Mayor's Monarch Pledge

Proclamation 

Whereas, the monarch butterfly is an iconic North American species whose multigenerational migration and metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has captured the imagination of millions of Canadians; and

Whereas, both the western and eastern monarch populations have seen significant declines with less than one percent of the western monarch population remaining, while the eastern population has fallen by as much as ninety percent; and

Whereas, The City of Temiskaming Shores recognizes the human health ultimately depends on well-functioning ecosystems and the biodiverse regions can better support food production, healthy soil and air quality and can foster healthy connections between humans and wildlife; and

Whereas, Municipalities have a critical role to play to help save the monarch butterfly, and The City of Temiskaming Shores is stiving to become a leader; and

Whereas, on Friday, March 28, 2025 Mayor Jeff Laferriere, signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge and have officially committed to taking meaningful action to protect the monarch butterfly; and

Whereas, every resident of The City of Temiskaming Shores can make a difference for the monarch by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play and worship; and

Whereas, The City of Temiskaming Shores has committed to:

  • Provide public education and communication efforts to encourage residents to plant monarch and pollinator gardens.
  • Engage in opportunities to maintain and plant monarch and pollinator community gardens, including native milkweed and nectar-producing plants

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the City of Temiskaming Shores hereby proclaims DATE, 2025 as:
“Mayor’s Monarch Pledge Day”
In the City of Temiskaming Shores, and encourage all residents to participate in community activities that support and celebrate monarch conservation

Action Items 2025

Communications and Convening

  • Issue a proclamation to raise awareness about the decline of the monarch butterfly and the species’ need for habitat. This proclamation must incorporate a focus on monarch conservation.
  • Launch or maintain a public communication effort to encourage residents to plant monarch gardens at their homes or in their neighborhoods. (If you have community members who speak a language other than English, we encourage you to also communicate in that language; Champion Pledges must communicate in that language.)

Program and Demonstration Gardens

  • Plant or maintain a monarch and pollinator-friendly demonstration garden at City Hall or another prominent or culturally significant community location.
  • Add or maintain native milkweed and nectar-producing plants in gardens in the community.

What community members can do 

Plant with a Purpose

The City of Temiskaming Shores is encouraging residents to plant with a purpose this year by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators in locations where people live, work, learn, play and worship.

Resources

 Learn more about the Mayors Monarch Pledge on the National Wildlife Federation website. 

National Wildlife Federation - Mayors Monarch Pledge

National Wildlife Federation - Community Profile