Women’s College Hospital’s third-floor green roof is evolving into a shared environment where ecological learning, Indigenous cultural practices and health come together.
In June 2026, Women’s College Partnership supported the installation of two professionally managed honey bee hives, building on a rooftop landscape that already includes the Medicine Wheel Garden.
Building on an established rooftop environment
The green roof already hosts a Medicine Wheel Garden, established in 2023 following a request from the Ganawishkadawe Centre for Wise Practices in Indigenous Health. The garden provides sacred and medicinal plants used to support First Nations, Inuit and Métis patients in preparation, prayer, purification and spiritual healing. It includes tobacco, sage and sweetgrass, alongside medicinal and native flowering plants.
The garden demonstrates how the hospital’s physical environment can support culturally appropriate care, connection with nature and greater recognition of Indigenous knowledge and healing practices.
Extending the rooftop through urban beekeeping
Two hives were installed on 17 June 2026 through a partnership between Women’s College Partnership, Women’s College Hospital and the Urban Toronto Beekeepers’ Association. At installation, the colonies contained approximately 6,000 to 8,000 honey bees.
The initiative adds a visible environmental-learning feature to the rooftop. It creates opportunities for staff, patients and visitors to learn about pollinators, urban ecology and the responsible stewardship of green spaces within a dense city environment. Its principal intended contribution is environmental awareness and stakeholder engagement. Any wider ecological benefit will depend on the availability and diversity of suitable flowering plants and the responsible management of the colonies.
Delivering the initiative
Women’s College Partnership contributed CAD$2,000 through the Portfolio Company’s ESG Budget for the initial setup. An ongoing annual beekeeper service fee of CAD$4,000 and annual end of season fee of CAD$2,000 will be split (50/50) between Women’s College Partnership and Women’s College Hospital. The total project cost over the remaining project term is estimated at CAD$102,000 split 50/50 between WCH and WCP.
Women’s College Hospital’s facilities, sustainability and health and safety teams supported the planning and installation. The Urban Toronto Beekeepers’ Association is responsible for regular inspections and ongoing colony management.
The hives can be viewed from the hospital’s third floor, making the initiative visible without providing direct public access to the rooftop. A nearby QR code will offer information about the colonies, pollinators and the wider rooftop environment.
Creating opportunities for learning and engagement
The immediate results are practical and visible:
- Two professionally managed honey bee hives installed on the hospital’s green roof.
- Approximately 6,000 to 8,000 bees across the two colonies at the time of installation.
- A new environmental-learning opportunity for staff, patients and visitors.
- Collaboration between the Portfolio Company, hospital teams and specialist urban beekeepers.
The project has attracted interest across Women’s College Hospital and initial feedback from the hospital’s Executive team has been positive.
The green roof has become much more than a building feature. It is an example of how healthcare organizations can evolve to contribute to healthier communities both inside and outside their walls. The addition of the beehives strengthens that contribution and reflects our commitment to creating spaces that are sustainable and connected to the world around us.
Lauren Seager, Director Facilities and Operations, Women’s College Hospital
