On July 30th, BC Care Providers Association (BCCPA) and Engage BC, along with several seniors living and care homes across BC, hosted a province-wide butterfly release to honour the memory of those lost to COVID-19, while also acknowledging those who survived. The event was hosted at 24 member sites of the BCCPA and Engage BC, with almost 1,000 butterflies being released.
The Butterfly Release has been an annual tradition of Menno Place in Abbotsford and inspired BCCPA and EngAge BC to share the tradition and sincere message of rebirth and transition with other care homes and independent living operators that were deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We know that loss of life and social isolation profoundly impacted care home & independent living staff, residents and their loved ones during the first waves of the pandemic,” says BCCPA and EngAge BC CEO Terry Lake. “While this public health ordeal is not yet fully behind us, thanks to high vaccination rates and loosened visitation restrictions we can safely gather to pay our respects to all who were impacted by the pandemic at these sites.”
The sites that participated in the release were in Abbottsford, Burnaby, Coquitlam, Delta, Port Coquitlam, Qualicum Beach, Richmond, Sidney, Surrey, Vancouver, and West Vancouver. Unfortunately, the participating operators in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton, Vernon and Osoyoos had to cancel or postpone due to wildfire smoke.
Several sites were able to welcome media representatives to share their stories, and the hashtag #BCbutterfly2021 was used on social media to further share the experience.
See below for some tweets and a few of the many media coverage on the event:
The community at Gilmore Gardens @vervesrliving did a lovely job decorating their walkway with chalk art to prep for the butterfly release happening tomorrow across BC. We hope the event will be memorable for the communities at all our participating care homes.#bcbutterfly2021 pic.twitter.com/eTAhGzhChE
— BC Care Providers (@BCCareProviders) July 30, 2021
Gilmore Gardens @vervesrliving held a beautiful butterfly release and was joined by @Richmond_BC Councillor Bill McNulty, @AliceWongCanada, and @KellyRichmondBC. The community gathered to honour the memory of those we lost due to COVID-19. #bcbutterfly2021 pic.twitter.com/CCGHMBGMGO
— BC Care Providers (@BCCareProviders) July 30, 2021
At @MennoPlace, family, friends, staff, and community guests gathered to remember these precious lives and to release butterflies in their honour, symbolizing rebirth and transition. #BCbutterfly2021https://t.co/hoS2W12ADk pic.twitter.com/r25U6fHVOW
— BC Care Providers (@BCCareProviders) July 31, 2021
Symbolic butterfly releases were held at 24 seniors' living and care homes across B.C. as a tribute to those who died during the pandemic. https://t.co/o14XIr2vbX
— CTV News Vancouver (@CTVVancouver) July 30, 2021
Care homes around the province held special ceremonies Friday afternoon to remember their loved ones. One thousand butterflies were released at 24 different locations in honour of those we’ve lost and the survivors of COVID-19.https://t.co/qkhiE1oxVF pic.twitter.com/lGwj5Qee5n
— Global BC (@GlobalBC) July 31, 2021
A thousand butterflies released at B.C. care homes to honour those who died during pandemic https://t.co/eOvERNoe9j
— The Vancouver Sun (@VancouverSun) July 31, 2021
Staff at a long-term care home released butterflies in recognition of the tough times felt by residents and families during the pandemic. https://t.co/8pjYAcwVpO
— CTV News Vancouver Island (@CTVNewsVI) July 31, 2021
It was an honour to collaborate with our members to host this special and important butterfly release, which allowed us to pay our respects to seniors in care homes who were impacted by the pandemic. We hope the residents, staff and community of the participating care homes had a memorable event to honour those who have passed away due to COVID-19, while acknowledging those who survived.
Thank you to all the care home and independent living staff for coordinating this beautiful butterfly release, your time and effort has made this important event possible for our community.
