In Canada, June is Pollinator Month and June 16th – 22nd is Pollinator Week, so it was a timely delegation to Council on May 26th when Terry Wilson explained the Butterflyway Project.
He said that, in 2017, the David Suzuki Foundation initiated the Butterflyway Project, in five Canadian cities as a citizen-led movement to grow highways of habitat for bees, birds and butterflies across Canada. “Up to 2024, the foundation has trained 1,800 Butterflyway Rangers in hundreds of communities throughout Canada. Rangers then connect with neighbours to create habitat gardens in residential yards, schools, municipalities and corporate grounds.”
The Butterfly Gardens of Saugeen Shores (BGSS) organization that established the butterfly pods throughout Saugeen Shores is now defunct and Butterflyway wants to renew the gardens that had been established. “We want to reinvigorate the gardens and to inspire and encourage Saugeen Shores residents to create a Butterflyway by planting native wildflowers or plants which will help our pollinator species.”
The group with three Butterflyway Rangers, has joined the Horticultural Society and have catalogued the existing gardens through a GPS and address. “We also want to align the Rail Trail Association, Monarch Watch, Rotary Clubs, MacGregor Provincial Park and Butterflyway Project teams with our shared vision of the gardens and pods,” said Wilson.
“We have been working with town staff and are wanting to update signage for the gardens. Some of the gardens are on public land and we would like town support and agreement to work on them and to provide resources such as mulch, soil, etc. for use in the public gardens. We would also like to see the Town adopt a native species preference policy.”
Wilson also explained that the group would like to have access to the town’s Communication Specialist. “Collaboration and transparency are critical. We want to know what Council would like and the milestones you want to see. We already have three Rangers and volunteers lined up to begin working on projects immediately. We need a communication strategy to improve what is now out there.”
Deputy Mayor Diane Huber said that phase two of the Jubilee Park would be an ideal location for a natural planting. “I am glad you brought this to Council and look forward to what staff brings back to Council.”
Councillor Cheryl Grace said that the previous group (BGSS) was an exciting addition to the town and was glad to see it being revived and inquired about possible grants. “The original group acquired some funding from Bruce Power.”
Wilson said that the funding established the gardens. “We simply have to go back and clean them up. We want to focus on sustainability through native plants that will need less fertilizer, less water and less mulch. Our strategy is sustainability and leveraging what is already there. When we expand to peoples homes, (2026) they will be supporting their own gardens. We simply are trying to understand what’s there and, hopefully, not having to raise a lot of money to do things. Right now, the biggest obstacle is the cost of signage and we would appreciate support for that and it is critical so that the confusion is gone and people know what they’re looking for.”
Grace pointed out that Wilson’s presentation said a Butterflyway project is 12 gardens in close proximity. “What does close proximity mean?”
Wilson said that pollinators are different. “Some can travel great distances, some others only 500 feet. Smaller ones are better than one big garden.”
He also said that he was surprised by the number of volunteers who are willing to step up again and others who are knowledgeable in Grey Bruce plants and butterflies. “We have wonderful resources for information. Gardeners love to share and, therefore, we do not need a lot of funding.”
Vice-deputy Mayor Mike Myatt agreed with the request for signage. “Perhaps, we can look at some funding during the next budget.
Councillor Bud Halpin also acknowledged the original founders (Kerry Jarvis and Melitta Smole) of the butterfly pods. “It was really forward thinking and has laid the foundation for what is happening now. I also like the way you have broadened the players and net and your ask of the town is not onerous. I fully support this plan and also want to volunteer and help.”
Wilson said that pollinators cannot use grass but need flowers and even weeds that flower and a source of water. “Sometimes doing nothing in a yard is better.”
Mayor Luke Charbonneau said that the community is fortunate to have people like Wilson who take on initiatives and seize an opportunity to do exciting things. “It’s what makes this community so great. As owner of a relatively large pollinator garden with many species that are not native, I appreciate the tremendous wisdom of what you’re proposing in terms of heading toward native species because it’s a huge amount of work to maintain species that are not native to make them work. What we need to do with this is make them self-sustaining because people come and go, volunteers come and go and community groups fluctuate, so we need to get these things into a position where they don’t end up where some of the are now – worn out, over grown. We need healthy species that can look after themselves, take over in an area and be successful on their own because they may have to survive on their own for a period of time between surges of interest by community groups. So, I think it’s really smart they way you’re approaching this and will bear real dividends for us and the community down the road.”
For more on How to Plant a Pollinator Garden.
