's kitchen garden, are thriving.

The human accommodation at the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel is known to be some of the best in Vancouver. What can you tell us about the bees' accommodation at the Fairmont Waterfront?
We keep the bees very comfortable. In fact, we built them their own water park located just west of the hives so they have a constant supply of fresh water. Our hives overlook the hotel restaurant, the ocean, Stanley Park and the North Shore Mountains, the same views our guests enjoy from the Waterfront Deluxe rooms. I'm proud to say that our honeybees have one of the most scenic views in Vancouver.

Can guests visit the honey bees?
Every Friday just past 4:00pm we do our regular hive inspections (weather permitting) and enjoy an audience of guests as we work the hives. In addition, the hotel offers "The Birds and Bees" package; guests who book this package will get a private tour of the gardens and some background on the herbs and flowers grown, as well enjoying an overview of the life cycles of the bees.

How and when did you learn about beekeeping?
When the Fairmont Waterfront wrapped up its first honey season in August of 2008, I decided to take the opportunity to pursue formal beekeeping certification in preparation for our next honey season. I studied at the HoneyBee Center in Surrey, where they manage over 10,000 hives. The course ran for two weeks in February of 2009, and culminated in a written and physical test. Learning to not react as bees crawl up onto your skin takes a while, but you soon learn that the bees are just wandering around and not trying to be invasive.

How has the Fairmont Waterfront Hotel's kitchen made use of the honey?
Last year we had 120,000 bees and they arrived in mid June; they produced a total of 160 pounds of honey. This year we have nearly half a million bees, which arrived in May. We anticipate a harvest of about 300 pounds of honey this year (which will be drawn in late August or early September). The rooftop honey is used by our culinary and bartending teams. Chefs make honey ganache truffles as guest welcome amenities, and Frank, the bartender, makes honey basil cocktails making use of our roof-grown honey and basil!

How have guests responded to the honeybees?
The guests of the Fairmont Waterfront have been very supportive. Naturally some people are hesitant - many people mistakenly think bees are aggressive and will sting with little to no provocation. But once they watch one of our Friday afternoon hive openings (where we use no protective bee gear), that fear seems to dissipate. Add in a little fresh-drawn honeycomb still warm from the hive... and that seems to win over all the guests.

The Fairmont Waterfront's buzzing guests aren't the only bees on the block. Across the street at the Vancouver Convention Centre (which boasts a six-acre grass-covered roof), they also have honeybees. Click here to see a video about the Vancouver Convention Centre's bees.

This email interview took place in July 2009.