Butterfly memorial

On behalf of CHEO and Roger Neilson House, in collaboration with the Compassionate Friends, we present the annual Butterfly Release Memorial. This year, we will be hosting an in-person event in the cafeteria on Level 1 at CHEO. A virtual ceremony will also be available for viewing. At both the in-person event and virtual ceremony, butterflies will be released in honour of the memory of children lost.

RSVP information to the in-person event or virtual ceremony can be found below.

RSVP

About the in-person event (June 14, 2025)

What to expect on the day

When: June 14th, 2025 at 2pm

Where: CHEO Cafeteria, located at 401 Smyth Road.
Parking: Located in CHEO’s Parking Lot D.

Other details

Attendees to the in-person ceremony will be greeted by volunteers and led to the cafeteria.

The Canterbury High School Choir will be providing music while attendees arrive and during the ceremony.

The ceremony will be about 30 minutes in length.

When you arrive, you will be asked to check in at the visitor’s table to sign in and receive your butterfly (1 per family). When checking in, you will be able to let us know who you are there to remember.

During the ceremony, the name of your loved one will be read aloud.

To respect the privacy of all presenters and attendees, we ask that no photos or videos be taken during the ceremony.

You are welcome to remain and to talk with other families, staff and medical staff after the ceremony.

RSVP

RSVP to Butterfly Release Memorial

Please note: all families will also receive a link to view the virtual ceremony on Saturday, June 21.

About the virtual event (June 21, 2025)

When: Saturday June 21, 2025

Where: The link to view the virtual ceremony will be sent to families by email on June 21, and families can view it on their own schedule.

What to expect on the day

We will be sending a virtual ceremony that families can view on their own devices, on their own schedule. All of those who RSVP, even if they are unable to attend the in-person event, will receive a link to view the virtual ceremony. We will inform all of those who RSVP when the link to the video is live. Only those who have the direct link with have access to view the ceremony, though you are welcome and encouraged to share the link with family and friends when you receive it.

To respect the privacy of all families and attendees, we ask that you please do not share the video link on social media, such as Facebook or Twitter.

RSVP

RSVP to Butterfly Release Memorial

For more information, please contact Patient Experience by phone (613) 737-7600 ext. 4934 or email butterflyrelease@cheo.on.ca

Butterfly activity sheet

Grief and loss can be expressed in many different ways. It’s often children who are able to express theirs beautifully through creative art.

If your child, youth or other family members (of any age) would like to use this butterfly template to express themselves, we've created this butterfly activity sheet for your family to use before, during or after the ceremony.

Here are a few prompts to help you get started:

Draw memories of your loved one in the butterfly

Write words that remind you of your loved on in the butterfly

Use colours that show how you are feeling