On June 25, York University will dedicate the Sheila Colla Pollinator Garden at Maloca Community Gardens, creating a living tribute to a scientist whose work transformed the protection of wild bees across North America. The public ceremony, taking place from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. (event), will bring together colleagues, students, community members, and environmental advocates to celebrate Dr. Colla's enduring contributions to science, conservation, and public engagement.

The event will feature remarks from Dean Alice Hovorka, Victoria MacPhail, and researchers from York University's Centre for Bee Ecology, Evolution and Conservation (BEEc). Discussions will explore pollinator conservation while highlighting connections among ecology, artistic practice, and Indigenous knowledge systems.

Dr. Colla, a professor in York University's Faculty of Environmental and Urban Change and a founding member of BEEc, passed away in July 2025 at the age of 43. Her death was widely felt across scientific and environmental communities, reflecting the profound impact she had as both a researcher and advocate.

At a time when wild bees received limited scientific attention, Dr. Colla helped bring urgency to their conservation. During her doctoral studies at York in the early 2000s, she became one of the first researchers in North America to quantitatively document declines in wild bee populations. Her work played a crucial role in securing endangered species status for the rusty-patched bumblebee in both Canada and the United States. In 2009, she recorded Canada's last known sighting of the species at Pinery Provincial Park, a finding that underscored the severity of pollinator decline.

Equally important was her commitment to connecting science with the public. In 2011, she co-founded BumbleBeeWatch.org, a citizen science initiative that has gathered more than 172,000 bumblebee observations from across North America. Through media appearances and public outreach, she became a trusted voice on pollinator conservation, helping translate scientific research into practical action. Her scholarship has been cited more than 5,500 times, demonstrating its lasting influence on ecological research and policy.

Dr. Colla's dedication to inclusion was also reflected in her mentorship. Through the Colla Conservation Science Lab, she guided students researching species decline, habitat loss, and environmental policy. Many early-career researchers found not only academic support but also a welcoming and encouraging community under her leadership.

The new pollinator garden embodies the values she championed throughout her life. Inspired by her wish that people plant native flowers in their communities, the garden was established on World Bee Day, May 20, through the efforts of Laura Newburn, Phyllis Novak, colleagues, and volunteers. Planted with goldenrod, asters, coneflowers, milkweed, blueberries, and raspberries, it provides habitat and food sources for native pollinators throughout the growing season. More than a memorial, the garden stands as a continuing expression of Dr. Colla's vision: that scientific knowledge, community action, and care for the natural world can flourish together.

Learn More about Dr. Sheila Colla 

• Colla Conservation Science Lab and Legacy [ link ] 
• York Faculty Profile: Dr. Sheila Colla [ link ]  
• A Flower Patch for Sheila: Garden [ link ]
• Remembering the Remarkable Research of Prof. Sheila Colla [ link ] 
• BumbleBeeWatch.org: Citizen Science Platform [ link ] 
• Bumblebees of North America: An Identification Guide [ Available through YorkU Library: link ]
• Sheila Colla – Wikipedia [ link ]
• Sheila Colla – Google Scholar [ link ]
• Native Plant Garden to Honour Sheila Colla [ link ]