It's not too late to register for the 2022 Communities in Bloom National & International Edition! Over the past few years, we have seen significant changes in society’s expectations for, and usage of, our outdoor environments. As a result, Communities in Bloom has renewed and refreshed the judging grid in order to reflect these changes.
We invite you to join communities across Canada to develop civic pride, mitigate and adapt to the impacts of climate change, enhance green spaces, strengthen neighbourhoods, and increase investment opportunities and tourism.
Registration deadline extended to: March 21st 2022
We've had enough Doom & Gloom -
It’s time to Bloom, and Revitalize your Hometown!
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Following the CiB AGM that was held on March 9th 2022, we are pleased to introduce our 2022 Board of Directors. This dynamic team of professionals not only believe in the CiB mission, but they are also leading the conversation in their respective fields. We are excited to have their expertise, values and drive to push the mission of Communities in Bloom forward. |
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Susan Ellis, ON
Chair
(Marketing & Sponsorship Committee Chair)
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John Lohuis, BA, MBA, CMM III, ON
Vice-Chair
(Symposium & Awards Committee Chair)
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Bill Hardy, CLHM, BC
Treasurer
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Robert Ivison, UK
Director
(Program & Judging Committee Chair)
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Darlene Kalawsky, BC
Director
(Provincial Liaison Committee Chair)
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Colleen Stockford, NB
Director
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Leslie Cornell, SK
Director
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Robin Godfrey, NS
Director
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We also would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob Lewis, Ben Cullen, Alan White and Christene LeVatte, who have stepped down from the board, and who have given their time and resources to the CiB Board and program. We are grateful for the time spent together. |
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If not, we hope that YOU will invite your municipality to do so to demonstrate its support for its garden community and all the benefits that gardens and gardening bring to their communities. To help you, here is a link to an invitation, a proclamation template, and a presentation on the Year of the Garden 2022.
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Send this to your councillor or mayor with an email explaining why you feel your municipality should celebrate the Year of the Garden 2022, National Garden Day and be a Garden-Friendly City. |
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This national program is designed to engage all Canadians in a year-long celebration of our country’s vibrant garden culture and horticultural heritage. |
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The Communities in Bloom Family would like to provide special thanks to Bob Lewis, who retired from the CiB Board of Directors in March, 2022 after over 25 years of dedicated service to the organization.
Bob stated in his resignation “I have thoroughly enjoyed my 25 plus years of association with CiB and have witnessed the tremendous success of the program growing pride & strength in communities through total community involvement in environmental, greening and beautification initiatives & conservation of heritage.
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My sincere thanks to all those that have been and are involved in the CiB Program particularly participating communities and their CiB committees and tens of thousands of volunteers, the Provincial Organizations that are the backbone of CiB, our fabulous sponsors, CiB staff, the dedicated judges and National Directors and volunteers and most importantly Raymond Carrière, founding President of CiB, whose inspiration, vision & dedication created CiB and built it into the success it is today.
In the past two years the CiB program has been strengthen by its association with CNLA. The refreshed focus of CiB on the benefits of the program to mitigate and adapt to climate change, promote healthy communities and continue to ‘grow great places together’ will hopefully ensure the continued success and growth of the CiB program.”
Bob is retired from the National Capital Commission (NCC) in Ottawa where he was the Director for Capital Urban Parks & Green spaces. Bob's first career was in the Canadian Forces as a Military Engineer where he served in various locations across Canada as an Army Combat Engineer and Military Public Works Director. CiB is very grateful to Bob for his role as a National Judge for eighteen years and member of the Board of Directors of CiB and the past National Chair. We wish him all the best in the future and look forward to seeing him on the road in Communities across Canada!
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By Karen Stephenson Director, Regulatory Affairs & Stakeholder Relations for Scotts Canada
It's the Year of the Garden! For many of us who are avid gardeners or subscribe to the belief that garden projects can bring communities together, every year is a year for gardening. But with a light at the end of the pandemic tunnel and over 1.3 million Canadians trying gardening for the first time in the past 2 years, there is even more reason to be excited about the upcoming gardening season. In 2022, it is time to celebrate and appreciate all that gardens and gardening have provided for us over the decades and especially over these last few difficult years. We believe that Year of the Garden 2022 has come at an opportune time to help all Canadians emerge from the pandemic and celebrate together.
Scotts believes in the power of gardening, and that is why we have aligned ourselves with many of the objectives that have been set for the Year of the Garden 2022. One of the ways we are recognizing the Year of the Garden is with our Gro for Good - School Edition Grant program. This year in addition to our usual Gro for Good Grants, Scotts Canada has offered schools across Canada the opportunity to be awarded a special grant to build or expand a garden.
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By: Jeff Gibson, Ball Horticultural IGC, Landscape & University Trials Garden Manager
For the past eight years I've had the pleasure to participate as a judge for the All-America Selections (AAS) Display Garden Contest. The theme for the 2021 contest was “Diversity in the Garden.”
For those of you not familiar with the All-America Selections organization, it is the only public trialing and evaluation program for flowers and vegetables in the United States and Canada. Each year, more than 50 garden sites are provided seed and/or young plants of the newest varieties from plant breeders to evaluate in regional locations. They are judged for performance over the course of a season, and then awarded points. The winners are recognized and promoted to the consumer garden media community as well as to the horticultural industry at large.
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Promote your communities pride in joining the CiB program - fly the flag, purchase t-shirts or hats for your community volunteers, and pins for special visitors!
Hurry you have until March 30th to place your order!
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T-Shirt - CiB logo top left chest, back is blank (tropical blue color)
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T-Shirt - CO-BRANDED CiB & Year of the Garden 2022 (sport grey color)
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The soil beneath our feet gives us so much. Food, flowers, shrubs and trees spring from this precious resource to feed us, connect us to nature and to give us joy. Celebrate Soil Conservation Week with Nutrients for Life by digging into this source of life. Soil Conservation week (April 18 -24th) is a national awareness week put on by the Soil Conservation Council of Canada.
Learn how we can take care of soil and nurture it by also digging into one of Nutrients for Life’s free downloadable Soil Reader Resources (available in both French and English). Apply this new knowledge to your garden. Share your new bounty of soil information resources with friends, family or local teachers.
Looking for children’s activities to do while waiting for gardening weather to arrive? Try creating a fun model of a soil profile using gummy bears, crushed cookies, pudding, sprinkles (see Soil Science reader for more details).
Celebrate Soil Conservation week while cultivating a healthy relationship with the soil. Watch your garden and community spirit grow.
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CiB is busy preparing for our Symposium and Awards in Victoria BC this Fall, and looks forward to visiting Wood Buffalo AB in 2023.
Communities in Bloom would like to invite you to submit an application to host a future Communities in Bloom Symposium and Awards event. We have prepared the RFP for the 2024-2026 years. If your community is interested, please complete the RFP and return it to the Program Specialist at bloom@cib-cef.com before June 30th 2022.
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Join us for the 2022 National Symposium on Parks & Grounds and
National & International Awards Ceremonies
in Victoria, British Columbia Canada from
October 20-23, 2022, celebrating the “Year of the Garden”.
We would be pleased to showcase your achievements and
to celebrate your bloom rating and level.
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ACCOMMODATIONS
Host Hotel: Victoria Marriott Inner Harbour
728 Humboldt Street Victoria, British Columbia V8W 3Z5
Tel: 250-480-3800
Special Group Room Rate: $189.00 – $209.00 CAD per night
Cut-off date: September 22nd 2022
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Do you have a great volunteer you'd like us to celebrate?
Send the information to bloom@cib-cef.com and we'll feature them in an upcoming e-News, or on Social Media!
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If you have any questions, please contact:
Sonia Parrino
Program Specialist
1-514-694-8871
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Communities in Bloom is made possible by the generous support of our
sponsors and partners. We wish to thank them for their contribution
to the quality of life and civic pride in Canadian communities.
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