OUR HISTORY & FOUNDER
From passion to innovation
For over 25 years, Simon has devoted his life to commercial beekeeping. Curious and passionate about the world of bees, he has developed unique expertise in beekeeping equipment maintenance, transhumance logistics, and large-scale apiary management. His career began in the field, working with several Quebec beekeeping companies, where he discovered both the beauty of the profession and the challenges beekeepers face on a daily basis.
As a Class 1 license holder, Simon rigorously orchestrates the transport and placement of thousands of hives used for pollinating field crops such as blueberries, cranberries, cucurbits, berries, and orchards. His approach combines logistical discipline, respect for living things, and high quality standards.
Over time, he has noticed that traditional beekeeping equipment limits the efficiency and sustainability of operations, often having to be replaced every year because it is not designed for modern realities. Drawing on his experience in institutional kitchens and his studies at the École Hôtelière de Laval, Simon came up with a different approach: applying the principles of hygiene, safety, and rigor from the food industry to the world of beekeeping. This idea gave rise to a vision of eco-design, aimed at reducing the risk of cross-contamination between colonies and sustainably improving bee health.
The beginnings of innovation
In 2015, this vision took shape: Simon designed a prototype beehive made entirely of food-grade composite material, in collaboration with the Quebec Composite Development Center (CDCQ) and AS Composite. That same year, he began a technical college program in beekeeping at Collège d'Alma, furthering his mastery of the craft.
In 2016, he set up an open-air laboratory on the INRS Armand-Frappier campus, in the heart of Laval's Cité de la Biotech, to continue his experiments and observe bee behavior, while maintaining equipment and establishing rigorous work protocols.
In 2018, he officially incorporated Unité d'Intervention Hexagone Inc., an innovative company linking beekeeping, science, and technology. This status allows the company to become an industrial partner and collaborate on R&D projects with the CCTT Network and the Ministry of Economy, Innovation, and Energy (MEIE). For over ten years, Simon has also maintained strong partnerships with the scientific community at the INRS Armand-Frappier Health/Biotechnology Center in Laval. He promotes a culture of research focused on bee welfare and the sustainability of beekeeping.
A commitment to the field
Simon devotes thousands of volunteer hours to enhancing and restoring outdoor infrastructure, particularly as part of the Oasis project on the INRS campus. His approach is based on a deep conviction:
Honey is an integral part of our diet, and bees are essential to human survival.
Driven by this conviction, Simon is committed to improving beekeeping techniques in a healthy, hygienic, and sustainable way, in order to build a more respectful future for bees... and for all of us.
A clear vision from the outset
From the outset, Simon set himself four major objectives:
• Raise standards of hygiene, health, and traceability in apiaries;
• Provide bees with the best possible living conditions in colonies;
• Harmonize beekeeping practices within communities;
• Create a circular economy for beeswax that is cleaner, more sustainable, and more respectful of nature.
Today, this vision continues to guide Unité d’Intervention Hexagone Inc. in its research, innovation, and collaboration projects, transforming what began as a simple idea into a pioneering company committed to building the beekeeping industry of tomorrow, at the crossroads of science, technology, and life.
