Burt’s Bees recently commissioned street artist Nick Sweetman to paint a mural featuring the Green Sweat Bee. The mural adorns a wall at Bloor St. and Howland Ave., in Toronto’s Annex neighborhood.

Part of the 213 sq. meter artwork is shown above, in the photo by photo by Can-India, while the next photo in the slideshow (by CNW Group/Burt’s Bees Canada) shows its full length.

The mural features Toronto’s native bee species that is named for its exotic color, which often includes metallic green or a blue-green sheen. Toronto’s National Pollinator week, which just ended on June 27th, helped to raise awareness about bees while also replacing illegal graffiti with officially sanctioned street art.

Street artist Nick Sweetman said, “The pollinator’s issue is one that is very close to my heart. A lot of my work is focused on pollinators and bringing awareness to their decline.”

Councilor Michelle Holland, chair of Toronto’s Parks and Environment committee, said, “As we continue our efforts to protect and preserve pollinators in Toronto, and to beautify our streets with art, this mural will continue to remind us of the important role that pollinators play.”

Burt’s Bees’ Mission To Help Protect the Pollinators

Burt’s Bees’ involvement in the mural also promotes the company’s longstanding commitment to pollinator and bee health, a representative said.

Burt’s Bees’ founder, Burt Shavitz, had numerous funding and educational initiatives set up to protect bees. “Burt passed away last July, but we continue to honor him by connecting people to nature and helping them discover the wonder of bees and all they produce,” says Carolyn Hungate, marketing manager, Burt’s Bees Canada.

Hungate continues, “Bees have always been central to our products, our culture and the impact that we can have as a business in both the community and in the world.”

Burt’s Bees has raised over $200,000 for charitable partners like Wildlife Preservation Canada and helped to build bee hotels across Canada, providing sustainable habitats for the country’s native pollinator bees including the Green Sweat Bee – an expert pollinator known to favour smaller flowers often bypassed by bigger bees.