{"id":1674,"date":"2010-09-01T10:02:43","date_gmt":"2010-09-01T14:02:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/?page_id=1674"},"modified":"2026-07-20T14:09:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T18:09:29","slug":"annual-butterfly-show","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/biology\/annual-butterfly-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Annual Biology Butterfly Show"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Annual Biology Butterfly Show\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n
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\n The Butterflies are Coming!\n <\/h2>\n <\/header>\n \n \n\n

We look forward to welcoming you to the 27th<\/sup> Annual Biology Butterfly Show
Weekends: October 3rd<\/sup> \u2013 11th<\/sup><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In-person visits are available on the weekends with a ticket only. Please use\u00a0EventBrite to reserve your timeslot here<\/a>. Individuals of all ages require a ticket.\u00a0Tickets will launch on Tuesday, September 22 at 2:00 p.m.<\/strong>\u00a0and tend to disappear quickly, so please mark your calendars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Planning Your Visit<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

Help support the butterflies!<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"Girl<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Butterfly Show has been open to the public by donation since its creation 26 years ago. Thank you for over two decades of generous support! Your donations keep the show running year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Donations can be made online using Carleton University’s secure FutureFunder<\/a> platform or in-person during the show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Support the Butterfly Show<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Volunteers and Organizers<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Meet the Butterfly Show Volunteers and Organizers!<\/a> Our show would not have been able to run for 26 years without them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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White Morpho<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Three Tailed Swallowtail <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Atlas Moth<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Blue Clipper<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Malachite<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Giant Owl<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\nPhoto credits to Ed Bruggink\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our History<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Boy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"visitor<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Past Event Highlights and Media Coverage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

2025 Meet the new caretaker for thousands of Carleton\u2019s butterflies: The Charlatan<\/a>.
\n2025 Founders Award Recipient Ed Bruggink: Carleton Board of Governors<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2024 Carleton Butterfly Show Celebrates a Quarter Century of Natural Wonder: Carleton Newsroom<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 Carleton University\u2019s butterfly show is back: CBC Ottawa Morning<\/a>.
\n2023 Carleton University tropical greenhouse featured in the Hallmark movie “Falling in Love in Niagara”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2022 Butterflies flap their wings at Carleton again as annual show returns: CBC News<\/a>.
\n2022 Carleton University\u2019s annual butterfly show set to soar \u2014 in-person this year: Capital Current<\/a>.
\n2022 Monarch Butterfly Research housed in Carleton Greenhouses: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2022 Carleton\u2019s first butterfly show since the pandemic features dozens of species: Capital Current<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2020 Virtual Biology Butterfly Show Comes in for a Landing: Carleton Newsroom<\/a>.
\n2020 Carleton grows wings: Pushed by COVID-19, the 21st butterfly show adapted well to life online: Capital Current<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2019 Twenty Years of Floating Beauties: Carleton Newsroom<\/a>.
\n2019 Butterfly Show Engages Community: Carleton’s Faculty of Science<\/a>.
\n2019 Colossal Carleton Blossom Astounds Biologists: Carleton Newsroom<\/a>.
\n2019 Carleton University Queen Victoria Agave featured in the CBC show “This Hour Has 22 Minutes”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2018 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “The Butterflies That Hear With Their Wings”: The Atlantic<\/a>.
\n2018 Carleton kicks off annual butterfly show: The Charlatan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2017 Carleton Kicks Off Annual Butterfly Show: The Charlatan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2016 Annual butterfly show features 41 species from around the world: The Charlatan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2015 PhD Candidate Amanda Lindeman speaks to CBC’s Adrian Harewood: watch the full interview: CBC News<\/a>.
\n2015 Video and photos: Annual butterfly show at Carleton University: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2015 Some Campus Joys You May Not Know About: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2015 Time Butterflies: Nepean Barrhaven News<\/a>.
\n2015 Butterfly Show Returns to Carleton for 16th Year: The Charlatan<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2014 Butterfly Bonanza: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2014 Les papillons envahissent luniversite Carleton: Le Droit<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2013 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Now we know why butterflies evolved to have ears”: io9 (Gizmodo)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2012 Photos: The Oscar<\/a>.
\n2012 Butterflies and Moths Emerge Again at Carleton: The Oscar<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2011 Butterfly Kisses: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2011 Exhibit Winging Its Way to Carleton: 24H<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2010 The Hidden Beauty of Moths: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2010 Moth Mystique: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2010 Moth Mystique Continued: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2009 Carleton’s 10 Years of Butterflies: Carleton Biology (Metronews)<\/a>.
\n2009 Dr. Jayne Yack’s research “Hearing on the wing: New structure discovered in butterfly ears”: University of Bristol<\/a>.
\n2009 Slice of Life: Ottawa Sun<\/a>.
\n2009 Seeing Eye to Eye: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2009 Slice of Life: 24H<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2008 Dr. Jeff Dawson talks to CBC’s Living in Ottawa host, Maureen Welch, about attracting butterflies to the garden: link no longer available<\/span>.
\n2008 Carleton Aflutter With Butterflies: Ottawa Sun<\/a>.
\n2008 Larger Than Life: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>.
\n2008 An Innocent Fragile Butterfly Blitz: Metro News<\/a>.
\n2008 Web Exclusive: The Charlatan<\/a>.
\n2008 Butterflies Grace Carleton Greenhouse: The Charlatan<\/a>.
\n2008 The Blue Morpho, the Emerald Swallowtail, They Are Beautiful Butterflies: Carleton Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2007 Our Town: Ottawa Citizen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2005 Carleton Opens Its Doors to Butterfly Lovers: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>
\n2005 Butterflies and Moths: Ottawa Citizen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2004 Butterfly Exhibit Takes Flight: Ottawa Sun<\/a>
\n2004 Butterfly Show Returns to Carleton: Ottawa Citizen<\/a>
\n2004 A Bevy of Butterflies: Ottawa Citizen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2003 Butterfly Show No Flight of Fancy: Ottawa Sun<\/a>
\n2003 Butterflies are Free at Carleton University: Ottawa Citizen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2002 Carleton Celebrates 60: Ottawa Citizen<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Highlights from 2020 (21st Annual Show):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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