Gloria Barron Prize

Aylmer’s Butterfly Girl on a mission for monarchs

An Aylmer 12-year-old, Genevieve Leroux, is doing her part in the preservation of the environment -- and the insects living in it.  

She has created Milkweed for Monarchs to help protect Western migratory Monarch butterflies and to raise awareness that they are threatened with extinction. Genevieve plants and nurtures milkweed plants, monarchs’ sole food source at the time of their caterpillar phase. She began her preservation mission in third grade, starting native milkweed plants from seed. Originally from California, she moved to Aylmer not long ago.   

Her efforts have gained attention. She has been named a winner of the 2018 Gloria Barron Prize for Young Heroes. Each year, the Prize, created in 2001, celebrates North American diversity and talent. The Gloria Barron Prize celebrates 25 young people who have made a huge difference to people and the environment. The organization’s mission is to spotlight amazing young people so that their stories will inspire others. Over the years, 445 young people have been honoured.

Known to her peers as the “Butterfly Girl”, Ms Leroux continues to conduct research as a citizen scientist for Monarch Alert, a program of Cal Poly University. Now in Western Quebec, she is aiding with Eastern Migratory Monarch butterfly conservation.