'Amazing change' for Montreal homeless men taking part in urban beekeeping program

Helpinghomeless people in Montreal reintegrate into society by teaching them to care for beesmay seem like an unusual approach, but organizers of theAccueil Bonneauhoney program say it's been a real success story.

"When they get to be hands on, they see thatit's all about being confident and being at peace with the bees," said Genevive Kieffer Desprs, director of communications and special projects.

AccueilBonneau, a local group that offers a drop-in day centre and variety of services for homeless men, partnered with Montreal urban beekeeping companyAlvolefour years ago.

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Now the program, whose aim is to teach job skills and encourage social interaction,has 60 hives in seven locationsacross the city.

"The most important thing is that it's not just a job.It's learning to do something you love and getting rewardedfor it. That is something we want to teach," she said.

'Like therapy'

John Levasseur, an apprentice in the program, sees beekeepingas "meaningful" work.

He says bees are "so important, not only economically, but as a barometer" for the environmental state of the world.

"It's like therapy for me," he said, explainingthat tending to themrequires a certain calmness and focus.

"In a former life I was a DJ. I enjoyed the work, but often I had to get smashed to enjoy it."

The honey harvested from the hives is sold at various locations in the city, the proceeds of which help fund the program and provide a small fee for participants.

Transitioning out of homelessness with bees

7 years ago

Duration 0:40

Transitioning out of homelessness with bees

Kieffer Desprs says that working with the bees teaches participants,homeless men aged 25 and up, to be calm, gentle and more comfortable withsocializing.

She recalls one example of a man who started out very shy interacting with the public at one of points of sale and eventually was able to come out of his shell.

"We started selling honey at the beginning of October, and by November, he was the guy going up to people telling them,'come see the stand, come try the honey.' Amazing change, I could witness those kinds of changes everyday."

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