MONTREAL, Nov. 17, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - For the very first time, Accueil Bonneau is selling the fruit of the labour and efforts of those who take part in the beekeeping social reintegration project. From November 17 to 21, the public can purchase Bonneau Honey on the main floor of the Palais de justice de Montréal. Bonneau Honey will later be available at both Les 5 Saisons specialty food stores as of December 4, while supplies last. Come and meet the participants and the people involved, learn about Accueil Bonneau's innovative project and find out more about beekeeping.
Bonneau Honey is the result of a social reintegration project that once again represents a very creative and engaging way for Accueil Bonneau to promote hope, self esteem, socialization, the development of skills and much more with its clientele. All summer long, Accueil Bonneau participants received training and support from Alvéole, an organization devoted to beekeeping, to make and collect the honey from 4 hives located on Accueil Bonneau's roof and from 12 hives at the Répit Saint-Gérard. "This experience made me grow, because like the bees, I build myself day and night. And good things come from that work. I thank Alvéole and Accueil for giving me a chance to get to know those little guys!", said Simon, who took part in the project. "I love the project, I felt involved. It allowed me to understand the merchandising process of a product like Bonneau Honey.", added Sylvain Jean, artist, musician and now a Bonneau beekeeper. In fact he came up with the drawing of the bee that appears on the Bonneau Honey jars. All sales proceeds are reinvested into the continuity of the project.
An idea that comes from the heart...
Born from an idea that came from Yves Ménard, criminal lawyer and beekeeping enthusiast, Accueil Bonneau's urban beekeeping project is intended for participants to develop professional abilities and social skills by getting them interested in beekeeping.
It all started when Me Yves Ménard donated four hives to Accueil Bonneau. A giver, bee lover, sensitive to the reality of the homeless with whom he has been working for years, Me Ménard believes in rehabilitating and reintegrating people, regardless of their past: "This beekeeping project becomes a way to satisfy my own desire to take daily care of bees whose hives are near my office in Old Montreal, but mainly to be able to give work to some of the people who benefit from Accueil Bonneau, whose passion and hope are worth being recognized, encouraged and valued. I feel that bees and homeless people share similar qualities. Intelligent beings who thirst for liberty and who, when fed and properly assisted, have the best chance of being able to reach their full potential." Me Ménard believes that we must never stop dreaming and that we should always have hope in human beings.
Excited by this project that is part of Accueil Bonneau's social reintegration project, the organization's management jumped into the experience with both feet, set up the necessary equipment on Accueil Bonneau's roof and freed people up to assist participants in the process "The Montreal community takes care of Accueil. Accueil takes care of "its guys". The "guys" now take care of the bees. And the bees take care of life... What great working spirit!", pointed out Aubin Boudreau, Executive Director of Accueil Bonneau.
Alvéole quickly joined in, hoping to help broaden the project's scope and share its beekeeping knowledge. That's how 12 hives were added to Répit Saint-Gérard, a place of respite located in Lanaudière for Accueil Bonneau's clientele, as well as regular meetings to support participants and develop their skills. "Right from our first meeting, I was surprised by the enthusiasm of the Bonneau guys and their ease with the bees. The experience has been very inspiring", said Alvéole co-founder and beekeeper Alexandre McLean.
Longtime partner of Accueil Bonneau, Metro has proudly decided to work very hard to promote Bonneau Honey by providing it with a special spot on the shelves of its Les 5 Saisons specialty food stores. "Bonneau Honey is a great product: not only is it a delicious product made here, it is also part of a very worthwhile human project. I am sure that 5 Saisons customers will enjoy this honey for its taste, but also for everything it helps accomplish", commented Richard Pruneau, Executive Director, Les 5 Saisons and Commercial Programs. Bonneau Honey will be available in both Les 5 Saisons stores in Westmount and Outremont as of December 4, while supplies last.
Bonneau Honey warms the heart
A 100% pure honey, unpasteurized, cold extracted and local. It's sweet, floral and contains subtle hints of mint.
Buying Bonneau honey warms the heart of those who participate by contributing to the continuity of Accueil Bonneau's social reintegration program. Made with hope and heart by Éric, Pierre, Richard, Simon and Sin, Bonneau Honey is available in two sizes, an 85g jar that sells for $5 and a 350g jar that sells for $12.
Giving Bonneau Honey as a gift warms the heart of your friends and family by telling them that you love them and that they mean a lot to you. What a great idea for your Christmas list!
Bonneau Honey in pictures
About the Accueil Bonneau | www.accueilbonneau.com
The Accueil Bonneau was founded in Montreal in 1877 and offers a wide range of services meant to facilitate the residential stability and social reintegration of homeless people, or those at risk of becoming homeless. In order to succeed in its mission, the Accueil Bonneau relies on a dynamic team of specialized counsellors who ensure psychosocial and budget support services for the homeless, as well numerous volunteers who dispense basic need services such as hot meals, accommodation and clothing.
About Alvéole
Alvéole is a new, rapidly growing business that promotes urban beekeeping in Montreal. It encourages this activity to help pollination in the city and local honey production and to raise the awareness of city dwellers about the importance of bees in our ecosystem. In concrete terms, Alvéole helps individuals or organizations set up and maintain beehives on their roof or in their backyard. At season's end, the honey is extracted and given back to the hive owners. Adopting a bee colony changes our perspective about our environment and allows us to experience the wonder of discovering the subtleties of nature.
Metro Inc.
With annual sales of over $11 billion, METRO INC. (TSX: MRU), founded in 1947, is the only major Canadian food distribution company to have its head office in Quebec. Along with its affiliates and franchisees, METRO INC. employs in Quebec and Ontario over 65,000 people, whose mission is to satisfy their customers every day and earn their-long term loyalty. METRO INC. operates a network of almost 600 food stores under several banners including Metro, Metro Plus, Super C and Food Basics, as well as over 250 drugstores under the Brunet, The Pharmacy and Drug Basics banners.
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SOURCE Accueil Bonneau
Accueil Bonneau, Marielle Choquette, Advisor - Special Projects, Telephone: 514 845-3906, ext. 229, Email: choquettem@accueilbonneau.com; Metro, Geneviève Grégoire, Communications Advisor, Telephone: 514 643-1000, ext. 2055, Email: genevieve.gregoire@metro.caCopyright CNW Group 2014