With beekeepers preparing their colonies for spring, the province has officially announced Abigail Chapman as successor to former provincial apiculturist Paul van Westendorp.
BC chief veterinary officer Dr. Theresa Burns made the announcement March 18, officially confirming Chapman’s selection. Word of an appointment circulated at the BC Honey Producers Association annual conference last fall, but Chapman did not join the ministry till this year.
Chapman received her doctorate in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology from UBC last year. While newly minted as a PhD, she brings a long-standing commitment to education rooted in practical beekeeping experience. Research under supervisor Leonard Foster deepened her understanding of how viral infections affect honeybee queen health and reproductive potential.
The research neatly aligned with her personal interests and the bee industry’s drive to develop locally adapted stock to reduce reliance on imports. Following graduation last year, she led the design and implementation of a major field study aimed at improving the availability of locally adapted bees.
“Abigail looks forward to supporting beekeepers, industry organizations, and clubs,” Burns says of Chapman’s appointment. “She is committed to strengthening communication, encouraging evidence-based management practices, working to update and improve the resources available to BC beekeepers of all scales, and responding with diligence to new and ongoing threats to honeybee health.”
Chapman’s appointment marks the official end of van Westendorp’s role with the ministry. While he officially retired August 1, he continued to serve in a limited capacity until the vacancy was filled.
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