News Release
COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM LAUNCHES ITS 15TH EDITION
(Wednesday, August 12, 2009) Communities in Bloom (CiB) is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program. Celebrating its 15th edition in 2009, the Communities in Bloom program is dedicated to promoting the value of plants, trees and green spaces in urban settings, and encourages Canadian communities of all sizes to improve quality of life through community engagement and sustainable development.
In 2009, hundreds of Canadian communities are participating in the national and provincial editions of the program, and municipalities from England, Scotland, Ireland and Japan are taking part in the International Challenge.
In July and August, qualified volunteer CiB judges will visit participating communities and evaluate each one on its overall performance in the following areas: tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays, and turf & groundcovers. The evaluation is based on the local conditions and achievements of citizens, businesses, organizations, institutions and the municipal government working together towards common objectives. The detailed evaluation reports identify each community's strengths, and provide suggestions for improvement. The communities become part of an extensive information exchange network with other participants in a dynamic and rewarding process for continuous improvement.
The results, including annual bloom ratings, criteria award recognitions and winners, will be announced at the National Awards Ceremonies, hosted this year by the City of Vaughan, Ontario on October 2nd & 3rd, in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Awards. The concurrent 12th edition of the National Symposium on Parks and Grounds will offer conference sessions, workshops and technical visits on the theme of Biodiversity at Stake in the Urban Environment from September 30th to October 2nd. Provincial Editions also hold their respective Award Ceremonies and workshops in the fall.
WinterLights Celebrations (WLC), the winter edition of Communities in Bloom, held its eighth edition in 2008-2009. the program, which focuses on winter activities, programming, visual presentation and outreach, recognizes the efforts of communities that sustain environmental, visual, economic, programming and tourism leadership throughout the winter months. The results of this past edition were announced in Prince George, British Columbia on February 21st, 2009. Next year's edition of the WLC Symposium and Awards will be held in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from March 4-6, 2010.
To support the educational aspect of its activities, the organization established the Communities in Bloom Foundation, a registered charity dedicated to education and research in the area of green spaces and their positive impact on our society. For more information on the activities of the Foundation, please contact us at (514) 694-8871.
Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the CiB program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.
For further information on the program, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca and www.winterlights.ca.
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THANK YOU TO OUR NATIONAL SPONSORS AND PARTNERS
Canada Lands Company
Home Hardware ?? Scotts ?? Waste Management
National Capital Commission ?? Zaunscherb Marketing ?? CN Tower
EcoSense ; Miracle-Gro ; Ball Horticultural Company ; Urban Fertilizer Council
Canadian Nursery Landscape Association ; Municipal World ; VIA Rail Canada
Canadian Parks and Recreation Association ; Lifestyle Information Network
Tree Canada ; Composting Council of Canada
People, Plants and Pride...Growing Together / Citoyens et espaces verts en harmonie...une société florissante
112 Terry Fox, Kirkland (Québec) H9H 4M3 T: (514) 694-8871 F: (514) 694-3725
www.communitiesinbloom.ca - www.winterlights.ca * bloom.fleurs@sympatico.ca
2009 NATIONAL EDITION - ÉDITION NATIONALE 2009
People Plants and Pride...Growing Together/Citoyens et espaces verts en harmonie...une société florissante
112 Terry Fox Kirkland (Québec) H9H 4M3 ?(514) 694-8871 ??(514) 694-3725 @: bloom.fleurs@sympatico.ca
Web: www.communitiesinbloom.ca Site Internet : www.collectivitésenfleurs.ca
Over 300 001 – Plus de 300 001
Edmonton AB
Halifax Regional Municipality NS
London ON
55 001 – 150 000
Chatham-Kent ON
Kamloops BC
Kawartha Lakes ON
Lethbridge AB
Sarnia ON
Wood Buffalo AB
20 001 – 55 000
Campbell River BC
Corner Brook NL
Fort Erie ON
Leduc AB
District of West Kelowna BC
10 001 – 20 000
Brooks AB
Fort St. John BC
Gravenhurst ON
Huntsville ON
King ON
Miramichi NB
Summerland BC
Wetaskiwin AB
8 001 – 10 000
Amherst NS
Hinton AB
Minto ON
New Glasgow NS
Weyburn SK
Winkler MB
5 001 – 8 000
Castlegar BC
Dryden ON
Stettler AB
Yarmouth NS
3 001 – 5 000
Chetwynd BC
Kindersley SK
Pincher Creek AB
Vermilion AB
1 001 – 3 000
Ashcroft BC
Gibbons AB
Indian Head SK
Montague PEI
Souris PEI
Watson Lake YK
1 – 1 000
Baddeck NS
Fogo NL
Grenfell SK
Tatamagouche NS
International Challenge / Défi International
Small Category / Collectivités de petite taille
Aylmer ON
Dyce, Scotland
Hampton NB
Goderich ON
Olds AB
Westport, Ireland
Trail BC
White Rock BC
Large Category / Collectivités de grande taille
Aberdeen, Scotland
Strathcona County AB
Charlottetown PEI
Edogawa, Japan
International Challenge Friends / Défi international - Amis
Chapelfield Norwich UK
Minatozaka Japan
Canadian Forces Communities in Bloom / Collectivités en fleurs – Forces canadiennes
4 Wing Cold Lake AB – Circle of Excellence Non Evaluated
CFB Suffield AB
CFB Petawawa ON
Marlant Halifax NS
Special Attractions / Attraits spéciaux
Fundy National Park, Alma NB
SDC Vieux-Montréal QC
Jardins de Métis, Grand-Métis QC
Manulife Financial, Toronto ON
Okanagan College, Kelowna BC
Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, Edmonton AB
Parc des Champs-de-Bataille, Québec QC
Jardin du Gouverneur, Montréal QC
Circle of Excellence – Cercle d’excellence * Evaluated – Évalué
Antigonish NS *
Athabasca AB*
Barrie ON *
Boissevain MB *
Brampton ON
Brandon MB
Dauphin MB
Ingersoll ON
Kincardine ON
Kingston ON
Medicine Hat AB*
Metro Moncton NB
Quesnel BC
Millet AB*
Mississauga, ON
Mundare AB
Port Carling ON
Neepawa MB *
Oshawa ON *
Parksville BC
Pembroke ON
Prince George BC
Qualicum Beach BC
Rosemère QC*
Saint John NB
Viking AB
Stratford ON
Tiverton ON
Toronto ON
Vaughan ON
Williams Lake BC
Virden MB
Westmount QC
Summerside PEI *
Winnipeg MB
Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville QC
Whitby ON
Langley BC
Woodstock ON
