Wild pollinators such as butterflies and bees are crucial to human survival. Climate change, land development and pesticide use threaten their survival, and therefore ours as well. The Butterflyway Project is a citizen-led movement growing highways of habitat for bees and butterflies across Canada.

In 2017, the David Suzuki Foundation initiated the Butterflyway Project, and its sister L’effet Papillon in Quebec, in five Canadian cities. This volunteer-led movement brings nature home to neighbourhoods, one butterfly-friendly garden at a time.

From inception to 2024, the foundation trained 1,800 volunteer Butterflyway Rangers in hundreds of communities throughout Canada. Rangers then connected with neighbours to create habitat gardens in residential yards, school and corporate grounds, boulevards and parks. When 12 or more patches are established, a new Butterflyway is born.

The Ranger role is detailed and a select few inspirational Ranger stories are told in this series of short videos called Butterflyway Diaries or read about how this project evolved here.

If you are interested in starting a pollinator garden at home or in your neighbourhood, check out these resources.

If you are interested in learning which plants are native to Manitoba, check out the Master Gardener Association.