British Columbia Communities in Bloom ... People, Plants & Pride ...

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Our Invitation to BC Communities
	What is Communities in Bloom ...
	The 8 Criteria : a Recipe for Success ...
	Program Details & Benefits ...
	How to Participate in the BC CiB program ...
	2010 BC Communities in Bloom Registration Form ...

Communities that look successful are most likely to be successful. Whether a community's specific goals are to increase tourism, generate new economic development or simply to build civic pride, the appearance presented to citizens and to others is a key factor in achieving those goals. British Columbia Communities in Bloom is a program that inspires communities to enhance and sustain the visual appeal of neighbourhoods, public spaces, parks and streetscapes through the imaginative use of regionally-appropriate plants and landscaping with attention to environmental stewardship and to preserve heritage and cultural assets. An integral component of this very popular program is the friendly competition between communities, engaging citizens of all ages, service groups, businesses and associations in a public-spirited effort to succeed and be recognized. We invite communities of all sizes and from every region of British Columbia to participate in the BC Communities in Bloom program to reap the many social and economic benefits that result. How to Participate in the BC CiB program ... 2010 BC Communities in Bloom Category Details & Registration Form ...

What is Communities in Bloom : - - - - - - - - - - - People, Plants & Pride ... growing together.
Communities in Bloom is a community-driven program fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification within set criteria. It is a valuable initiative for promoting all that is good in a community and is a terrific motivator for positive change. The CiB program works especially well as a collaborative effort engaging citizens of all ages, service groups, businesses, associations and municipal government in a public-spirited effort to succeed and be recognized within the community. Each year ends with a friendly competition between BC communities of similar population size at the fall Awards Ceremony. Communities are evaluated by two trained judges on the eight program criteria of: Tidiness, Environmental Awareness, Community Involvement, Natural & Cultural Heritage Conservation, Tree/Urban Forest Management, Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays, and Turf & Groundcover. The Judges provide feedback in a detailed report after evaluating the community for a day in the summer months of July or August. The evaluation report with a bloom rating certificate is presented at the Awards Ceremony. Additional recognition with a trophy for outstanding performance in one of the eight criteria is presented to deserving communities by our BC CiB Sponsors. Since 1995, the CiB program has evolved into several participation levels. Starting provincially, a community often spends 2 to 4 years working to improve their bloom rating. Once achieving the top 5-bloom rating, communities are invited to compete nationally with communities of similar population sizes across the country. The top national winners can then go on to compete at the international level with communities throughout the world! Whether a community is large or small the Communities in Bloom program has helped strengthen inter-community networking and mentoring, increased pride in its citizens, and raised its profile to the rest of BC, Canada and the world! Participation deadline for the 2010 BC Communities in Bloom program is April 9th. We invite all interested parties to contact Catherine Kennedy at (604)576-6506 or info@bccommunitiesinbloom.ca for more information. How to Participate in the BC CiB program ... 2010 BC Communities in Bloom Category Details & Registration Form ...
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The 8 Criteria ... a Recipe for Success.
TIDINESS: includes an overall tidiness effort made by the municipality, businesses, and private citizens of a community. Tidiness of green spaces (parks, etc), medians, streets, sidewalks, ditches, road shoulders, signage, vacant lots and buildings with regards to garbage, weeds, maintenance and repair, dog droppings, notices/posters, graffiti and vandalism. ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS: includes such things as policies and by-laws, programs for education and practicing the ideas of sustainable development, waste reduction, landfill sites, hazardous waste collection, sewage disposal, transfer/recycle stations and various recycling initiatives. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: includes citizens from the private, municipal and corporate sector (including all forms of local businesses) and their involvement in various community projects. Volunteers involved in long and short-term projects (Family Day, Clean-Up Day etc.) and recreational programs (coaches, team managers, etc). NATURAL & CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION: includes efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens to preserve heritage within their community. Support and attention to museums, archives, history books and interpretative programs, policies and by-laws, preservation and restoration of buildings, cemeteries, parks, heritage gardens, trees, monuments and artefacts, historical societies and advisory committees. TREE/URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT: includes the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens in regards to urban forestry. It includes any written policies, by-laws and regulations, short and long-term plans, maintenance (IPM, pruning, etc), new plantings, heritage trees and woodlots, preservation of trees and succession planting. As well it is an effort in developing concepts and designs around existing trees or to include new plantings. LANDSCAPED AREAS: includes the efforts made by municipal, corporate and private citizens in regards to creating an environment where the plants form an essential element of the whole surroundings. It includes overall design and suitability for location and/or use, the use of native plant materials or introduction of new materials, a balance of plant material and constructed elements, harmony (colour, texture and shape), integration of art elements and high standards of maintenance and site rejuvenation and rehabilitation. FLORAL DISPLAYS: include the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens. It includes arrangements of flowers & plants, originality, distribution, location, diversity and balance, harmony, quality and maintenance. This pertains to flower beds, carpet bedding, containers, baskets, window boxes - annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses etc. TURF & GROUNDCOVERS: include the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens. It includes the quality of naturalization, the use of groundcovers and wild flowers, turf management (manicured to rough), maintenance (mowing height/frequency, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), fertilization programs, irrigation, water restrictions). Areas include private homes, public buildings, municipal and private sports fields and athletic parks. How to Participate in the BC CiB program ... 2010 BC Communities in Bloom Category Details & Registration Form ...
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About the Program ... Program Details.
Bloom Certificate and Evaluation Report All participating communities in either the national or provincial contests receive a rating of one to five 'blooms'. All participants are promoted within BC and nationally, and are invited to attend the provincial Awards Ceremony which takes place in the fall, hosted by a different community each year. A top five bloom rating may result in an invitation to participate in the following year's national program. Some of the BC communities that have had national success this past year include Kamloops, Prince George, Kelowna with Summerland, Parksville, Trail and Armstrong. In addition to their rating, each BC CiB participant receives a comprehensive report, prepared by the judges (all qualified and experienced horticulturalists and specialists). This report reviews the particular features and projects in each of the eight criteria areas that the community has undertaken and presented, and offers constructive hints and recommendations for the following year. Of course, all participants are winners with respect to their ability to attract tourism, corporate relocations, new development, investment and general economic activity based on being more attractive, liveable communities! Benefits to Participating Communities Communities that look successful are more likely to be successful, on many levels. People and businesses want to be associated with a successful looking community, which is particularly important with respect to potential new residents, investors, visitors, developers, realtors and others. It is also true that many residents and businesses want environmental integrity and respect for regional heritage built into their communities, in addition to attractive seasonal plants and flowers. Achieving such integrity requires good horticultural practices such as responsible pest management, plant selection appropriate to the region, good soil nutrition, drainage and water conservation and professional upkeep. Additionally, a visible valuing of the community's natural and architectural heritage sends a reassuring message that the area honours its past as a solid foundation for future growth and development. Benefits Include ... Effective track to 2010 readiness. Increased civic pride with citizens, groups, organizations, business and municipal governments motivated and working together. Valuable information and feedback from the professional judges provides specific ideas for future improvements in the community. Preservation of the community's natural or architectural heritage as a legacy for the future. Information and cultural exchanges within the community and with neighbouring national and international communities. Economic development, increased property values, decreased vandalism, improved environmental awareness. Business development in the labour intensive trades of tourism and horticulture ¦ marketing and promotional potential. Increased tourism appeal as well as increased impact on the hospitality and retail industries. And lastly, the rich mosaic of diversity in British Columbia brings with it opportunities to explore and enhance First Nations and other garden traditions from around the world. How to Participate in the BC CiB program ... 2010 BC Communities in Bloom Category Details & Registration Form ...
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