News Release
HRM a Five-Bloom Winner
(Wednesday, September
22/2004)-- Halifax Regional Municipality has been awarded five (5)
blooms (highest achievable bloom rating) in the non-competitive
National Capitals category of the national Communities in Bloom
competition.
Also, HRM was awarded a special mention for rehabilitation of Halifax
Public Gardens as a result of the devastation left by Hurricane
Juan last September.
National judges with the Communities in Bloom organization visited
and evaluated Halifax Regional Municipality in August on overall
tidiness, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays, turf
and groundcover areas, environmental effort, heritage preservation,
and community involvement.
During their two day visit and tour of HRM, they met with front
line staff, volunteers and community representatives; attended social
functions; and received briefings from business unit leaders on
topics of environmental awareness, heritage preservation, and HRM
corporate programs.
Communities in Bloom is a non-profit Canadian organization that
promotes the opportunity for communities across Canada to compete
in a friendly challenge of beautification, tidiness and community
pride. Several hundred communities compete each year to win at the
provincial level, allowing them to represent their provinces at
the national competition.
Winners of the national competition can go on to compete internationally.
HRM is a charter member of the organization, which this year celebrated
the 10th anniversary of the program. In past years, the municipality
has been awarded special mention for tidiness and recycling, waterfront
development, and floral displays. In 2003, HRM and Aberdeen, Scotland
were each awarded five (5) blooms and declared winners in the International
Challenge, where winning communities from Canada were twinned with
winning communities from other national contests (Britain in Bloom,
Villes et Villages fleuris de France, America in Bloom, Japan in
Bloom)
Rick DeVan, said “The success of our community in this year’s
competition is a result of hard work and dedication by municipal
staff, volunteers, community, and business associations. We have
a community of which to be proud and this program allows us the
opportunity to establish information and cultural exchanges with
communities across Canada and abroad.
Rick DeVan
Real Property and Asset Management
(902) 490-4872
or visit the Communities in Bloom website at www.communitiesinbloom.ca
