Oct. 19, 2012, St. Jacobs, ON — Everything came up roses for ten communities across Canada when the winners of the 18th annual Communities in Bloom Challenge were announced.
The national finalists and international challenge participants were announced at the National Awards Ceremony, hosted in the Edmonton Capital Region on Oct. 13. Home Hardware Stores Limited supports Communities in Bloom as a national sponsor.
“Communities in Bloom’s commitment to improving the environment in communities across Canada and around the world is one shared by all Home Hardware dealer-owners who proudly support this organization,” said Paul Straus, president and CEO of Home Hardware Stores Limited. “On behalf of dealer-owners at close to 1,100 Home stores across Canada, I would like to congratulate the winning communities on this great achievement.”
Winners of this year’s Outstanding Achievement Awards include the Municipality of Lambton Shores, Ont., which received the National Award and the Home Hardware Community Involvement Award, and The City of Pembroke, Ont., which received the Home Hardware Beauti-Tone Heritage Conservation Award.
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the promotion of green spaces in community settings. Participating communities are evaluated by volunteer judges on eight separate criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf and groundcovers, floral displays and community involvement.
Every year, hundreds of Canadian communities take up the challenge in the national and provincial edition of the program.
“Communities in Bloom and Home Hardware have enjoyed a fantastic and mutually beneficial partnership since our program launched,” said Raymond Carriére, founding president of Communities in Bloom. “Home Hardware dealer-owners are strong supporters of local community involvement and the environment, and we are honoured to have them with us every year as we recognize Canada’s most beautiful communities.”
The following ten communities were recognized based on their population:
- Up to 1,200: Appleton, Nfld.
- 1,201 to 3,000: Beausejour, Man.
- 3,001 to 6,500: Jasper, Alta.
- 6,501 to 10,000: Castlegar, B.C.
- 10,001 to 20,000: Lambton Shores, Ont.
- 20,001 to 50,000: Fort Erie, Ont.
- Over 50,001: Granby, Que.
- Canadian Forces Sustainable Communities: CFB Borden, Ont.
- Class of Champions – Large Population: Strathcona County, Alta.
- Class of Champions – Small Population: Boissevain, Man.
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