Photo courtesy dreamstime.com 

By Erika Rolling

Interactive Learning

Grande Prairie students raise and release their own butterflies

Jun 19, 2022 | 10:00 AM

Almost 1600 students in 40 Grande Prairie and area schools located in the public, catholic, and county divisions received butterfly kits last month.

The International Paper Grande Prairie Mill, through the International Paper Foundation, provided the kits and the kids just recently got the chance to release their Painted Lady butterflies, which are native to Canada, into the wild.

Wade Doris, Mill Controller at the Grande Prairie International Paper Mill said it was great to sponsor this learning experience for children in the region.

“It cultivates that appreciation for nature, get kids thinking about science and nature, so we are really excited to do it.”

Doris said this was the second year they have been able to supply the kits to schools in and around the City and County.

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“The idea sprung out of the U.S. mills, they’ve been doing it for a number of years.”

“It was excellent, there were lots of rave reviews. Some of the pictures that we received back from the schools and children after they get to release those butterflies and see them turn into butterflies, I was so neat to see all the smiles and how engaged and excited the kids are with the kits,” Doris said.

The butterflies were sourced by an Ontario company, Butterflies and Roses that are a member of the International Butterfly Breeders Association.

Doris said “International Paper strongly believes in environmental sustainability, so the butterfly kits give a great connection to the communities they operate in.”

Photos courtesy International Paper Grande Prairie