COVER STORY

BEEKEEPER TAYLOR

Splitting the Hives

Moya Financial is a new credit union that’s been over 60 years in the making. Moya’s mission is to deliver innovative and competitive financial services to help its members achieve their financial goals. Moya’s strong, loyal membership base is a result of more than six decades of service to the Southern Ontario Slovenian community. Moya is a financial institution with a difference, but like all credit unions, Moya is member-owned and member-focused.

Moya Financial recognizes the importance of addressing its environmental impact. When the credit union installed beehives on its grounds back in June 2019, it made a promise to do better and be “greener.”

Last year Moya took a big step to reduce the carbon emissions footprint of its business by choosing green electricity for the company from Bullfrog Power, a Spark Power company. “Moya Financial Credit Union is proud to be supporting clean, renewable energy with Bullfrog Power,” said Tony Krosel, CEO. “By Bullfrog-

powering both our branches located on Brown’s Line with green electricity, Moya Financial is helping transition Canada to a renewably powered future.”

Bullfrog Power’s producers put renewable electricity onto the grid to match the amount of conventional electricity used by Moya Financial’s main branch. Across Canada, Bullfrog’s green electricity comes from a blend of wind and low-impact hydroelectric power sourced from new Canadian renewable energy facilities.

In addition to greening Canada’s energy systems, Moya will also be supporting community green energy projects through its partnership with Bullfrog Power. These projects include renewable initiatives with Indigenous Peoples, solar projects at schools and hockey rinks, and installations with renewable energy co-ops.

Moya is also proud to continue to take part in the great movement for more ecoconscious cities by hosting beehives in Toronto.

In May, Moya Financial celebrated World Bee Day. This initiative focuses on bee production and ethical practices adopted by beekeepers everywhere to support their livelihoods and deliver high-quality bee products. Moya is committed to spreading awareness of these little workers’ importance to our environment. Moya has moved the hives to a new home to make it easier to manage them during the pandemic and has switched the live, in-person education sessions to virtual sessions attended by members. Even though the main branch remains open for members by appointment only, the honey was given away to members and went quickly. Members commented on how moving the beehives to a new location in 2020 led to a darker, richer honey.

Keep an eye out for Moya Financial’s upcoming virtual bee workshop next month, at which you can discover the entire honey harvesting and extraction process!

Follow the hive at MoyaCommunity.ca.

MOYA FINANCIAL CREDIT UNION

747 Brown’s Line 416.255.1742 main@moyafinancial.ca www.moyafinancial.ca