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PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Stratford, Ontario, October 18^th, 2025 — 

The Village of Pugwash received a rating of 5 Blooms - Gold and a special mention for Friends of Pugwash Estuary during the 2025 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in the City of Stratford, Ontario. The Village of Pugwash participated in the International Challenge Small category along with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns Co Laois Ireland and Yarmouth Nova Scotia Canada. The community also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Community Involvement Award.

Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – regarding the following criteria: Community Appearance, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Tree Management, Landscape and Plant & Floral Displays.  

Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Susan Ellis and John Lohuis wrote: 

“FOPE is a volunteer group that has partnered with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries & Oceans Community Aquatic Monitoring Program to collect data on water quality, fish species and abundance at several sites around this biologically important estuary. They also monitor bird species for Birds Canada, and the health of fish habitat in streams feeding into the estuary. This is exceptional work and citizen science of benefit to the entire region, and is highly commended.” 

Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.

For a complete list of the results, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca. 

About Communities in Bloom

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian volunteer and partnership-driven non-profit organization that uses a multi-tiered competitive evaluation process to foster community strength, involvement and continuous improvement. This is accomplished by nurturing environmental sustainability, enhancements of green spaces, and heritage conservation, in cultural and natural environments encompassing municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional spaces. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca. 

Communities are evaluated using a “bloom” rating determined by the total score of the evaluation:

0 to 55 %=1 Bloom  56 to 63 %=2 Blooms 64 to 72 %=3 Blooms 73 to 81 %=4 Blooms 82 % and over=5 Blooms

There are four (4) levels of 5 Blooms exclusive to the National and International Edition:

5 Blooms: 82 to 83.9%    Bronze: 84 to 86.9%    Silver: 87 to 89.9%      Gold: 90% and over

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