For 20 years, Butterfly the Therapeutic Clown has been bringing laughter, comfort, and connection to children and families receiving care in Grande Prairie.
The Therapeutic Clown Program began in 2004 when Butterfly approached the Grande Prairie Regional Hospital Foundation with a vision. Inspired by the positive impact therapeutic clowns were having in hospitals elsewhere, she believed children in Grande Prairie deserved the same support. With the Foundation’s backing, the program was launched at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital, where Butterfly quickly became a familiar and welcome presence.
Since then, Butterfly has helped thousands of children navigate hospital visits, treatments, tests, and procedures. Through humour, play, magic tricks, balloon animals, glitter tattoos, and imaginative adventures, she provides a valuable distraction from fear, pain, and anxiety. By shifting a child’s focus away from what is happening medically, Butterfly helps create moments of joy during what can often be a stressful experience.
Her role extends beyond entertainment. Therapeutic clowning is designed to support emotional well-being, helping children feel more relaxed, confident, and comfortable in a healthcare setting. For parents and caregivers, Butterfly’s visits often provide reassurance and a much-needed smile.
Bravery Beads
The Bravery Bead Program is a meaningful way to help children recognize and celebrate their courage throughout their hospital journey. Children receive beads to represent different medical procedures, treatments, tests, and milestones they experience. Over time, the beads create a personalized necklace or bracelet that tells the story of what they have overcome. The program helps make difficult medical experiences more tangible for children and families while celebrating each child’s strength, resilience, and bravery.
Clown Car
Meet Butterfly, the Therapeutic Clown, and Brookie, her chauffeur and partner in bringing laughter to Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.
The Clown Car is a colourful and playful addition to the Therapeutic Clown Program, helping Butterfly and Brookie travel through the hospital and bring smiles, laughter and moments of joy directly to children.
For children who may be feeling nervous, overwhelmed or simply missing the fun of being a kid, seeing the Clown Car arrive can turn an ordinary hospital hallway into something unexpected and exciting. It creates opportunities for play, distraction and connection, helping make the hospital experience a little brighter.
The Clown Car is more than a vehicle. It is a mobile invitation to smile, play and leave some of the worries of healthcare behind, even if just for a moment.
Fiber the Cyber Dog
Fiber is a playful and interactive cyber dog who is part of the Therapeutic Clown Program at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital. Designed to bring smiles, laughter and positive distraction to patients and families, Fiber gives the Therapeutic Clowns another fun and engaging way to connect with people throughout the hospital.
From entertaining patients to creating moments of joy during challenging healthcare experiences, Fiber helps make hospital visits a little brighter.
The addition of Fiber to the Therapeutic Clown Program was made possible through the generous support of Global Cellulose Fiber, whose commitment to our community is helping create meaningful experiences for patients and families across the region.
NAO Robot
NAO is a special addition to the Therapeutic Clown Program at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital, bringing technology, play and plenty of smiles to pediatric care.
Generously supported through the Costco Penguin Campaign, NAO is a humanoid robot that interacts and engages with children and families through movement, conversation, dancing and interactive activities. He provides distraction, entertainment and moments of joy for pediatric patients during their hospital experience.
NAO is currently away for repairs and maintenance, but we look forward to welcoming him back to the hospital soon so he can continue bringing smiles and laughter to our pediatric patients.
Thank you to the Costco Penguin Campaign for supporting pediatric care and helping make NAO part of the Therapeutic Clown Program.
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