Pat King sits with family members, watching intently as a butterfly slowly flaps its wings, after landing on her extended finger.
King was one of about 600 people taking part in the 9th Annual Live Butterfly Release fundraiser for the Near North Palliative Care Network, at the North Bay waterfront Saturday.
She was there to honour the memories of her son, her mom and dad, and her brother and sister.
“That’s my sister Moira (Hiscock). She was always sticking around, and she was always sleepy. It’s just the way she was,” King laughs referring to the butterfly.
“Moira was very special to both Gina and I, we're sisters. She was a stained glass maker and she loved butterflies. She actually made the most beautiful piece of stained glass with all butterflies on it, and it’s just absolutely gorgeous. She just loved them. And that’s her,” King acknowledged with a big grin.
Edith Benoit buys a butterfly every year.
“I buy one, sometimes more, in memory of my husband, and my mom and dad, and other family members who have passed on. I think it’s a beautiful idea to release the butterfly up to heaven and to have it carry our wishes there,” said Benoit.
“My sister used to bring my nieces and nephews every year and that kind of started a tradition, but unfortunately they’re away this weekend. It’s a good thing to carry on. Palliative care has been a best-kept secret and it’s something that is very worthwhile and needed in North Bay.”
This is the first time attending the butterfly release for Tammy Lalonde.
“I’m here to support my best friend who lost her mother and poppa and quite a few other relatives. She has her young children here, and I brought my daughter. I think they need to understand growing up, that it’s okay to show their feelings and to embrace the idea of remembering your relatives. That it’s okay to do that.”
Mohit Jasrotia brought his five-year-old son and seven-year-old daughter.
“Both of my kids love butterflies, that’s the whole reason for bringing them here, so they can release it, and send their wishes.”
The butterfly release is the single largest fundraiser for the Near North Palliative Care Network.
Darren Renaud, Executive Director of the NNPCN, explains that money generated from this event goes directly to support palliative volunteer services across the district.
The original goal was to sell 500 butterflies. In the end, it sold 550.
“We have had considerable growth in the last year, and by the numbers we submit to the Local Health Integration Network (LHIN) we had about a 400% growth this past year in palliative clients, bereavement services, community training events, services that have been requested and given to the community,” said Renaud.
“So this type of fundraiser is absolutely essential for continuing that work. We put every dollar we can, into the direct support of the palliative clients in the district. We’re doing more than just volunteer work in the hospital, in long-term care, in people’s homes. As a visiting hospice, we go to where the palliative client is.”
The goal is to raise $20,000 through the butterfly release.
“Other visiting hospices in Ontario have been struggling with fundraising this past year. And a lot of their corporate donations either are much less or haven’t manifested, and there are difficulties in those communities raising those funds. A lot of the companies that would normally donate are seeing changes in their business climate, increases in the minimum wage is affecting their donating ability,” said Renaud.
“Fortunately for us in North Bay, we have been well supported by the community and surrounding areas. We’re expecting this butterfly release to be as good as last year or possibly even better. We still have our corporate donors, and supporters in the community and we thank them. They’re part of the backbone of what makes our palliative work possible.”
