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Hamilton Spectator

Planting Change: WS Butterflyway Project Cultivates Hope for Pollinators

● WS Butterflyway Project is part of a national initiative launched by the David Suzuki Foundation in 2017. ● The organization emphasizes that aiding pollinators is essential to preserving biodiversity, food security, and ecosystem health, and that individual actions can make a meaningful impact. ● Founded in 2022, Butterflyway Rangers lead pollinator garden plantings and educational outreach in Stouffville and nearby communities. ● The group has donated canoe gardens, seed kits, and native plants to local organizations, businesses, and individuals. ● Upcoming summer events will engage the community and encourage the creation of supportive pollinator corridors. Inspired by the David Suzuki Foundation's national initiative launched in 2017, the WS Butterflyway Project is a local, volunteer-driven effort to create pollinator-friendly spaces using native plants. The goal is simple yet vital: restore habitat for bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators, one garden at a time. Led by trained community 'Rangers,' the Butterflyway model encourages residents and their neighbours to plant native gardens, forming natural corridors for pollinators. The initiative operates on the principle that meaningful environmental change can start in one's backyard and ripple outward through community support. Bullet Point News caught up with WS Butterflyway Project co-founder Micole Rubinoff this week at the Baker Hill Community Garden. She was joined by fellow Ranger Yvonne Warner during an event with local Girl Guides, focused on pollinator education, planting, and creating bee baths. 'The girls were really interested, and they were able to get information and knowledge on native plants and the importance of pollinators,' Rubinoff said. 'They liked learning how everything is connected, how we rely on our environment, and how even small actions can help support the living things around us.' Participants were especially drawn to the concept of bee baths, which are small, shallow water sources designed to help pollinators stay hydrated. 'They loved the idea of the bee baths,' Rubinoff said. 'It wasn't something they had thought about before, so we related it to having cats and dogs—just like pets, bees and other pollinators need water too.' Another concept that resonated with the Girl Guides was the 'Three Sisters' garden, a traditional Indigenous companion planting method that combines corn, beans, and squash to support each other's growth. 'They really liked how simple and effective it was, and how it was used to sustain entire communities,' Rubinoff explained. Since launching in 2022, the WS Butterflyway Project has seen steady community growth. Repurposed canoe gardens have been donated to the Town of Stouffville and the Holy Theotokos Convent, and the team has supplied native plant starter kits to local businesses, including Moto Café, Stouffville Picture Framing, and Parkview Home. This year, volunteers are establishing new pollinator gardens at the B'MORE Sunflower Farm in Whitby and Harmony Hall in Vandorf. The team is also in discussions with the Stouffville Public Library to introduce a community seed library, where residents can borrow, grow, and return seeds—promoting gardening literacy and local biodiversity. The plantings are part of a broader series of public outreach events taking place in the months ahead: Those interested in learning more, staying updated, or contributing to pollinator efforts are encouraged to email WSbutterflyway@ . Residents can also connect with the team on their Facebook page and group , which serve as community hubs for sharing photos, planting ideas, event details, and tips on native species and pollinator health. 'Our role is to inspire and assist, and supporting pollinators is something each of us can take on in our own way,' Rubinoff said. 'We're grateful for the support we've received from the Stouffville Legacy Fund to continue these efforts, and we love seeing what others are growing and doing for pollinators.'