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2017 Provincial Awards Results
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The 2017 CiB Alberta Provincial Conference & Awards Ceremony was held in Lacombe on September 22 & 23, 2017 in conjunction with the Alberta Horticulture Association annual conference.
A huge "thank you" goes out to Rob Spencer (Conference Chair) and the rest of the Committee -- Lorna McIlroy, Lorraine Taylor, Steve Allan and Karen Snethun -- for organizing such an amazing and successful 2017 event!
Approximately 80 delegates were in attendance to enjoy this year's CiB/AHA Conference & CiB Provincial Awards. In addition to the recognition provided to each of the 2017 participating communities, the event included pre-event tours, guest speakers, hands-on conference sessions, silent auction, door prize draws, live entertainment and opportunities to network and socialize.
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The local tours offered were well attended with delegates enjoying the Ecovision Geodesic Greenhouse at Lacombe Composite High School, and a guided historical walking tour of Lacombe's historical treasures.
Nicole Leidl, tour guide from the Lacombe & District Historical Society, explains the history of the back alley murals.
Dignitaries on hand to bring greetings from their respective jurisdictions were Mr. Blaine Calkins (MP Red Deer - Lacombe), Mr. Ronald Orr (MLA for Lacombe-Ponoka), Ms. Paula Law (Reeve, County of Lacombe), and Mr. Reuben Konnik (Deputy Mayor of Lacombe).
MP Blaine Calkins brings greetings on behalf of the Government of Canada
ARPA CEO Bill Wells brings greetings from Alberta Recreation & Parks Association
MP Blaine Calkins and Honorary Colonel, Ajaz Quraishi (Cold Lake CiB)
Guest speakers included Kath Smyth - horticulturalist at Calgary Horticulture Society, and Cynthia Pohl who provided a virtual tour of the Ellis Bird Farm. Another highlight was Leta van Duin from the Alberta Low Impact Development partnership who provided a talk on Holistic Stormwater Management.
National CiB Judge Berta Briggs and Provincial Judge Lorrie McFadden brought greetings to CiB delegates on behalf of the national and provincial judging teams.
Berta Briggs, CiB national judge, brings greetings from the National CiB Program.
Lorrie McFadden, CiB Alberta judge, offers her reflections on the 2017 Alberta judging season.
The Alberta Recreation and Parks Association (ARPA) and CiB Alberta acknowledges and congratulates all participating communities within their respective population categories:
POPULATION 1 - 500 (COMPETITIVE)
Village of Veteran - 5 Blooms (Category Winner)
POPULATION 501 - 2,000 (COMPETITIVE)
Town of Bon Accord - 5 Blooms (Category Winner)
Town of Irricana - 4 Blooms
POPULATION 2,001 - 6,000 (COMPETITIVE)
Town of Cardston - 5 Blooms (Category Winner)
Town of St. Paul - 4 blooms
POPULATION 6,001 - 15,000 (COMPETITIVE)
Town of Taber - 5 Blooms (Category Winner)
Town of Coaldale - 5 Blooms
NOVICE - EVALUATED (NON-COMPETITIVE)
Town of Devon
Town of Eckville
Village of Boyle
Town of Calmar
Town of Didsbury
Town of Sundre
FRIENDS - EVALUATED (NON-COMPETITIVE)
Town of Morinville - 5 Blooms
Town and County of Barrhead - 5 Blooms
FRIENDS - NON-EVALUATED (NON-COMPETITIVE)
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City of Cold Lake
Town of Coronation
Village of Glenwood
Village of Hay Lakes
Hamlet of Woking
Town of Redwater
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Town of Provost
Town of Strathmore
Village of Thorsby
Town of Three Hills
Village of Wabamun
Town of Wainwright
Village of Delia
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Town of Bon Accord, winner of population category 501 - 2,000
Left to right: Bon Accord CiB representatives and Sharon Miller & Emily Neis (CiB AB judges)
Town of Cardston, winner of population category 2,001 - 6,000
Left to right: Wendy & Bill Creed (Cardston CiB) and John Helder (CiB AB judge)
Town of Taber, winner of population category 6,001 - 15,000
Left to right: Taber CiB Committee and Marie Wenger (CiB AB judge)
Town of Coaldale receives Mention Certificate
Left to right: Norma Beacham, Liz Wilson, Doreen Lloyd (Coaldale CiB) and Marie Wenger (CiB AB judge)
Town of Barrhead and County of Barrhead receives Friend - Evaluated Certificat
Left to right: Linda Lockwood (CiB AB judge), Marilyn Flock and Sue Rees (Barrhead CiB), and Lorna McIlroy (CiB AB judge)
Town of Devon receives Novice - Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Lorna McIlroy (CiB AB judge), Shawn O'Neill and Aleta Mumby (Devon CiB), and Lorrie McFadden (CiB AB judge)
Town of Didsbury receives Novice - Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Tony and Kathy Gammon (Didsbury CiB) and Berta Briggs (CiB AB judge)
Town of Calmar receives Novice - Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Janice Balaban and Kim Yachimetz (CiB Calmar) and Lorna McIlroy (CiB AB judge)
Village of Boyle receives Novice - Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Village of Boyle & Boyle Betterment Committee representatives and CiB AB judges, Emily Neis and Berta Briggs
Village of Wabamun receives Friends - Non-Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Carol and Dave Wagstaff (Wabamun CiB Club) and Emily Neis (CiB AB judge)
Missing: Angela Specht
City of Cold Lake receives Friends - Non-Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Ajaz Quraishi (Cold Lake CiB) and Emily Neis (CiB AB judge)
Town of Coronation receives Friends - Non-Evaluated Certificate
Left to right: Ron Checkel and Shelley Cook (Coronation CiB) and Emily Neis (CiB AB judge)
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2017 National Awards and Symposium
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On September 16
th
, the Communities in Bloom National & International Awards Ceremonies were held in Ottawa-Gatineau celebrating Canada's 150
th
Anniversary and congratulating winning municipalities across Canada, the United States, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Italy, Belgium.
The theme of the Symposium was "Communities and Green Spaces ... Celebrating Canada's 150th Anniversary". Delegates had the opportunity to partake in various technical visits. There was a Trade Show, Town Hall meeting, and a Flag Exchange between International and Canadian Communities.
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Delegates enjoying the reception at the Canadian
Museum of History
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CiB Alberta extends congratulations to:
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Leduc, AB -
Class of Champions (Large) - 5 Blooms Silver
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Millet, AB -
Class of Champions (Medium) - 5 Blooms Silver
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Vermilion, AB
- Class of Champions (Medium) - 5 Blooms Bronze
Outstanding Achievement Awards went to the following Alberta communities:
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Champion, AB -
Communities in Bloom
Canada 150 Award
(small community)
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Coaldale, AB -
Communities in Bloom
Canada150 Award
(medium
community)
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Jasper, AB - Natura Tidiness Award
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Bruderheim, AB - Canadian Nursery
and Landscape Association
Environmental
Action Award
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Regional Municipalty of Wood Buffalo
exchanges flags with City of Bruges, Belgi |
Special Mention/Recognition goes to:
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Town of Bruderheim, AB - Native and Fruit Trees Planting Partnerships
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Town of Hanna, AB - Seasonal Planters
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Hamlet of Valhalla Centre, AB - Heritage Garden
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Town of Whitecourt, AB - Rotary Park
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Municipality of Jasper, AB - Municipal Library and Cultural Centre Landscape
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Town of Stettler, AB - Carl Stettler Memorial Park
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Town of Beaumont, AB - Volunteer Leadership
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City of Brooks, AB - Efficient Recycling and Composting Centre
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Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo, AB - Community Involvement
The following communities were recognized in the Canada - Evaluated (Non-Competitive) category:
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Coaldale, AB - Canada 150 Display
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City of Edmonton, AB - Community Medicine Wheel Garden
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City of Calgary, AB - Urban Forestry Plan
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Village of Champion, AB - Tree Nursery
A complete summary of National Awards results can be viewed on the
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Bruderheim AB - Sherry and Bob Cote receiving the
Outstanding Achievement Award: Environmental Action (by CNLA)
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MosaiCanada 150
held in Jaques-Cartier Park, Gatineau. The 15-meter tall Mother Earth was the centrepiece of a display of works of floral and plant sculptures.
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Wayne McCutcheon, volunteer gardener from St. Albert prepared the Wild Rose that represented Alberta at the Exhibit in Gatineau and will now be displayed in St. Albert in 2018.
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Mark your calendars for the 2018 National Awards to be held on Sept 26-29, 2018 in Strathcona County, AB. All Alberta communities are invited!
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How CiB Committees Can Work with the Municipality
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The support of the local municipality is key to the success of Communities in Bloom projects. As the major source of funding, labor for maintenance of municipally owned properties, political presence at CIB functions and administrative support, CIB could not succeed without them.
In return CIB committees provide the municipality with a valuable service, the most visible one being a huge display of pride in the community.
Ensuring that the two entities keep each other informed in a timely and complete manner is vital to both parties. With the implementation of the new Municipal Government Act, municipalities will be required to prepare three-year budgets. CIB committees may wish to develop a three to five year plan, complete with budget and present this to Council in advance of the next year's budget planning cycle. Discussion with municipal administration will provide the proper time line for this. Having a designated contact with municipal administration is also helpful.
Presentations to Council could include an update and reminder that CIB is not just about flowers, but includes other categories. Information on the annual estimated number of volunteer hours will help to bring focus to the service provided by your volunteer group.
Elected officials are basically volunteers who dedicate many hours to attending functions, bringing greetings and sharing success stories. Invitations should be extended in writing and as far in advance as possible to allow them to fit events into their schedules. As events often take place outside of normal work hours, the same is consideration should be given to municipal staff who may be expected to attend.
Saying thank you can never happen often enough. The administrative staff who may assist with coordinating presentations to council and budget preparations, the public works staff who do maintenance on the municipally owned properties and the elected officials who attend CIB functions and support program funding requests are all vital to the success of your program. Be sure to report on the progress you have made and thank them for their part in achieving your goals. Recognition of the municipality, elected officials and staff, in any media articles is very appropriate and appreciated.
Article submitted by Faye Kary, CiB Alberta Judge
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Meet a CiB Judge: Faye Kary
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Community Development, CiB Veteran
Faye has recently taken early retirement after over thirty years of service in municipal administration, in a small urban and three larger rural municipalities in northern Alberta. She holds a National Advanced Certification in Local Authority Administration from the University of Alberta.
Faye was raised in a small rural community and during most of her married life
, lived with her husband and raised two children on a small mixed farm where they raised cattle, small livestock, cereal grains and grass seed. Her large garden, greenhouse and flowerbeds were the first thing noticed by visitors to their farmyard.
In recent years she and her husband sold their
farm and moved in town where they continue to raise a vegetable garden, apple trees and of course flowers.
Faye has been involved with the Communities in Bloom program, as a municipal employee assigned to assist a hamlet with initiating the program and carrying it forward for approximately seven years. Since retirement she continues to volunteer with the local library board which operates three libraries, a local agricultural society which annually hosts chuckwagon races and very much enjoys any
time spent with her three granddaughters, sharing her baking and sewing skills.
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Call for Judges for 2018 CiB Alberta Program
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We are seeking expressions of interests from people who would like to judge for the 2018 Communities in Bloom Alberta Program. Judges are volunteers who are drawn from the community and have a demonstrated knowledge of and interest in plants and people.
Are you:
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Dedicated to helping communities become better places to live?
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Community-minded with a clear understanding of how a sustainable community creates and enhances quality of life?
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A "people person" with good listening skills?
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Interested and have a good general knowledge of one or all of the following:
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horticulture including landscaping, floral displays, trees, turf and green spaces;
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community development and basic municipal structure (especially public works and parks),
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volunteer contributions and involvement,
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social and natural history, and
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issues and initiatives to protect and improve the environment
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A good writer?
If you meet these criteria, then WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
To obtain more detailed information about what the volunteer position entails,
click here!
Thank you to our 2017 Provincial Judges
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Marie Wenger - Edmonton
Sherry Cote - Bruderheim
Gillian Evans - Edmonton
Lorna McIlroy - Grande Prairie
Linda Lockwood - Edmonton
Lorrie McFadden - Edmonton
Sharon Miller - Red Deer
John Helder - Edmonton
Rose Carmichael - Edmonton
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Berta Briggs - Wetaskiwin
Maureen Sexsmith-West - Lethbridge
Emily Neis - Spruce Grove
Alice Laine - Cremona
Bob Cote - Bruderheim
Faye Kary - Spirit River
Linda Tomlinson - Rocky Mountain House
Bob Cote - Bruderheim
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The Off-Season Coach: Evelyn Alemanni talks about How to Prepare Community Profile Books
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"What can we do during the off season?" That's a question international CiB Judge, Evelyn Alemanni, often gets asked by communities this time of year.
"Now that the summer Communities in Bloom rush is over and the awards are finished; CiB Committees can focus on things like fundraising, planning for next year, and their community profile books," says Alemanni.
CiB Judge Evelyn Alemanni shares some key strategies of preparing Community Profile Books:
Q. What is a Community Profile Book?
A.
It is a written summary of your community's accomplishments in each evaluated criteria.
That makes it easy to write when you just follow the Evaluation Form and succinctly answer in each category.
Q. Why is it important?
A.
The Community Profile Book is a tangible way for the judges (and others) to get a thorough overview of your community, goals and achievements. It doesn't have to be fancy, just enough to cover the main judging elements and provide the judges with a complete picture of who you are.
Q. What else can we do with our Community Profile Book?
A. In addition to being a tool for the CiB Judges, your Community Profile book is a brag book and the sky is the limit in terms of how it's used as a promotional tool!
Here are some ways to use your Community Profile Book:
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Economic Development Tool
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Addendum to Grant Applications
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Historic document displayed in the library, city hall, museum or Chamber of Commerce.
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Tourism book in the visitor centre
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As a way to get support for your program - give a copy to Council and the Chamber of Commerce
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Fundraising tool by selling copies locally
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Real estate tool - get connected with realtors as they will like to use the book to show potential clients the quality of life aspects of your community.
Q. Where can we view samples of other Community Profile Books?
A. You can view samples of Alberta's community profile books on the two different websites: provincial edition CiB books or national edition CiB books.
Q. How do we get started?
A. There are three easy steps. Download the template here. Fill it in. Fact check and proofread.
Remember: Less is more!
About Evelyn Alemanni...
Evelyn is a self-employed writer and award-winning gardener
f
rom Elfin
Forest, California. She served as an international judge for the
Communities in Blo
om program since 2005. She also judged for America in Bloom for 15 years and served as that organizations first vice
president. She has served as an international judge for the LivCom awards and the Philadelphia
Flower Show. To date, she has judged 162 towns in eleven countries.
In 2001,
Good Morning America
named Evelyn's garden one of the five best in the U.S.
San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyles
has twice named it one of its gardens of the year.
Garden Ideas and Outdoor Living
featured it on its cover. It has also been in
Garden Shed; Better Ho
mes and Gardens; Gardens, Decks and Landscapes
and many other garden-related magazines.
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Gardens of Remembrance Program 2017 - Apply by Nov 30th
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Completed submissions must be received by 5pm, November 30, 2017.
Communities in Bloom is pleased to announce the 2017 edition of the Gardens of Remembrance.
The program aims, in the spirit of commemoration, to engage communities throughout Canada to honour Veterans by means of remembrance gardens along with local activities. The gardens will involve the entire community to ensure that their meaning is known by all, particularly including activities with our youth.
The Gardens of Remembrance Program goal and objectives are to showcase our gratitude to Veterans-those men and women who served their country in times of war, military conflict and peace, and those who have lost their lives during war and other military engagements-and to recognize the sacrifices made by their families.
The program will consist of evaluating existing memorial gardens to showcase them and promoting the creation of new memorial gardens to encourage communities throughout Canada to participate in the Gardens of Remembrance program.
Scotts Canada will be offering a $1,500 contribution to the Best Garden submission and a $500 contribution to two other submissions.
Three Home Hardware gift certificates ($100 each) will also be drawn amongst all applications.
The Remembrance Gardens will be featured in the 2018 Spring edition of the Communities in Bloom Magazine.
Who can enter?
Entry Requirements
Applications must be submitted, online, along with support material, which may include:
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Photos, video clips (ideally during the season and Remembrance Day)
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Newspaper clippings [photo and print which include the source, date and page];
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Newsletters or other community communication documents;
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Copies of information and promotional material;
Emailed or Faxed entries are not permitted.
Completed submissions must be received by 5pm, November 30, 2017.
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You're a Part of Something BIG!
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CiB is getting noticed! The media has been flooding in for CiB in 2017. Check out all of the coverage on our website by clicking here.
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5 Benefits of Watching a CiB Webinar this Winter
Every day you probably receive another email inviting you to attend a new webinar. But what is a webinar anyway? A webinar is essentially just a seminar or workshop held over the Internet, and it can be a presentation, discussion, demonstration, or other instructional session. Webinars are sometimes called webcasts, online trainings, online events, seminars, or online classes.
CiB Alberta invites you watch and learn from our CiB webinars featuring judges Berta Briggs and Lorna McIlroy. Here are 5 key benefits that just might convince you to give a webinar a try:
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Convenience.
Since Webinars take place over the Internet directly on your computer, there is no need to leave the house or factor in travel time. Because of this, webinars are a time-efficient method of training and delivering knowledge. Not available when the event is scheduled? No problem. Webinars on-demand allow you to view an archive of the event when it's convenient for you.
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Lifelong Learning.
Many individuals are using webinars more frequently as a way to not only educate themselves, but a way to practice lifelong learning.
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Relevant Topics.
Unlike in-person seminars, which can take several months to plan, webinars are better positioned to deliver relevant, timely information to the audience. These two webinars focus on building community and sustainable food systems using the CiB program.
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Knowledgeable Experts.
CiB Alberta is fortunate to have horticultural experts Berta Briggs and Lorna McIlroy present in our webinars. In fact, both Berta and Lorna are provincial, national and international CiB judges. During the Webinars, Berta and Lorna both further engage the audience through the use of photos, Q&A sessions and audience polls.
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Affordability.
Besides the fact that there are no travel costs involved with attending a CiB
webinar, the price of registration is free! You can even gather your entire CiB committee together and discuss the webinar content without having to invest time and money traveling to and from a physical seminar location.
Pour a cup of tea and enjoy the CiB webinars this winter:
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Communities in Bloom Alberta hosted a 2017 regional workshop in conjunction with Fortis Alberta.
The workshop was held at the FortisAlberta office in Red Deer.
Invited to the workshop were communities that wanted to get involved with CiB, those who were planning to participate in the 2017 edition and communities that were looking for an opportunity to get questions answered and network.
Topics discussed at the workshop included:
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Communities in Bloom Program Overview
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Evaluation Criteria
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How the Judges Evaluate
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Preparing a Community Profile
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Experienced Community Tips - Stettler
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Preparing for the Judges' Visit
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Ask a CiB Judge - Q & A Session
Presenters at the workshop were Sharon Miller and Berta Briggs (CiB Alberta judges), Karen Snethun (CiB Alberta Provincial Coordinator) and Rob Spencer (Commercial Horticulture Specialist, Alberta Agriculture and Forestry).
Also present and representing FortisAlberta was Deb Bowering, Community Investment Advisor.
Participants enjoyed informative presentations, lively discussions and a beautiful lunch, which was compliments of FortisAlberta.
At the end of the day, FortisAlberta provided $500 in seed funding to the six Alberta communities who attended the workshop: Blackfalds, Eckville, Taber, Didsbury, Devon, and Irricana. The goal of the funding to help the communities get started in the CiB program, or enhance their current work.
A huge thank you to FortisAlberta, ARPA, and the
volunteer speakers who made the event possible!
 
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Communities in Bloom is supported by
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