TORONTO, ON - August 13, 2026 - World Honey Bee Day is observed each year on the third Saturday in August, which falls on August 15 this year. The day celebrates honey bees’ vital role in our ecosystem and recognizes the beekeepers who help keep bee populations healthy. By pollinating many of the fruits and vegetables we eat, honey bees play an essential role in our daily food supply.
In recognition of the day, Abell Pest Control hosted an art contest, inviting team members and the public to submit original artwork featuring the honey bee as the muse. Nearly 100 entries came in from artists of all ages across the country, including paintings, drawings, sketches, photographs, and carvings. Two winners were selected: one from a member of the public and another one from Abell team members and their families. A selection of the artwork is now on display at Abell's home office in Toronto, and the public can browse the full collection of entries in an online flipbook.
"As a pest control company, we're often the ones called in when a honey bee swarm appears in someone’s backyard or public space. Our team, and network of beekeepers, works to relocate those bees safely and find them a new home where they can thrive, without bothering the public." said Brett MacKillop, President, Abell Pest Control. "The art contest is a fun way to get people thinking about why that matters, and just how important honey bees are to all of us."
HOW TO OBSERVE World Honey Bee Day
Abell Pest Control’s commitment to pollinator health extends beyond the art contest. Since 2017, the company has contributed more than $50,000 to the Abell Pest Control Scholarship in Pollinator Research at the University of Guelph, home to one of North America’s leading honey bee research programs. In June, the university opened the new Luckevich Pinchin Honey Bee Research Centre, a 15,000-square-foot facility with research labs, classrooms, workshops, bee breeding facilities, pollinator gardens, and up to 300 managed hives. The centre replaces the program’s decades-old bungalow and marks a major step forward for honey bee research at Guelph.
