National Butterflyway Rangers
Wild pollinators such as butterflies and bees are crucial to human survival. Climate change and widespread pesticide use are compromising their habitat and food sources. The Butterflyway Project aims to help people step up efforts to help pollinators find food and shelter.
The Butterflyway Project has expanded to more than 100 communities throughout the country!
Despite these uncertain times, 251 keen people volunteered to become Butterflyway Rangers this spring. They took part in online training in April. And they committed to growing a Butterflyway where they live.
Most planting activities and community events are on hold for now. But Rangers are learning, connecting and getting ready to make pollinator magic in their neighbourhoods.
This spring, Rangers are also recruiting more volunteers to join the Butterflyway Project. Check the map below to see if there are Rangers in your community.
This map includes Butterflyway Rangers and Butterflyway Schools in 2020. Check for Rangers and schools in your community!
Butterflyway Schools pilot project
We planned to give schools in 15 Canadian cities free wildflowers. Most schools have been closed since mid-March. So we’re providing online training for the 251 schools that applied to be part of this pilot. This spring and summer, people from 113 communities will be taking part in webinars to learn from wildflower, bee and butterfly experts. In August, we’ll select schools to receive free Butterflyway plant kits.
About the Butterflyway Project
The Butterflyway Project is a citizen-led movement that’s bringing nature home to neighbourhoods throughout Canada, one butterfly-friendly planting at a time.
The Butterflyway Project began in five Canadian cities in 2017. We recruited a team of volunteer Butterflyway Rangers in each. Their mission was to plant native wildflowers in yards, schoolyards, streets and parks to support bees and butterflies. The goal was to establish local “Butterflyways” by planting at least a dozen pollinator patches in each neighbourhood.
Over the past three years, we’ve recruited and trained 599 Butterflyway Rangers. They’ve connected with neighbours, schools, city agencies, businesses and community groups. To date, they’ve helped:
- Get 28,908 butterfly-friendly wildflowers into the ground.
- Create 754 pollinator patches.
- Grow Butterflyways in nine communities.
The Butterflyway Project shows that a small group of residents can make a big difference. Rangers make their communities greener and healthier. They create opportunities, connect people and champion fun ideas. Check out some of their stories below to get inspired!
The Butterflyway Project is based on our Homegrown National Park Project, an award-winning, citizen-led project that created butterfly-friendly corridors in three Toronto neighbourhoods.
National Butterflyway Programs
British Columbia Butterflyways
Ontario Butterflyways
Butterflyway stories
Tools and resources
Mayors' monarch pledge
Become a monarch-friendly community!
Communities across North America are taking action to help save the monarch butterfly. Contact your mayor and/or local government agency and ask them to come on board!
Our partners
