Pointe-Claire deemed Monarch-friendly city thanks to conservation efforts

The city of Pointe-Claire has been awarded a bronze-level certification as a Monarch-friendly city.

The municipality received the honour from the David Suzuki Foundation  for its actions to help restore the endangered butterflies’ habitat.

READ MORE: Quebec entomologists concerned about Monarch butterfly populations

Pointe-Claire joins the growing number of cities in Quebec and abroad that are taking part in the movement.

The city of Pointe-Claire has been striving to help the fluttering numbers of the butterfly with its Monarch Educational Garden.

The $50,000 stone cobble stone garden has been a favourite stop for the monarch on its yearly journey for the past two years.

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Pointe-Claire has met many of the requirements deemed necessary for the title.

“It’s a cultural responsibility and the fun part is were also getting the citizens involved,” Pointe-Claire mayor John Belevedere said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "It's a cultural responsibility and the fun part is were also getting the citizens involved," Pointe-Claire mayor John Belevedere said.

One of the major pro-butterfly requirements that is mandatory is reducing the use of harmful pesticides, explained Julie Roy, public engagement specialist at the David Suzuki Foundation.

READ MORE: ‘Ominous’ drop in Monarch butterfly numbers in Mexico, experts say

“Pesticides have come a long way; we found out a lot more about them and how bad they are for us,” Belevedere said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Pesticides have come a long way; we found out a lot more about them and how bad they are for us," Belevedere said.

The city has changed the bylaw to reduce the amount of harmful chemicals used.

The pesticides are dangerous for the butterflies and their necessary food source, the milkweed plant.

The monarch caterpillars survive off the poisonous milkweed plant, to which they are immune.

“There is a big loss of milkweed plants since the last 20 years,” Roy said. “90 per cent of milkweed has disappeared.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "There is a big loss of milkweed plants since the last 20 years," Roy said. "90 per cent of milkweed has disappeared."

Twenty-five cities have been deemed Monarch-friendly in Quebec. Roy hopes that more cities will continue to help in the conservation effort.