Canada Blooms Newsletter January 2011

City of Toronto: Every Tree Counts! Toronto’s Urban Forest
Healthy communities are rooted in urban forests.  Trees lend shade and beauty to our city, help to clean our air and water, and provide valuable food and habitat for wildlife. Visit the City of Toronto booth to see what you can do to preserve, protect and enhance Toronto’s natural environment. Learn how to plant and care for new and existing trees, ways to recognize harmful pests, get a grant to green your neighbourhood, effective mulch and watering techniques, and so much more! Be sure to stroll down Spring Boulevard to meet with experts from LEAF and the Humber Arboretum, too.  Don’t miss Arthur Beauregard and Ruthanne Henry as they tell you all about Toronto’s Urban Forest at the Celebrity Stage on City of Toronto Day at Canada Blooms, Sunday, March 20th.

Let the challenge begin: qualifying post-secondary teams from across the province will meet head to head at Skills Canada — Ontario’s 2011 Landscape Gardening contest held at Canada Blooms, March 16-20. The competition involves teams of two students building a small garden based on a common criteria. The competition last throughout the show, with final judging taking place Saturday and the awards will be announced Sunday at 10:30 at Canada Blooms.

This year, the design of the competition garden aligns with the Canada Blooms theme: ‘Rhythms.’ As competitors begin to build their gardens during the show, rhythm will quickly become evident. This contest is part of the 22nd Ontario Technological Skills Competition — an Olympic-style, multi-trade and technology competition for young students and apprentices in Ontario. The competition provides an opportunity for young Canadians studying a skilled trade or technology test themselves against exacting standards and their peers from across Ontario. Students vie to win the honour of being crowned the best in their chosen discipline. For more information on Skills visit their website: www.skillsontario.com .