Residents permitted to forgo mowing their yards in May, June during “Pollinator Appreciation Months”

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout Municipal Council has declared May and June 2023 “Pollinator Appreciation Months” within the Municipality of Sioux Lookout.
At their May 17 regular meeting, Council approved the resolution, which, “directs staff to allow resident’s yards to exceed the maximum height permitted for grass and/or weeds during the months of May and June 2023, pursuant to By-Law No. 16-06, Being a By-Law to Provide for the Maintaining of Land in a Clean and Clear Condition.”
Jody Brinkman, Manager of Development Services, shared in his written report to Council that the these “Pollinator Appreciation Months”, “promote pollinator friendly yards” by the Municipality not enforcing By-Law No. 16-06, Section 6.1: “Grass and/or weeds shall be kept trimmed so as to not exceed 20 centimetres in height. Being the owner of private lands, no person shall permit the growth of grass and/or weeds on such lands in excess of 122 centimetres in height”
Brinkman shared in his report, “At the Regular Council Meeting of February 17, 2021, Council approved the following Bee Friendly Yards Resolution No. CL-037-21:
“THAT Council declares May and June 2021 Honeybee Appreciation Months in Sioux
Lookout and directs staff to allow residents to exceed the maximum height permitted as
per By-Law No. 16-06 for grass and/or weeds during the months of May and June, 2021.”
“The following year on January 26, 2022, Mr. Reagan Breeze, Beekeeper contacted the Clerk’s Department to request the Municipality to proclaim these months as Honeybee Appreciation Months, similar to what Council approved in 2021. Mr. Breeze requested that Council waive the requirements for lawns to be cut during May and June, 2022 to allow vital pollinators that are coming out from resting all winter, to get nectar and pollen easier. This would help to increase the area honeybee population. Council agreed and passed a resolution at their March 16, 2022 Council meeting to permit this during the months of May and June 2022.”
Brinkman’s report added, “Mr. Breeze contacted the Municipality again this spring, requesting that Council once again support the Bee Friendly resolution. The Environment Committee would like to see this resolution continue for the coming years and to permit residents during the months of May and June 2023 to exceed the maximum height permitted for grass and/or weeds in order to promote better access for pollinators to nectar and pollen.
The Environment Committee ask that the declaration be renamed “Pollinator Appreciation Months” in order to capture and recognize all insects that pollinate.”