SEPTEMBER 18, 2024

WHEREAS, The monarch butterfly is an iconic North American species whose
multigenerational migration and metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has captured the
imagination of millions of Canadians; and

WHEREAS, Eastern migrating monarch populations visiting Ontario have seen significant
population declines by as much as ninety percent; and

WHEREAS, On December 8, 2023 the Government of Canada uplisted the Migratory
Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) as Endangered on Schedule 1 of the Species At Risk
Act; and

WHEREAS, Thunder Bay recognizes that human health ultimately depends on well
functioning ecosystems and that biodiverse regions can better support food production,
healthy soil and air quality and can foster healthy connections between humans and wildlife ;
and

WHEREAS, September 18th is a day to remember the late Dan Fulton, who was
instrumental in founding the Adelaide Butterfly Garden at Boulevard Lake Park, where
dedicated Urban Greenscapes volunteers celebrate Dan’s love of the monarch butterfly by continuing his mission to raise awareness about the need for pollinator habitat, and the valuable ecosystem services provided by bees, birds, butterflies, bats, and beetles; and

WHEREAS, On Februray 21, 2024, I Ken Boschcoff, signed the National Wildlife
Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge to protect the monarch butterfly with the support of
Urban Greenscapes volunteers through the following meaningful actions:
• Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat;
• Maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighbourhoods;
• Host a native seed or plant sale, giveaway or swap;
• Facilitate a milkweed seed collection and propagation effort;
• Maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at Boulevard Lake Park Adelaide Butterfly Garden;
• Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar producing plants in community gardens;
• Display educational signage at monarch gardens and pollinator habitat beyond monarch demonstration gardens;
• Change weed or mowing ordinances to allow for native prairie and plant habitats; and

WHEREAS, Every resident of Thunder Bay is invited to share in Dan’s vision to make a
positive difference for the monarch by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide
habitat for the monarch and other pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play
and worship; and

NOW, THEREFORE, I Ken Boschoff, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Mayor of
Thunder Bay, do hereby proclaim September 18, 2024 as “Monarch Butterfly Appreciation
day” in Honour of Dan Fulton, in Thunder Bay and encourage all residents to participate in
community activities that support and celebrate monarch conservation.

 

For more information please contact Urban Greenscapes:

adelaidebutterflygarden@gmail.com

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1851110445142345