Butterfly Run Monument unveiled at Zwick’s Park

It was multiple years in the making but the Butterfly Run monument officially has a permanent place at West Zwick’s Park.

A ribbon cutting for the metal monument featuring dozens of butterflies was held Friday.

The Butterfly Run Quinte was started in 2016 by Beth Primeau, Loralee McInroy and Barb Matteucci and has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support families who’ve experienced the loss of pregnancy or their infant children.

There is a memorial mural at Belleville General Hospital but McInroy says this is another permanent place people can come to remember those babies.

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“A lot of families tend to not to like to go back to the hospital so this is somewhere outside they can have a moment, they can grieve their baby and also to increase awareness to people walking by to read the sign and know what it’s about and hopefully be able to support somebody who’s going through one of those losses.”

The monument, which is located near the bayfront, was created by local artist Shawn Donnan of Horizon Metal Works.

The monument was made possible with donations from Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance.

Art Weirsma of Bay of Quinte Mutual Insurance says the monument is close to his family’s heart.

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“Because my granddaughter died in 2019 on delivery and it became a very personal matter to be involved in. I’ve seen pictures of it but it doesn’t do it justice as far as the work that was done on it, it’s unbelievable.”

Art and Mary Weirsma tie a ribbon to the Butterfly Run Monument in memory of their granddaughter, at Zwick’s Park, Belleville, May 21/21. (Photo: Quinte News/Alana Cameron

More than 250 people participated in this year’s virtual Butterfly Run which was held between May 1 and 16.

Organizers don’t have a final total yet but funds raised from this year’s run are going to Belleville General Hospital’s maternity ward as well as Sunnybrook Hospital’s PAIL (Pregnancy and Infant Loss Network) which provides counselling, peer-group supports and other services around the province.

Donations are also still being accepted online.