Butterfly release set to fly

FORT FRANCES—There will be at least a few more butterflies in the air above Fort Frances and Rainy River this weekend when the Rainy River District Palliative Care Volunteer Program holds release services in both towns.
The first will be held Saturday (July 19) at 10 a.m. at Hannam Park in Rainy River as part of “Railroad Daze,” with the second to follow Sunday (July 20) at 2 p.m. at the Legion Park here.
Palliative care volunteer Jennifer Anderson said there still are plenty of Monarch butterflies available to adopt for $15 each. People who adopt them can release the butterflies themselves at the services or have someone else do it.
To adopt a butterfly, just contact a palliative care volunteer or volunteer co-ordinator Anderson at 276-0202. She noted it’s never too late to adopt a butterfly, adding people can adopt them on the day of the release as long there’s some left.
Anderson said she’s ordered a total of 100 Monarch butterflies both for the release here and the one in Rainy River.
While this will be the second such release in Fort Frances, it’s the first time it’s being done in Rainy River.
“Because the palliative care volunteers are actually right across the district, we’re not just in Fort Frances, we thought it would be nice to offer it at both ends so that people wouldn’t have to travel as far,” Anderson explained.
The release service does not take long. It consists of a five- to 10-minute service, followed by a simultaneous release of Monarch butterflies. Refreshments then will be available.
The release of butterflies comes from an American Indian legend that believes that if anyone desires a wish to come true, they must capture a butterfly and whisper that wish to it.
Since they make no sound, the butterfly can’t tell the wish to anyone but the Great Spirit. So by making the wish and releasing the butterfly, it will be taken to the heavens and be granted.
It is with this in mind that we will be releasing the butterflies for our family and friends and for those who have left us behind.
It is the palliative care volunteers’ hope this event will be an opportunity for us to reflect on those who have left us and those who struggle to go on.
The Rainy River District Palliative Care Volunteer Program provides support to individuals and families living with a chronic or life-threatening illness by visiting in homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.
The role of the volunteer is to listen, advocate for optimal care, assist the individual and family to achieve meaning and satisfaction at this difficult time, relieve caregivers, and complement the role of family members.
They observe confidentiality at all times.
For more information on receiving this service or if you’d like to volunteer, contact Anderson at 276-0202.
(Fort Frances Times)