Nov 15, 2024
HELP IS ON THE WAY - Thanks to five high school students from Oakville, CWF received a generous donation for its Monarch Butterfly habitat restoration programs on rights of way in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. In this photo CWF’s Vicky Papuga (far right) accepts the funding from some of the philanthropic teenagers. Learn more: monarchbutterflyeclipse.com
TORONTO, Ont. Nov 15, 2024 - The Canadian Wildlife Federation (CWF) is thrilled to receive a charitable donation of $25,000 over five years from The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project, a student-led fundraiser launched by five innovative teenagers from Ontario.
“Inspired by Monarch decline in the last 20 years, CWF recognized that an all-hands-on deck approach is needed to conserve this iconic species, which is why we are so excited to work with The Monarch Butterfly Eclipse Project team,” said Vicky Papuga, CWF Rights-of-Way Pollinator Habitat Coordinator for the Greater Toronto Area. “Their hard work has shown that empowered youth can make a difference for Monarch conservation. Their creativity and dedication will not only help conserve the Monarch, but also inspire youth to take actions for our biodiversity.”
The cheque was presented Oct. 30 in Oakville at the Gairloch Gardens.
The students raised the money by selling ISO-certified solar eclipse glasses across Canada and the U.S. before last April’s solar eclipse. They were inspired to create this fundraiser when they learned that total solar eclipses are very rare, happening on average only every 400 years at a given location. Since the total solar eclipse path mirrored the migration route of the endangered Monarch Butterfly, which also runs through their hometown, they flew into action, selling 400,000 pairs of eclipse glasses.
“It’s been a fun experience raising money to support the Monarch Butterfly and feels even better to be able to give back to this amazing organization,” said Maggie Lentine, a Grade 12 student and one of the co-founders of the project, which was created to merge celestial magic with environmental conservation.
CWF’s pollinator conservation program includes conducting scientific research on Monarch migration and habitat needs. The CWF team connects land managers across sectors such as municipalities, conservation authorities, utility companies, farmers and community organizations, providing training and resources to restore Monarch habitat. To date, over 1,700 hectares of habitat have been restored in collaboration with these partners in Ontario, with more restoration projects in progress, Papuga said. The funding from the Monarch Butterfly Eclipse team will go toward this important work, including further creation of Monarch habitat in its migratory habitat range.
About the Canadian Wildlife Federation
The Canadian Wildlife Federation is a national, not-for-profit charitable organization dedicated to conserving Canada’s wildlife and habitats for the use and enjoyment of all. By spreading knowledge of human impacts on wildlife and the environment, carrying out actions to conserve and restore species and habitats, developing and delivering conservation education programs, advocating for changes to government policy and programs, and co-operating with like-minded partners, CWF encourages a future in which Canadians can live in harmony with nature. For more information, visit CanadianWildlifeFederation.ca.
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