Sustainability
Vanier College unveils a Bee Hotel
Rafaële Galarneau always took an interest in the environment. Concerned with the news that wild pollinators are facing a severe population crisis, the Architectural Technology student proposed the creation of several insect hotels for Vanier’s campus. Her teacher and department coordinator Michael Lancione helped make it a reality, by securing support and funding, including sponsorship from TD Friends of the Environment Foundation. The project finally became reality in the summer of 2026.
A celebration was held on September 22, 2026 officially unveiling the insect hotels on campus. Rafaële gave a heartfelt speech while honey lemonade and desserts were served to over 100 students, staff and guests in attendance.
Unlike European honeybees that live in large colonies, most native bees are solitary, and create their own nesting spaces in wood. Without sufficient pollination, plants cannot produce seeds to propagate, and flowers cannot bear fruit. By providing a safe nesting habitat on campus, the hotels allow these insects to thrive and focus on pollinating the various plants found on campus, and beyond.
“It's always beautiful to see a student-led project come to life, especially when it's well-supported by dedicated teachers and staff,” says Haritos Kavallos, dean of the faculty of science and technology.
The project could not have happened without the support of the Vanier Gardens team, the Environment and Wildlife Management department, the Campus Biodiversity Team, and the college administration. Thank you to our donors Figurr Collectif d’architectes and John Pitre (Arch Tech alumnus). We acknowledge the support of the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).
Information
F229B
