Thinking about raising bees in your backyard or garden? This beginner-friendly, non-credit course at CÉGEP Heritage College introduces you to the fascinating world of beekeeping. You’ll learn about hive setup, bee biology, seasonal care, common challenges, and how to harvest your own honey. Whether you're looking to support pollinators, grow your self-sufficiency, or simply try something new, this hands-on course offers the practical skills and knowledge you need to get started—no prior experience required.
Our expert beekeeper-teacher Bob Valcov, is passionate about his work. Bob has been keeping honeybees in Aylmer as a hobby for almost 40 years. His honey has won many awards including first prize at the 2023 National Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. He has taught Introduction to Backyard Beekeeping at CÉGEP Heritage College for 10 years. Sharing his expert knowledge and experience, he consistently earns high level course evaluations and recommendations from his students. Bob guarantees that, after taking this course, you will be able to keep honey bees and produce your own honey!
This workshop covers:
Hopefully, a visit to an apiary is possible during the course, but not guaranteed.
Backyard Beekeeping 18-hour non-credit workshop is offered onsite at the main campus in Gatineau.
Start date: Tuesday October 21, 2025
End date: Thursday November 6, 2025
Course Schedule: Tuesday and Thursday evening from 6pm to 9pm
Deadline to register: Tuesday October 7, 2025
Space is limited. There is a maximum of 15 students for this course.
Non-credit courses and workshops could be cancelled due to insufficient enrollment.
Week 1: Tuesday October 21 and Thursday October 23
Week 2: Tuesday October 28 & Thursday October 30
Week 3: Tuesday November 4 & Thursday November 6
Participants wishing to withdraw must contact Student Services.
**Schedule and prices in effect may change without notice but we make all efforts to post on our website in a timely manner.
