Back to all blog posts

Sustainable youth programs empowering environmental leaders

Reading time: 2 minutes

Discover how we are supporting the Environmental Youth Alliance (EYA) in Vancouver, BC, through sustainable youth programs.

As part of our commitment to 1% for the Planet, the Alvéole team in Vancouver is introducing young people to the world of urban beekeeping and supporting EYA’s re-greening efforts.

Alvéole team visiting one of EYA’s pollinator gardens.sustainable youth programs

Meet Environmental Youth Alliance

We’re shining the spotlight on Environmental Youth Alliance, a Vancouver-based charity that helps BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour) youth connect with nature through sustainable youth programs to become environmental stewards and community leaders. Their programming includes native plant gardening, traditional Indigenous plant use, pollinator conservation, and habitat restoration.

Protecting Vancouver’s pollinators

Our 1% for the Planet donation supports EYA’s Native Plant Nursery, a program where young people learn to grow pollinator-friendly native plants to ensure there’s plenty of food for the city’s diverse pollinator population.

“I learned about EYA through social media and really liked what they stood for and their impact on youth and the urban landscape. I immediately had them in mind when the opportunity came up to partner with them for 1% for the Planet.”

– Tanya Drapeau, Alvéole Beekeeping Team Manager

This past summer, as part of our partnership, our Vancouver beekeeping team met up with EYA’s Youth Habitat Crew and Native Plant Nursery teams to lead a Hive to Honey Jar workshop. We discussed sustainable youth programs focused on beekeeping, urban agriculture, and the importance of preserving a safe habitat for all bees. Everyone got to participate in a honey extraction.

As a thank you for everything they do to support the local flora, the group got to leave with their very own jars of honey, which likely contained nectar from EYA’s nearby pollinator gardens. The honey produced by our strong Vancouver hives is a direct result of the increase of pollinator-friendly plants EYA has brought into the city. What a sweet reward for their hard work!

Hive to Honey Jar workshop with Environmental Youth Alliance. A group of Alvéole team members and EYA volunteers smile holding jars of honey. sustainable youth programs

“I enjoyed the honey bee workshop because I have a passion for learning more about bees. I loved getting taught about honey bee colonies and how they go about making honey and beeswax. My favourite part was getting hands-on experience with harvesting honey and the beekeepers letting us keep some jars of the local honey!” – Cheris, Youth Habitat Crew member

We and the bees are so grateful for EYA’s work towards habitat preservation. Thank you for making Vancouver a better place for all pollinators!

ABOUT 1% FOR THE PLANET

In 2021, Alvéole joined 1% for the Planet, an international movement of organizations that donate 1% of their annual sales to nonprofits working to protect the environment.


Related articles

Learn how nature based amenities help protect performance, drive renewals, and stand out in a market of standard property offerings.
Read more
Alvéole workshop
Discover how industry leaders are redefining the workplace experience in hybrid work era
Read more
Five panelists sit in a row during a discussion on sustainability in the built environment at 40 Leadenhall London. The woman in the center is speaking animatedly with hand gestures, while the others listen attentively. A screen behind them displays the event topic. The setting includes lush green plants and floor-to-ceiling windows.
At 40 Leadenhall, industry leaders from BRE, CBRE, JLL, Savills, and Alvéole explored how biodiversity is reshaping commercial real estate.
Read more

Is your building ready for bees? Find out now!

Curious to know if your property is suitable for bees? Take this quiz to see if your building is eligible.

Take the quiz