Prairie Butterfly House at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo
The Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo (Zoo) is entering the final phase of development for the Prairie Butterfly House. The new exhibit at the Zoo will be home to several species of butterflies as well as a variety of plants and flowers. The Prairie Butterfly House will provide an opportunity for guests to learn more about pollinators and the important role they play in our ecosystem. Depending on the season, guests will be able to spot a variety of butterflies including:
- Buckeye
- Julia
- Monarch
- Zebra Longwing
- Black Swallowtail
- Giant Swallowtail
- Palamedes
- Polydamas
“Pollinators (butterflies) are some of the most important animals on the planet,” says Jeff Mitchell, Zoo Manager. “The Prairie Butterfly House will cultivate an exceptional learning environment where visitors can develop an understanding and passion for what pollinators do and how important they are to our environment.”
Several organizations played a role in the development of the Prairie Butterfly House. Through PrairiesCan, funding of $177,320 under the Tourism Relief Fund was provided for the construction of the Prairie Butterfly House from the Government of Canada.
“Canada’s prairie landscape is rich in flora and fauna, and the new Prairie Butterfly House will highlight some of the smallest creatures that contribute a lot to our ecosystem. Our government is proud to invest in this facility at the Saskatoon Forestry Farm Park & Zoo through the Tourism Relief Fund. Residents and visitors to Saskatoon will be able to see the beauty and environmental impact of butterflies for years to come,” said the Honourable Daniel Vandal, Minister responsible for PrairiesCan.
PrairiesCan funding under the Tourism Relief Fund supports tourism operators through contribution agreements. The Tourism Relief Fund empowers tourism businesses to create new or to enhance existing tourism experiences and products to attract local and domestic visitors. Tourism Relief Funding focuses on projects that position communities to take advantage of post-pandemic opportunities, as well as supporting destination development prospects in line with objectives set out in the Federal Tourism Growth Strategy.
A special thank you to the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation and all the Prairie Butterfly House sponsors who contributed to the development of the new exhibit.
- PrairiesCan
- Norplex Business Centre
- Hunter Family
- Duval Family
- Ultravision Construction
- one-mouse graphic design
- Dutch Growers
- ADA Architects
- Laser Impressions
- ASL Paving
- ASSA ABLOY Entrance Systems Canada
- Saskatoon Zoo Foundation
“The Prairie Butterfly House will further enrich the guest experience at the Saskatoon Zoo,” says Saskatoon Zoo Foundation Executive Director, Dawn Woroniuk. “This exhibit was made possible thanks to a number of donors and contributors, we are especially grateful to the Government of Canada, Norplex Business Centre and the Hunter and Duval Families. By supporting the Saskatoon Zoo Foundation, we can continue to connect citizens to nature through education, research and conservation while building for the future for this much-loved tourist attraction.”
Residents will have their first opportunity to preview the space on Saturday, June 11, with the official opening to take place later this summer. The Zoo is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. visit saskatoon.ca/zoo to plan your next visit.