Convicted: Christopher Paul Rocke
Location of Offence: 190 Napier Steet, Hamilton, Ontario
Description of Offences: Placed hives containing bees within 30 metres of a property line contrary to section 19 (1) of the Bees Act (2 counts).
Date of Offences: Between November 23, 2022 and January 17, 2023, and between June 2, 2023 and September 26, 2023
Date of Conviction: November 26, 2024
Penalty Imposed: $1,000 fine for each count ($2,000 total) plus victim fine surcharge, and a two-year probation order.
Background: After receiving a report of possible non-compliance, investigators from the Regulatory Compliance Unit of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness initiated an investigation into possible violations under the Bees Act at 190 Napier Street in Hamilton.
Christopher Rocke pleaded guilty before Justice of the Peace Linda Crawford on November 26, 2024. Rocke was fined a total of $2,000 plus a victim fine surcharge. In addition, he received a two-year probation order and ordered to remove the hive and allow ministry inspectors on site to verify compliance under the Bees Act.
Under the Bees Act, no person shall be a beekeeper in Ontario without a certificate of registration issued by the Provincial Apiarist. Furthermore, no person shall place hives or leave hives containing bees within 30 metres of a property line separating the land on which the hives are placed from land occupied as a dwelling or used for a community centre, public park or other place of public assembly or recreation.
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