2025 SYMPOSIUM & AWARDS CEREMONIES | | |
Thank you to the City of Stratford for hosting the 2025 CiB Symposium & Awards! We are grateful for your warm welcome and outstanding hospitality. Your efforts helped create an inspiring and memorable gathering for the entire Communities in Bloom network.
Our appreciation also goes out to all delegates for their engagement and enthusiasm. Congratulations to this year’s award recipients and we invite everyone to discover the full results in the official press releases below.
| | Download the Symposium presentations to rediscover the valuable ideas and knowledge shared during the event! | | We’re excited to announce that this year’s silent auction raised an amazing $3,295 in support of the Communities in Bloom Foundation!
The Communities in Bloom Foundation has been dedicated to fostering education and awareness around the environmental, social, and economic value of green spaces. The proceeds from the silent auction will support initiatives that spread knowledge on the sustainable development and importance of natural spaces across Canada.
Thank you to all who donated, placed a bid, and supported! This success is because of you! | | |
THANK YOU TO OUR EVENT SPONSORS
AND LOCAL VENDORS
| | Save the Date! You’re cordially invited to the 2026 CiB Symposium & Awards in Montréal & Rosemère, Québec. Join us from October 15 to 17, 2026, for an unforgettable event! | | |
Host Hotel:
Hotel Omni Mont-Royal
1050 Sherbrooke Street West
Montreal, Quebec
H3A 2R6
Phone: (514) 284-1110
Preferred group room rate :
$259.00 CAD plus applicable taxes
| Reservation Cut-Off:
September 22nd 2026 | | | Be sure to mark your calendars as well for the 2027 edition, taking place in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. | | COMMUNITIES IN BLOOM THEME FOR 2026 | | |
We are pleased to announce that the 2026 CiB theme will be Therapeutic Gardening. More than ever, we recognize the restorative power of green spaces—gardens that nurture the mind, body, and spirit. Whether through community gardens, sensory landscapes, or the simple joy of tending plants, therapeutic gardening fosters connection, resilience, and well-being.
As part of this initiative, we are proud to introduce the Always Together Rose, a beautiful new variety that symbolizes community, compassion, and hope. Proceeds from its sale will support both the Never Alone Foundation and the Communities in Bloom Foundation, helping to advance programs that make a meaningful difference in people’s lives. With the Always Together Rose, we are planting more than flowers—we are cultivating hope, fostering connection, and nurturing well-being for everyone in our communities.
More information to come!
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Ray G. Hurd
10-Jul-1941 - 19-Oct-2025
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Ray Hurd was a dedicated supporter of Communities in Bloom for over 14 years. As a Councillor in Goderich, he helped the local committee showcase the beauty of the community and developed a deep appreciation for the program’s impact on community pride and development.
Ray joined CiB Ontario around 2010, serving as a judge and provincial board member, and later contributed to the national board. Calm, wise, and highly skilled in administration, he guided the organization with integrity and insight, fostering stronger connections between provincial and national programs.
Passionate about community engagement, Ray valued grassroots contributions and inspired many through workshops, conferences, and judging visits across Ontario. His thoughtful leadership, strategic mind, and dedication left a lasting mark on the program and the communities he served.
Ray will be deeply missed by all who knew him—for his friendship, wisdom, and lifelong commitment to family and community.
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2025 GRO FOR GOOD VIDEO CONTEST WINNER
Supporting Community Gardens and Green Spaces across Canada
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Scotts Canada Limited launched the seventh edition of the Gro for Good program in January 2025. The program aims to keep the spirit of community and connection to nature alive in Canada by providing grants to deserving communities, schools and non-profit organizations seeking to develop sustainable gardens and green spaces.
The recipients of the 2025 Gro for Good grants, valued at $2,500 are:
- Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, AB – Interfaith Learning Garden
- Hammond River Angling Association, NB – HRAA’s Edible Food Forest
- South and Central Health Foundation, NL – Green Thumb Gardening Program
- Rural Community of Alnwick, NB – Alnwick Community Garden
- Strathmore High School, AB – Fruitful Futures
Congratulations to Hammond River Angling Association, New-Brunswick who garnered the most votes in the social media video contest to win an additional $2,000 in gardening products.
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Thank you to everyone who voted, shared, and supported the Scotts Gro for Good Grant Program this year. Together, we’re growing more than vegetables: we’re helping our communities bloom.
Scotts Canada is pleased to be offering this exciting grant opportunity to Canadian communities in partnership with Communities in Bloom, Plant · Grow · Share a Row and Nutrients for Life.
Stay tuned for the 2026 edition!
For further details on the
Gro for Good program, please visit: http://www.groforgood.ca
| | | | | Your green space is more powerful than you think! When you measure your impact with the Clean Air Calculator, you're not just learning — you're becoming part of a Canada-wide movement for cleaner air and healthier communities.
Help us grow greener cities across Canada. Share your results and inspire others to do the same. | | GREEN CITIES FOUNDATION GRANT | | Through matching grants and contributions of materials and labour, GCF supports local projects that renovate and enhance community green spaces. Let’s grow healthier, greener communities together! | | SUCCESSFUL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT | | |
The annual Nutrients for Life Canada Charity Golf Tournament teed off on August 19th at The Canyon Course at Gallagher’s Canyon, set against the stunning backdrop of Kelowna, BC. The tournament takes place annually as part of the Fertilizer Canada conference. Under clear skies, 80 golfers mingled, shared stories, and soaked in the breathtaking scenery and local wildlife.
Thanks to generous hole sponsorships, 18 Canadian schools will each receive a $500 school garden grant this fall. The full list of recipient schools will be revealed in December, so keep an eye on our website for updates. NFL Canada extends heartfelt thanks to Fertilizer Canada for making this memorable day possible, and to all our sponsors for their incredible support.
| | Our partners at CNLA and Garden Centres Canada are offering a free webinar! End this year's season with a look into the future! | | DEMONSTRATE STREAM
OF THE LIVING CITIES CANADA FUND | The 2026 Demonstrate Stream of the Living Cities Canada Fund is now open, offering up to $15,000 for projects like rain gardens, depaving, pollinator gardens, mini forests, food forests, and more. | | GIVING TUESDAY IS COMING! | | This Giving Tuesday is December 2. Join Communities in Bloom in growing great places together. Your support helps the Foundation continue its work in sharing knowledge and inspiring action on the environmental, social, and economic benefits of green spaces. From community gardens to parks and natural areas, every donation helps bring greener, healthier, and more vibrant spaces to communities across Canada. Together, we can nurture not just plants, but the places and people that make our communities thrive. | |
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
bloom@cib-cef.com
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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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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
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