Community in Bloom judges will be in St. Paul this week.

The Town of St. Paul, along with Devon AB, Capreol ON, and North Bay, ON, is participating in the 30th Edition of Communities in Bloom (CiB) in the National Population category.

Based on the scoring obtained, the community will be rated from 1 to 5 Blooms. In their 5-Bloom rating, they will aim to obtain Bronze, Silver, or Gold levels.

Judges will be in St. Paul Thursday through Saturday

The Communities in Bloom judges, Colleen Stockford from Sussex NB & Christine Isaac from Leduc AB, will evaluate St. Paul on July 25-26-27 2024. The community would like to remind all businesses and residents to tidy up their property before the judges arrive.

The National and International results will be announced in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, from October 17th to 20th, 2024, during the National Symposium on Parks & Grounds and the National & International Awards.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit volunteer and partnership-driven 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.

Their vision is to inspire all communities to enhance the quality of life and our environment through people and plants to create community pride. “Growing Great Places Together” is our slogan, and it captures the essence of the program.

The town received 4 Blooms in 2022

The Town of St. Paul earned a 4 Blooms rating and special mention for its Community Garden during the 2022 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Victoria, British Columbia. Competing in the Up to 6,000 Population category against Chipman, NB; Melfort, SK; and Petitcodiac, NB, St. Paul also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for the Municipal World WinterLife Award. Trained volunteer judges assessed communities based on criteria such as Community Appearance, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Tree Management, and Landscape and Plant & Floral Displays.

Judges Colleen Stockford and Lucy Chang highlighted St. Paul’s community garden, noting its inclusive nature and innovative practices. The garden features raised beds, in-ground beds, a greenhouse, and on-site composting, with a donated industrial water tank facilitating watering. The garden brings together newcomers from various regions, encouraging them to grow familiar produce, fostering connections between new and veteran gardeners, and enriching the community through shared harvests and diverse culinary experiences.

Cold Lake was recognized in 2023 for its Kinosoo Beach project

Last year, Cold Lake achieved national recognition by winning first place in the Communities in Bloom competition, securing a “Five Blooms—Silver” rating for its Kinosoo Beach Enhancement Project. Competing against Chipman, NB, Provost, AB, and Wolseley, SK, Cold Lake emerged victorious in the category for areas with less than 20,000 residents. Mayor Craig Copeland expressed pride in the staff and community’s year-round efforts to beautify and sustain the city.

The award was presented at a ceremony in Fort McMurray in September of 2023, and it was accepted by City of Cold Lake Parks staff and Councillor Vicky Lefebvre. Mayor Copeland credited the Cold Lake Communities in Bloom and Environmental Society, judges, and city staff for their dedication and hard work. He emphasized that the award reflects Cold Lake’s residents’ collective pride and efforts.

All those involved in the Communities in Bloom program can be proud of  their efforts, benefitting all of society by providing real and meaningful ways to mitigate climate change.