Annual Biology Butterfly Show

The 25th Annual Butterfly Show has now come to an end.

Thank you for your support in 2024! Please join us again next year!

Help support the butterflies!

The Butterfly Show has been open to the public by donation since its creation 25 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 Carleton University’s secure FutureFunder platform or in-person during the show.

Support the Butterfly Show

There’s more to discover!

Learning at Home	Learn more about butterflies with us! Here you will find learning resources geared to younger audiences.
Explore Biology	When it comes to Biology, there’s always more to discover! Learn about the world changing research being done by biologists at Carleton University.
Social Media	Are you a social butterfly? Interact with us and share your Butterfly Show moments with us on social media. #CarletonButterfly2024
Species Spotlight	Learn more about the species featured at the show!
Ask an Expert	Do butterflies make sounds? How do they fly? You asked – our experts answered.

Volunteers and Organizers

Meet the Butterfly Show Volunteers and Organizers! Our show would not have been able to run for 25 years without them!

White Morpho	Three Tailed Swallowtail	Atlas Moth
Blue Clipper	Malachite	Giant Owl
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 Carleton.” From the outset, the goal was to provide a free community event, inviting families to Carleton and offering young people a unique, early introduction to science education.

Initially, the show ran in May around Mother’s Day. However, in 2002, Carleton 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

2024 Carleton Butterfly Show Celebrates a Quarter Century of Natural Wonder: Carleton Newsroom.

2023 Carleton University’s butterfly show is back: CBC Ottawa Morning.
2023 Carleton University tropical greenhouse featured in the Hallmark movie “Falling in Love in Niagara”.

2022 Butterflies flap their wings at Carleton again as annual show returns: CBC News.
2022 Carleton University’s annual butterfly show set to soar — in-person this year: Capital Current.
2022 Monarch Butterfly Research housed in Carleton Greenhouses: Ottawa Citizen.
2022 Carleton’s first butterfly show since the pandemic features dozens of species: Capital Current.

2020 Virtual Biology Butterfly Show Comes in for a Landing: Carleton Newsroom.
2020 Carleton grows wings: Pushed by COVID-19, the 21st butterfly show adapted well to life online: Capital Current.

2019 Twenty Years of Floating Beauties: Carleton Newsroom.
2019 Butterfly Show Engages Community: Carleton’s Faculty of Science.
2019 Colossal Carleton Blossom Astounds Biologists: Carleton Newsroom.
2019 Carleton 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”: The Atlantic.
2018 Carleton kicks off annual butterfly show: The Charlatan.

2017 Carleton Kicks Off Annual Butterfly Show: The Charlatan.

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

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

2014 Butterfly Bonanza: Ottawa Citizen.
2014 Les papillons envahissent luniversite Carleton: Le Droit.

2013 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Now we know why butterflies evolved to have ears”: io9 (Gizmodo).

2012 Photos: The Oscar.
2012 Butterflies and Moths Emerge Again at Carleton: The Oscar.

2011 Butterfly Kisses: Ottawa Citizen.
2011 Exhibit Winging Its Way to Carleton: 24H

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

2009 Carleton’s 10 Years of Butterflies: Carleton Biology (Metronews).
2009 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Hearing on the wing: New structure discovered in butterfly ears”: University of Bristol.
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 Carleton 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 Carleton Greenhouse: The Charlatan.
2008 The Blue Morpho, the Emerald Swallowtail, They Are Beautiful Butterflies: Carleton Now.