Live butterfly release goes next Sunday

Near North Palliative Care Network
News Release

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The Near North Palliative Care Network, a volunteer community hospice, will be hosting a live butterfly release at the Kiawanis’ Bandshell on the North Bay waterfront on July 24th this year.

Participants will have the opportunity to sponsor a butterfly and release it to commemorate a beloved one who has passed away.

Senator Sharon Carstairs stated recently that: “Canadians rarely discuss death and end of life, let alone accept them as natural stages of life. Yet the inescapable fact remains that the mortality rate for humans is 100%”1. While the end of life is inevitable, the Near North Palliative Care Network hopes that events like the live butterfly release can help society approach mortality in a better way.

Nathalie Leclair, Program Administrator at NNPCN, explains what the release of butterflies symbolizes: “Freedom and happiness. When you release a butterfly it is cathartic, it is a symbolic release of grief. After this event, when you see a Monarch, it will bring back memories of the loved one, and it is these memories that bring us happiness and help give us comfort.”

Monarchs were selected since they summer in Canada before migrating to Mexico. The butterflies are delivered in specially tailored packages. The dark and cool conditions keep the butterflies in a comfortable resting state until the day of the release. Once the package is opened, the natural heat and light will awaken these sleeping beauties and inspire them to take flight. On the day of the event the names of the loved ones will be read aloud along with a few inspirational readings and musical performances. Afterwards everyone will release each of their butterflies in unison.

Palliative care aims to relieve suffering and improve the quality of living and dying. It views the patient and the family as recipients of care and continues to include bereavement services for families after the death of their loved one2.(The Honourable Sharon Carstairs, P.C. Raising the Bar: A roadmap for the future of Palliative Care in Canada, June 2010)

Individuals can reserve a butterfly to release until July 11th by contacting Near North Palliative care or going to their website at www.nnpcn.com for more information. Sponsorship is $30 for each butterfly or 4 for $100. We have sold 100 but are far from our 300 goal, we hope you can help make this a reality.

All funds raised from the Live Butterfly Release will go to support Near North Palliative Care’s work providing bereavement and palliative support.

The Near North Palliative Care Network is a not-for-profit organization that has been active in the region for over 20 years. Its volunteers offer palliative care and bereavement support at no cost to a wide range of Near North residents every year.

If you’d like more information about the upcoming Butterfly Release or Near North Palliative Care’s activities, or to schedule an interview, please contact Nathalie Leclair at (705) 497-9239 or [email protected]

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