Bees in Our Backyard - Preserving Ontario’s Pollinators

2026 Quimby F. Hess Lecture

From the hardwood forests of southern Ontario to the Canadian Shield and Hudson Bay lowlands, Ontario’s many bee species are key to supporting the pollination of many crops and most species of wild plants in diverse ecosystems and communities across the province.

Join researcher Nigel Raine from the University of Guelph as he takes a closer look at the bees of Ontario, their interactions with other plants and animals, and the threats they are currently facing. In this illustrated talk, we’ll meet key bee species within these ecosystems and learn about work being done to mitigate the impact of pesticides and other imminent threats to bee populations.

Program Partner: Toronto Entomologists’ Association

The Quimby F. Hess annual lecture is generously sponsored by Jane Hess in memory of her father.