Out in Kinistino, Saskatchewan, the hum of thousands of bees tells a story six generations in the making. Dione Bacon manages approximately 3,500 colonies with the help of 16 staff. Many of them are family – continuing a tradition that began when his great-great-grandfather Hollis first kept hives. Each generation has left its mark: Dione’s great-grandfather Chester expanded the apiary to 50 hives, his grandfather Russell grew the operation to 1,000 and incorporated Bacon Apiaries, and his father Ronald expanded the operation to over 2,000 colonies and launched the local brand Saskist Honey. Now Dione works alongside his son Brennen, while generation seven, his grandson Gavin, is already preparing to join the family business.
For Dione, the most rewarding part of being a beekeeper is making memories with his with family. “So few professions allow for meaningful at-work time with family,” he says. “As a kid, I treasured hanging out with my dad and grandpa. Now I get to watch my own grandchildren helping out and playing on the farm.”
He also loves sharing his passion for honeybees and insists there’s no such thing as a dumb beekeeping question. Even during the busy season, Dione makes time to offer tours and provide hands-on experiences to anyone curious about honey production. Many young people in the Kinistino area have had their first jobs at Bacon Apiaries, gaining skills, confidence, and a lasting appreciation for beekeeping.
Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father by currently serving on the MCHP Board of Directors, Dione remains committed to Bee Maid Honey, a partnership his family has been part of for over 50 years. All of his honey is proudly shipped through Bee Maid, reflecting a relationship built on trust, collaboration, and shared values. Beyond producing high-quality local honey, he focuses on maintaining healthy hives, providing pollination services, and supporting a co-operative model that helps Canadian families like his own.