MONTRÉAL, July 10,
2024 /CNW/ - Espace pour la vie celebrates
pollinators with the 2nd edition of Les Butineries, a
festive weekend from July 26 to
28 on the Insectarium's outdoor site, near the
Pollinator Garden. Three days of free activities for the
whole family, including two evenings (a first!) to learn all about
pollinating insects and how to protect them.
Understanding our relationship with pollinating insects,
experiencing a privileged contact with them, and above all,
marveling at their beauty and diversity in an urban setting—this is
what the Insectarium team has in store for you during Les
Butineries!
"In Montréal, just like everywhere else in the world,
pollinators play a vital role in our ecosystems and in our daily
lives. That's why our administration is taking action to root
nature in the city and encourage initiatives to protect
pollinators. We are delighted to support these actions through
Space for Life, which is organizing three days of free and
enjoyable activities for the public. We invite all citizens not to
miss the "Les Butineries" event at the Montréal Insectarium," said
Caroline Bourgeois, vice-president
of the city's executive committee and member responsible for sports
and recreation, Space for Life, the French language and eastern
Montréal.
Experts on hand to keep you in the know
Throughout the
weekend, kiosks staffed by experts from the Insectarium and
elsewhere (Polliflora, Regroupement des éco-quartiers) will provide
information on topics as varied as greening urban habitats, the
monarch butterfly, scientific research into pollen and pollinators,
tips and tricks for your garden, and how to pick native plants to
attract pollinating insects. What insects are pollinators? Why do
they pollinate? Come and discover their world and how you can lend
them a hand.
A weekend teeming with activity
Les Butineries will
unfold in a buzzy atmosphere where youngsters will, among other
things, get to take on fun challenges, create a new garden for
pollinators with the Insectarium team, encounter artists on stilts,
have their faces painted and, why not, create an insect costume for
the parade at the end of the day!
Les Butineries in the Evening – A first-ever night-time
component
From 8 pm, the animation team
at the Insectarium invites the public (recommended age: 7 and up)
to an evening in which dance, music and science will come together
for a unique experience! Start with an immersive dance
performance—Out of Focus—inspired by the world of insects,
created and performed by Marie Lévêque. Then, let yourself be
transported by the music of Leon
Louder, experimental musician and sound designer, who will
give a 90-minute musical performance entitled Entomophonie,
created entirely from real-life and modified insect sounds.
Moving to the rhythm of the music and guided by the Insectarium
team, you could catch a glimpse of beetles, butterflies and other
insects during the Insects Under the Stars activity. All
sorts of nocturnal insects are active at dusk and after nightfall.
Their diversity is as rich as it is astonishing! Budding
photographers can also contribute to the Biodiversity Challenge's
community science project by recording their observations via the
iNaturalist platform.
The Insectarium's mission continues
Les Butineries is
a concrete initiative by the Insectarium in response to the City of
Montréal's Pollinator Protection Plan, to which Insectarium experts
have contributed. The Insectarium team is thus pursuing its mission
of accompanying the public and providing them with essential tools
in order to raise awareness of the importance of insects and the
role they play in protecting biodiversity. In so doing, the
Insectarium gives new meaning to the word "entomophilia," to
express our love, appreciation and respect of insects.
LES BUTINERIES
July 26 to 28
Insectarium outdoor site – Free
event
10 am to 5 pm – Expert kiosks and
animation
8 pm to 11 pm – Dance and music performances,
night-time insect watching
Viau or
Pie-IX Metro Stations
P2 Parking (paid) - 4581 Sherbrooke St.
East
|
8th International Monarch Monitoring Blitz – July 29
to August 4
Save these
dates, stay tuned, and be among the thousands of people across
Canada, Mexico and
the U.S. who join forces every year to support monarch
conservation. Find milkweed, check for
monarchs, and record your observations. More information on
the Mission
Monarch website.
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About Espace pour la vie
Protecting biodiversity
and the environment is at the heart of the mission of Espace pour
la vie, which is made up of the Biodôme, Biosphère, Insectarium,
Jardin botanique and Planétarium de Montréal. Together, these
museums located in Montréal form Canada's largest natural science museum
complex, welcoming over 2.4 million visitors each year. In view of
the challenges our planet is facing, Espace pour la vie is working
to increase its impact by fostering dialogue with communities and
taking actions aimed at mobilizing the public behind the
socio-ecological transition.
Press images
SOURCE Espace pour la vie Montreal