OpenRoad Group is generating plenty of buzz these days.

In honor of World Bee Day, May 20, the British Columbia-based dealership group established a rooftop beehive at its BMW Langley location in the Vancouver area. OpenRoad said the hive, which furthers its environment, social and governance commitments, “will provide a home for thousands of honeybees to help foster healthier ecosystems, increase species variety and restore pollination cycles.”

CEO Christian Chia said his hope is the hive is the first of many at OpenRoad’s 36 locations.

“Our team, stewarded by ESG manager Shea Studler, has been working hard on our ESG plan since last year, on ways we can create lasting change that will positively impact our neighbourhoods for years to come,” he said. “Rooftops are often underutilized and can be the perfect place to build a beehive colony.”

OpenRoad has hired local beekeeper Ian Lai to help create and manage the beehive. Lai is also a chef, educator and environmental steward who has been involved in food security and equitable food systems since 2006 and previously managed hives for nonprofit organizations such as the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, Richmond Schoolyard Society and Urban Bounty.

Studler said the Lai’s work as executive director of Urban Bounty — one of the OpenRoad Foundation’s grant recipients, and were impressed with his experience and skills.

“Conservation and education are vital to the success of our ESG commitments,” she said, “especially with regard to reversing biodiversity loss by helping our ecosystem flourish through honeybees. This is just the beginning with what we can do as an organization.”

The company said honey from the beehive will be harvested each fall and distributed among OpenRoad Foundation community partners, with plans for a jarred honey fundraiser in the near future.