ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´

Help support the butterflies!

The Butterfly Show has been open to the public by donation since its creation 26 years ago. Thank you for over two decades of generous support! Your donations keep the show running year after year.

Donations can be made online using ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University’s secure platform or in-person during the show.

Volunteers and Organizers

Meet the Butterfly Show Volunteers and Organizers! Our show would not have been able to run for 26 years without them!

Photo credits to Ed Bruggink

Our History

The Butterfly Show began in 1999 when Greenhouse Manager Ed Bruggink had an inspiring idea. Observing the excitement that butterfly greenhouses brought to communities across Ontario, he thought, “We could make that happen here at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´.” From the outset, the goal was to provide a free community event, inviting families to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ and offering young people a unique, early introduction to science education.

Initially, the show ran in May around Mother’s Day. However, in 2002, ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ asked Ed to host a second Butterfly Show to mark the university’s 60th anniversary. This additional October show, coinciding with Thanksgiving weekend, created a special family-oriented atmosphere. Moreover, Ed could now enlist help from students actively studying on campus during this time of year. With the support of these student volunteers, the October timing became a permanent fixture.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of Biology faced a crucial decision: cancel the show or attempt a virtual version. Unanimously choosing to adapt, in 2020 and 2021, carefully spaced volunteers offered virtual tours from inside the greenhouse. This innovative approach allowed the show to reach schools and families worldwide for the first time.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2024, we’re proud of this milestone and deeply grateful to our community donors who made it possible. Thank you to everyone who has attended the show over the past quarter-century. We look forward to continuing the butterfly experience into the future.

Past Event Highlights and Media Coverage

2025 Meet the new caretaker for thousands of ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s butterflies: .
2025 Founders Award Recipient Ed Bruggink: ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Board of Governors.

2024 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Butterfly Show Celebrates a Quarter Century of Natural Wonder: .

2023 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University’s butterfly show is back: .
2023 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University tropical greenhouse featured in the Hallmark movie “Falling in Love in Niagara”.

2022 Butterflies flap their wings at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ again as annual show returns: .
2022 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University’s annual butterfly show set to soar — in-person this year: .
2022 Monarch Butterfly Research housed in ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Greenhouses: .
2022 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´â€™s first butterfly show since the pandemic features dozens of species: .

2020 Virtual Biology Butterfly Show Comes in for a Landing: .
2020 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ grows wings: Pushed by COVID-19, the 21st butterfly show adapted well to life online: .

2019 Twenty Years of Floating Beauties: .
2019 Butterfly Show Engages Community: .
2019 Colossal ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Blossom Astounds Biologists: .
2019 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University Queen Victoria Agave featured in the CBC show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”.

2018 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “The Butterflies That Hear With Their Wings”: .
2018 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ kicks off annual butterfly show: .

2017 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Kicks Off Annual Butterfly Show: The Charlatan.

2016 Annual butterfly show features 41 species from around the world: .

2015 PhD Candidate Amanda Lindeman speaks to CBC’s Adrian Harewood: .
2015 Video and photos: Annual butterfly show at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University: .
2015 Some Campus Joys You May Not Know ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´: Ottawa Citizen.
2015 Time Butterflies: Nepean Barrhaven News.
2015 Butterfly Show Returns to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ for 16th Year: The Charlatan.

2014 Butterfly Bonanza: Ottawa Citizen.
2014 Les papillons envahissent luniversite ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´: Le Droit.

2013 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Now we know why butterflies evolved to have ears”: .

2012 Photos: The Oscar.
2012 Butterflies and Moths Emerge Again at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´: The Oscar.

2011 Butterfly Kisses: Ottawa Citizen.
2011 Exhibit Winging Its Way to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´: 24H

2010 The Hidden Beauty of Moths: Ottawa Citizen.
2010 Moth Mystique: Ottawa Citizen.
2010 Moth Mystique Continued: Ottawa Citizen.

2009 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´’s 10 Years of Butterflies: ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Biology (Metronews).
2009 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Hearing on the wing: New structure discovered in butterfly ears”: .
2009 Slice of Life: Ottawa Sun.
2009 Seeing Eye to Eye: Ottawa Citizen.
2009 Slice of Life: 24H.

2008 Dr. Jeff Dawson talks to CBC’s Living in Ottawa host, Maureen Welch, about attracting butterflies to the garden: link no longer available.
2008 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Aflutter With Butterflies: Ottawa Sun.
2008 Larger Than Life: Ottawa Citizen.
2008 An Innocent Fragile Butterfly Blitz: Metro News.
2008 Web Exclusive: The Charlatan.
2008 Butterflies Grace ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Greenhouse: The Charlatan.
2008 The Blue Morpho, the Emerald Swallowtail, They Are Beautiful Butterflies: ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Now.

2007 Our Town: Ottawa Citizen

2005 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Opens Its Doors to Butterfly Lovers: Ottawa Citizen
2005 Butterflies and Moths: Ottawa Citizen

2004 Butterfly Exhibit Takes Flight: Ottawa Sun
2004 Butterfly Show Returns to ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´: Ottawa Citizen
2004 A Bevy of Butterflies: Ottawa Citizen

2003 Butterfly Show No Flight of Fancy: Ottawa Sun
2003 Butterflies are Free at ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ University: Ottawa Citizen

2002 ÐÓ°ÉÔ­´´ Celebrates 60: Ottawa Citizen

Highlights from 2020 (21st Annual Show):

Contact Us

Business Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. & 1:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Email: biology@carleton.ca