Tache bee farmer feels sting from spring flooding

A Rural Municipality of Tache bee farmer is facing thousands of dollars in damages to his beekeeping shed after ditches near his home overflowed and flooded his property.

David Lee, owner of Lee’s Bees Honey, said his shed, which he uses to winter his 100 bee hives and process honey and wax, was filled with four inches of water when it flooded on April 6. The 64-year-old was forced to move his bees outdoors sooner than usual due to the flood.

“They (the bees) are the most sensitive at this point in time. They’ve gone through a winter in a building. They can’t get out, they can’t go to the bathroom and they’re living on their stores. They’re at their weakest point is right now, and this is a big stressor for them. They didn’t need it,” he said.

Water began flowing into his shed on April 6, with the level steadily rising until April 8. Inside the shed, hundreds of dead bees lay floating in the water. Lee said mold is the biggest risk facing the bees because they generate heat while inside the clusters, and the extra humidity from the flooding creates ideal conditions for mold in the hives. He doesn’t know how many hives he will lose, but he’s expecting at least 10.

He’s estimating up to $30,000 in damages to the shed and his stored equipment. Renovations are needed to ensure the building is food-safe for processing his honey to sell to the BeeMaid Honey co-op.

Lee has been in business for 10 years and produces 10,000 pounds of honey annually.

“You got tight margins as it is with fuel and everything else today. I don’t need an expense for somebody’s union dispute and lack of ability to service their taxpayers,” he said.

Tache public service workers went on strike on Feb. 23, demanding a new contract with improved wages. The strike paused the regular drain clearing measures that would’ve helped mitigate flooding from the spring thaw. Union members returned to work on April 10, after reaching a three-year deal for an undisclosed amount.

That same day, a Tache excavator was clearing drains of ice one road down from Lee’s property. That work, while helpful, is too late, he said.

Lee points to the lack of drain clearing for the damage to his shed. While he’s previously raised concerns to the RM’s administration since 2024 over the drain’s design and the potential risk of it back-flowing onto his yard, Lee’s buildings have never been damaged. He’s lived on the property since 1991 and didn’t see severe flooding during the 1997 “Flood of the Century.”

“This year is a slow snow melt. There’s not a lot of snow out there…It’s the infrastructure that caused the flood,” he said.

In emails viewed by The Carillon, Lee asked the RM on March 9 what it would be doing for flood mitigation. Chief Administrative Officer Jeanette Laramee cited Manitoba’s flood outlook forecast as there being low risk for rising water levels.

She said in emails the administration had asked the union for the emergency services agreement to be enacted to clear the drain near his property but were told they would only do so if a residence was in direct danger. Laramee offered Lee sandbags, but by then his shed was already flooded.

Lee said the damage was still done, regardless if he put sandbags around the shed and pumped the water out.

He doesn’t cast blame on the union for not doing work, saying its fair for them to try to get a fair wage. But the ratepayers still need to be protected, Lee said.

”So there’s a labour dispute, you still have to look after the ratepayers. If you don’t look after the ratepayers, you’re not going to get voted back in,” he said.

Lee has already lodged a complaint with the RM and is considering legal action to recoup the damage costs.

Tache Mayor Armand Poirier said he isn’t familiar with the situation, and Lee should call him. He noted that crews tackled the immediate complaints reported regarding drain clearing and flood mitigation once the new deal was struck.