County of Renfrew Long-Term Care Homes Launch Butterfly Gardens

COVID-19 has affected many people and activities including fundraising. For that reason, the County of Renfrew/City of Pembroke long-term care homes have already had to cancel their key 2020 fundraisers. Don Goulet, Chairperson of the Bonnechere Manor Foundation notes that these fundraisers were critical to the Homes moving ahead with the implementation of the Butterfly Approach – “a concept that includes significant changes such as smaller more home-like ‘neighbourhoods’ versus units”. Sandra Sell, Chairperson for the Miramichi Lodge Foundation adds that, “other changes include redesigning the dementia units to be more welcoming and intimate, and filling the household with the ‘stuff of life’ so that residents can connect with a variety of colours, textures and objects that that remind them of their lives, work and hobbies”.

However, where there is a will – there is a way! Shelley Sheedy, Director of Long-Term Care explains that the Homes have come up with a unique project that can be both carried out under the current COVID-19 restrictions and support some of the costs to implement the Butterfly Approach. Local artist Janet Springer has been busy creating beautiful stained glass butterflies – as unique as our residents. Much like the transformation of a caterpillar into a butterfly, Miramichi Lodge and Bonnechere Manor hope to see the transformation of the two homes with the implementation of the Butterfly Approach. The Foundations are pleased to advise that these lovely butterflies are now available for sale. The colour options cover the rainbow but a few examples are depicted below:

A wall adjacent to the Butterfly unit in each Home will be covered with a floral garden design, which will in turn be decorated with these stunning stained glass butterflies representing project donors. Each butterfly will be sold for $100 and displayed in the “Butterfly Garden.” The Gardens will become a permanent art installation in each Home representing a gift for someone special, a loved one who has passed or as a general donation to the Home in support of their journey to become a Butterfly Home:

For more information or to choose your butterfly for our garden at either Home, please contact Lainy Boldt-Johnson at 613 432 4873 Ext. 1252.

Bonnechere Manor and Miramichi Lodge, highly regarded long-term care homes in Renfrew and Pembroke, Ontario respectively, are municipally (not-for-profit) owned and operated by the County of Renfrew and City of Pembroke. A wide-range of quality long-term programs and services including 24 hour nursing care, accommodation, meals, as well as physiotherapy programs and a variety of social and recreational activities are provided to the 346 residents who call the Manor and Lodge ‘home’. Both Homes have been awarded a Four Year Accreditation with Exemplary Standing Award - the highest award granted by Accreditation Canada and provides the Homes with the opportunity to benchmark their programs and services to national standards and assists in continuous quality improvements.

For more information, visit our website or call:

Lainy Boldt-Johnson Fundraising Coordinator 613 432-4873 Ext. 1252