«a News TheReview Wednesday, May 20, 1992 — A21 CASE buiterfly count increases environmental awareness by Valorie Tamburri Special to The Review The ancient Greeks believed butterflies were souls of the dead. Their goddess, Psyche, which means soul, is depicted as a woman with butterfly wings. Today, butterflies usually sym- bolize freedom and beauty. People on the Peninsula marvel at the unusual pattems and deep colors of their omamental wings. Determined to make sure all Greater Victorians don’t take that symbol for granted are Derrick and Gwen Mallard, foun- ders of Citizens Association to Save the Environment. In August 1989, CASE launched a pilot project of three official butterfly counts per year, becom- ing the first group in B.C. to count butterflies. “T grew up in an area where, if you walked through the meadow _ you had to be careful not to step on a butterfly,” says Gwen. ‘“Now you have to search for them.” The three main threats to extinc- tion for butterflies are loss of habitat, injuries from cars and toxic chemicals, says Gwen. Last weekend, the first official butterfly count was held. To keep it Organized, accurate and valid, CASE provided a kit containing butterfly identification and direc- tions for $5 each. Why so much work for butter- flies? There are the simple pleasures they provide. A child may let a caterpillar tingle slowly up an arm and stroke its fuzzy sides, or she May stop amidst her play to chase a butterfly from bloom to bloom. It lets her get so close, then she reaches and it’s gone. But butterflies have a practical purpose in nature, too. They help maintain an environmental bal- ance by aiding in the pollination of plants and in some instances by becoming part of the food-chain themselves. The Mallards became worried about the serious depletion in the butterfly population over the past few years. The reason they started this project, says Derrick, is because butterflies are highly visible. “Counting butterflies is a subtle way to conduct an education pro- gram which will allow people to understand the ecological interde- pendence of birds and butterflies, and other living organisms within Our environment.” Gwen says she would like to take the annual butterfly project into the local schools. The Mallards believe that by protecting and nurturing butter- flies people are taking a step forward in meeting the challenge of preserving the environment for present and future generations. Another way to help is by creat- ing gardens that are good habitats for butterflies. The best flowers are those with a sweet fragrance. Sweet william, valerian, lavender, buddleia, forget-me-not, corn- flower, lobelia and bluebells are good. Herbs such as fennel, loval and thyme are also a favorite. The painted lady likes to lay her eggs on thistle, says Derrick, and swallowtails like nettles. “In our garden, although the gaudy swallowtail caterpillars con- sume some of the plants,” says Derrick, ““we find they leave enough to pick for our salads and dry for herb teas. In other words we are sharing our environment with them.” On May 28, at 6:30 p.m. CASE will hold a vegetarian pot luck dinner at Pathways House, 5500- Hamsterly, in Saanich. Members and interested parties are asked to bring enough food to feed four. The next official butterfly count will be on July 4, and S. To get your kit or further information, call 652-3487. ACCREDITATION AWARDED TO REST HAVEN LODGE Rest Haven Lodge has been presented with a Three Year Accreditation Award by the Canadian Council on Health Facilities Accreditation. This is the third successive year this award has been presented to Rest Haven Lodge. The award recognizes the dedication of Rest Haven Lodge staff to provide residents with the highest standard of care and quality of life. It represents the serious responsibility - and commitment - the Lodge makes to residents and the community. Only 51 of the 250 long term care facilities in BC have achieved this significant honour. In jobs When you buy there's a payb and a stronger economy. Canadian, ack. p> It may look simply like : footwear to you, but it's part of a= $1.5 billion industry that employs mo 12,000 people. Figures from the Department of Industry, Science and Technology Canada < Competing successfully in the office-furniture market demands high quality and competitive pricing. Canadian companies provide both, which would explain why they export more than $300 million worth of office furnishings annually. VY Canada’s recreational watercraft builders experienced some rough sailing during the recession. But with better times ahead and better products on the market, the future looks a lot brighter. That's good news for boating enthusiasts and the 3,000 Canadians who work in this $300 million industry. EVERY TIME YOU GO SHOPPING, YOU'VE GOT CHOICES TO MAKE AND DECISIONS TO REACH. WW CERTAINLY, YOU SHOULD COMPARE PRICE AND QUALITY. THEN, TAKE A MINUTE TO THINK ABOUT CANADA. i BECAUSE WHEN YOU BUY A CANADIAN-MADE PRODUCT OR SERVICE, OR SHOP IN A CANADIAN STORE... THERE'S A PAYBACK. IN CANADIAN JOBS AND A STRONGER ECONOMY. & Canapa. Buy Into I. > Small appliances aren’t small when it comes to job creation. Some 5,000 workers in 65 companies produce nearly $500 million worth of small § electrical appliances in Canada. Nosmall § achievement! § Canada =