Menno Place Shares Joy and Honours Loved Ones with Butterfly Release Celebration

August 4, 2016 - Menno Place hosted their first-annual Butterfly Release Celebration for seniors, families and staff in the one-acre landscaped courtyard that is a jewel of beauty at the centre of the 11 acre campus-of-care.

Residents, family members and staff were encouraged to purchase butterflies for release on this very special occasion. Butterflies were eagerly purchased with all proceeds going to the gardening programs for the Recreation Team.

Joanne Sweeney, Recreation Manager, was very familiar with the way a Butterfly Release Celebration opens up joy and symbolizes hope for seniors.

"This is the first time we are holding this special celebration at Menno Place", said Joanne. "We were a bit worried that it would rain or be too cool, but God answered our prayer and the sun came out and shone down on us. It is a thrill to see seniors release their butterfly and watch those butterflies flutter about, sometimes resting on individuals before they set off into their new world."

The Butterfly Release is a celebration of life and can be used to symbolize the transitions we face, the joy we have in the moment, the honouring of someone we love, the remembrance of someone who has passed and the wonder of the world in which we live.

Deputy Mayor Patricia Ross and City Councillor Les Barkman were on hand to say a few words and share the moments of joy and remembrance. Both made personalized buttons that commemorated the day and shared a person whom they were remembering as they released their butterflies.

More than 200 people participated in the celebration. Throughout the courtyard, groups were clustered together to share joy and sorrow. Many butterflies landed in the newly landscaped butterfly garden before carrying on in their freedom. Designed in anticipation of this event, the garden is full of long-blooming flowers known for attracting butterflies and hummingbirds. There are many sculptures of butterflies "growing" among the plants.

The celebration was sweetened with homemade cupcakes from the Menno Place baker, Mirelle. She hand-pressed and airbrushed tiny butterflies which appear to gently land on the swirled frosting of each cupcake. Using the beautiful posters as inspiration, she said, "Some of the butterflies are shiny. Some are not. Some are releasing a butterfly for joy, some for sorrow. Creating these is my heart and my passion."

"What a joyful and wonderful event!" said Karen Baillie, CEO of Menno Place, "A care home does not need to be a place of depression and isolation. We create moments of joy for seniors every day! Our care and values shone through today in a big way."