By Julia Harmsworth
Evaluation is in full swing for this year’s Communities in Bloom — a national and provincial program which works to bring people, plants and pride together in an annual beautification contest.
The volunteer organization inspires communities to beautify their neighbourhoods and public spaces through evaluation. Two judges arrive in July or August and spend a day or two touring the area to evaluate the community on a scale of one to five blooms.
“Once a community has been involved with Communities in Bloom, you can tell,” said Martin Quinn, Communities in Bloom Ontario Chairman and national and provincial judge. “There’s that much more pride in how the community looks.”
Judges consider plant and floral displays, landscaping, heritage conservation, tidiness and community appearance, environmental action, and urban forestry and trails when making their evaluations. Communities get a full report in the fall detailing the judges’ findings.
Provincial Awards Ceremonies — in which participants receive awards and further comments from the judges — occur from late August to mid-October.
“We give ideas, observations and recommendations of how communities can build on what they have and work together,” said Quinn. “[The goal is] to help each community develop to become a better place to live, utilizing people, plants and pride.”
Inspired by similar beautification programs in Europe, Communities in Bloom began in 1995 with 29 communities. Since then, it has grown to involve 800 communities nationally. Within the Ontario chapter, six communities are signed on to be evaluated in 2023.
Communities in Bloom is a community-wide project, involving municipalities, business communities and individuals. It seeks to foster civic pride through bringing people of different ages together under a shared purpose.
In addition to aesthetics, the program emphasizes environmental awareness and a community’s response to the threat of climate change.
“There are some unbelievable communities that are really forward thinking,” said Quinn, naming Barrie, Ont., as an example. He said the city’s tree canopy management and invasive species educational program is “second to none.”
Communities interested in participating in Communities in Bloom can register here or become a ‘friend’ to the organization to gain access to more information.
“Every community is so different, and it’s so rewarding to hear their stories, give them some advice, and see them bloom,” said Quinn.
