The judges came-a-calling last week to the Westman area, visiting a number of communities including Brandon, Boissevain-Morton, and the International Peace Garden for the Communities in Bloom competition.

Boissevain Mayor, Ed Anderson, and Communities in Bloom, Sandra Burton, toured the two judges through gardens and museums and parks, streets with hanging baskets and the many building murals painted on the outside of feature buildings.  The group even got in on the Boissevain-Morton Farmers’ Market and lunch in the Park that takes place every Friday noon at the Romance of the Railway Park.

Judge Larry Hall, hails from Buena Vista, Saskatchewan and has been a national judge for some 6 years.

Hall said they were very impressed with all aspects of the town of Boissevain, but they were most impressed with their outstanding recycling program.  “Our experience in Boissevain has been very pleasant, but I will have to say that the recycling depot that you have here is second to none that I’ve come across at least in the last nine years.  It’s a fantastic facility.”

 Judge Marylaine de Chantal lives in Sainte-Angele-de-Monnoir, Quebec.  Both judges enjoyed the warm days of summer during their tour and saw Westman at its finest, with blossoms everywhere.

De Chantal shared her delight as they drove into Boissevain. “I’m very impressed with the floral display you have by the entry, with the trees and the many baskets.  And everywhere we can see nice, flowering baskets.  You seem to have a very great team of volunteers to plant!”

The judging duo had visited the City of Brandon earlier in the week.  They both remarked about the beautiful flower gardens they toured, and the many sites.  However, McDiarmid Park stood out in their minds the most.

“Brandon was an impressive community as well,” says Larry Hall.  “Certainly the floral displays there are worthwhile seeing.  The networking of the municipal staff is really good.  I was very impressed with a lot of the park areas, in particular McDiarmid Park.  The surfacing that they’ve put in on the park is a rubberized surface is quite a unique concept for a park.  I’ve seen on sidewalk and I’ve seen it on driveways but a park area with this will be very interesting for residents to go and use that.  And other features in that park, including an edible garden.”

Judge Hall explained that they are looking at the many aspects of a community when assessing any community in the Communities in Bloom competition. Those aspects that are becoming more and more important in our society are given special attention, such as water conservation, recycling, LED lighting, cultural heritage and natural heritage of the community.

When asked what advice they would give communities who are in the Communities in Bloom competition, they both agreed that the program is not so much about just the flowers, but about the entire community as a whole, that improves the quality of life in the community for all its residents.

Larry Hall addressed the recycling program in Boissevain applauding them in their continuous effort and community support as an example of working together for the whole of the community.  “We were told that approximately 7000 hours goes into that recycling depot on an annual basis, they fund-raised to create the building, 20 volunteers twice a week in support, and the revenue from that, making that facility self-sufficient is pretty incredible!”

A full 2-day Communities in Bloom conference will be held September 8-9 at the International Peace Garden with keynote speaker, Don Vitko, who is the cacti collector who brought the Cactus Collection to the Peace Garden.  Register at www.mbcommunitiesinbloom.ca for this event.

The National and International results will be announced in Ottawa/Gatineau, National Capital Region from September 13 to 16, 2017 during the Symposium and Awards Ceremonies with the theme of “Communities and Green Spaces …Celebrating Canada’s 150 Anniversary”.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, beautification and to improving quality of life through community participation and a national challenge.