Damage to Honey Bee Colonies by Bear Compensation Program

The Damage to Honey Bee Colonies by Bears Compensation Program was established under the Livestock Poultry and Honey Bee Protection Act (Part II). This program which is administered by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, provides assistance to honey bee producers who suffer bear damage.

The purpose of the program is to encourage production of honey in Ontario by having beekeepers report damage caused by bears and by compensating them for losses suffered. Under the program, grants are paid to beekeepers for damage caused by bears to honey bee colonies and hive equipment.

Beekeepers who have suffered bear damage and want to apply for compensation under this program are required to promptly notify the Honey Bee Valuer for their region county or district or by calling Robin Chandra, Financial Officer of the Farm Finance Branch, OMAFRA at 1-888-466-2372 extension 6-3508.

Honey Bee Valuers appointed by OMAFRA for 2010/2011 along with their respective areas of operation (region/county or district) and contact information are listed as follows:

1. $35 per colony of bees, and
2. $75 per hive for equipment

The following is a list of Honey Bee Valuers appointed by OMAFRA for the 2010/2011 fiscal year:

Bruce, Grey

Paul Kozak
Apairy Specialist
E-mail: paul.kozak@ontario.ca
519-826-3595 or 1-888-466-2372 ext. 63595

Elgin, Essex, Chatham-Kent, Lambton, Middlesex, Huron and Perth

Mike Steele
E-mail: mike.steele@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-360-8758

Erin Ryan
E-mail: erin.ryan@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-358-6593

Murray Fear
E-mail: murray.fear@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-820-3483

Carolyn Fear
E-mail: carolyn.fear@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-357-5612

Brant, Brantford, Waterloo, Wellington

Dave MacMillan
E-mail: dave.macmillan@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-820-1083

Henry Kornelsen
E-mail: henry.kornelsen@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-766-6559

Haldimand, Norfolk, Oxford

George Caverly
E-mail: george.caverly@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-751-6184

Beth Caverly
E-mail: beth.caverly@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 519-403-8250

Halton, Hamilton, Niagara

Bill Minnick
E-mail: bill.minnick@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 905-978-0737

Keith Forsyth
E-mail: keith.forsyth@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 289-213-1329

Dufferin, Durham, Haliburton, Hastings, Kawartha Lakes, Peel, Peterborough, Prince Edward, Northumberland, Simcoe, Toronto, York

Mike Perrin
E-mail: mike.perrin@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 705-879-5508

Brenda Perrin
E-mail: brenda.perrin@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 705-879-2725

Geoff Luke
E-mail: geoff.luke@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 905-995-4183

Frontenac, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox/Addington, Ottawa, Prescott and Russell, Renfrew, The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry

Jim Anderson
E-mail: jim.anderson@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 613-639-9453

Brent Halsall
E-mail: brent.halsall@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 613-447-4479

Faye Bryers
E-mail: faye.bryers@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 613-859-8321

Karen Whiteman
E-mail: karen.whiteman@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 613-298-4098

Algoma, Greater Sudbury, Manitoulin, Muskoka, Nipissing, Parry Sound, Sudbury

Claude Dupuis
E-mail: claude.dupuis@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 705-690-9454

Cochrane, Timiskaming

Paul Kozak
Apiary Specialist
E-mail: paul.kozak@ontario.ca
519-826-3595 or 1-888-466-2372 ext. 63595

Thunder Bay

Rob Rupert
E-mail: rob.rupert@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 807-621-1745

Valerie Guenther
E-mail: valerie.guenther@ontario.ca
Cell Phone: 807-629-8713

Kenora, Rainy River

Paul Kozak
Apairy Specialist
E-mail: paul.kozak@ontario.ca
519-826-3595 or 1-888-466-2372 ext. 63595