Communities in Bloom: The Bloom'n News for March 2024

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REGISTRATION DEADLINE EXTENDED

Friendly Reminder: Register for Communities in Bloom 2024 before the extended deadline on March 31st, 2024!

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 FORMS

ATLANTIC PROVINCIAL EDITION

HEALTHIER, LIVABLE CITIES

SPECIAL ATTRACTIONS

NATIONAL & INTERNATIONAL EDITION

The deadline to register has been extended to March 31st, 2024

Sonia Parrino

Program Specialist

1-514-694-8871

bloom@cib-cef.com

2024 COLOUR OF THE YEAR

Spring is nearly here, and what better way to greet the approaching season than by sowing the vibrant hue of orange? Orange is this year's colour theme, offering an ideal opportunity to infuse your garden with a burst of energy!

Click Here for a complete list of ORANGE flowers by Ball Horticulture.

COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM WEEK

Join us in celebrating Communities in Bloom week, taking place the week of May 6th, 2024! This is a time to come together and showcase the beauty and vibrancy of your community. Whether it's planting flowers, cleaning up local parks, or beautifying public spaces, there are countless ways to get involved. Proclaim your commitment by completing the form below and let's make this year's Communities in Bloom week one to remember!

PROCLAMATION FORM

2024 CiB SYMPOSIUM & AWARDS

Step into a world of inspiration and celebration as Communities in Bloom proudly marks its 30th Anniversary at the 2024 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies, all set against the picturesque backdrop of Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada.

Immerse yourself in enlightening sessions led by esteemed keynote speakers and presenters. Connect and exchange ideas with vibrant “in Bloom” communities from Canada, Europe, and the USA. Engage with dedicated colleagues who share your passion for community development.

Join us for an unforgettable gathering where your achievements will take centre stage, and we’ll raise a toast to your outstanding bloom rating and level. Don’t miss this invaluable opportunity to network, learn, collaborate and be part of a momentous occasion filled with recognition and endless possibilities!

MORE INFORMATION

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

This week is International Women's Week leading into this Friday March 8th, International Women's Day!

In alignment with the Government of Canada’s theme for International Women’s Day (IWD) 2024, Communities in Bloom embraces the call to "Invest in women: Accelerate progress." This theme serves as a powerful reminder that gender equality is essential for fostering healthier, more prosperous, and inclusive communities. Each of us has a vital role to play in shaping a future where everyone, regardless of gender, can thrive and achieve their full potential. Let us come together and take action, for the success of women is the success of us all!

NFL SCHOOL GARDEN AWARD

Nutrients for Life, a proud partner of Communities in Bloom, is offering a chance to win a $500 grant to support a local school garden to all Canadian communities registered (all editions) in the Communities in Bloom program.

The NFL School Garden Grant will support schools with a one-time funding amount of $500 to establish or enhance school gardens at K-12 schools across Canada. Funds may be used to:

Purchase construction materials, seeds, tools, and other supplies to establish or develop a school garden.

Nutrients for Life Foundation Canada was launched in 2008 to inform the public of the role of plant nutrients in both the production of abundant, nutritious food and the preservation of healthy green spaces. The Foundation supports public education to ensure plant nutrients are responsibly applied. Nutrients for Life has committed to fund school gardens in order to help connect youth to modern agriculture and agricultural practices, and provide them with an understanding of where our food comes from.

Further, to help inspire the development of creative, hands-on educational activities related to your school garden, Nutrients for Life have developed many resources that are available for free to all teachers across the Country. Please visit their website at www.nutrientsforlife.ca to access their resources – which focuses on understanding the science of plant biology and how it relates to food production. The resources explore the scientific, social, and environmental issues that relate to modern agricultural practices that will help sustain food production for the earth’s growing population.

Nutrients for Life has also created a guide to help schools develop their gardens – Nutrients for Life Learning Garden: A Guide for Educators in Canada. The guide includes ideas that can assist you in the construction of a garden and tips on harvest, sample lesson plans, and considerations for engaging the community.

We look forward to working with you and watching your garden grow.

Sincerely yours,

Tamara Sealy, Executive Director

Nutrients for Life Foundation

APPLICATION FORM

Application deadline is September 8th, 2024

#GREENMYCITY

WEBINAR - MARCH 12, 2024 - 12 PM EST

How Time Outdoors Improves

Our Health and Well-Being

Our hunter-gatherer roots may still predispose us to feeling better outdoors. Yet, most Americans spend a mere 8% of waking hours outside. Declining outdoor time is linked to many adverse health outcomes. Yet, this trend is being creatively reversed. Activities such as outdoor worship, outdoor schools, and what is now called “Green Exercise” are just some examples. This webinar will present current research on positive health outcomes linked to outdoor time in any green environment – urban, suburban, or rural. Examples of communities motivating residents to get outside, and design trends to support outdoor activity will be provided.

The webinar is presented by Cheryl Corson, Cheryl may be the only landscape architect who is also a national board-certified health and wellness coach (NBC-HWC). She has been an America in Bloom Advisor since 2019. Cheryl lives blocks from the Susquehanna River and 14 miles of rails to trails in central Pennsylvania. She tries to take her own advice about getting outside as much as possible.

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!

If you have any questions, please contact:

Sonia Parrino

Program Specialist

1-514-694-8871

bloom@cib-cef.com

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.

Major Sponsor

Founding Sponsor

National Sponsors

Partners

You are receiving this email from Communities in Bloom, a national non-profit organization with charity status. For comments or questions, please contact us at

bloom@cib-cef.com.