
September 29, 2016 · 0 Comments
The Town of Orangeville was one of 10 municipalities in the province to achieve a full five-bloom rating, as announced by Communities in Bloom Ontario on September 17, 2016. That rating allows those 10 municipalities to move into the national level of competition in 2017.
The Town also received a special mention for the “Tranquil Gardens” and the dedicated volunteers at the Headwaters Health Care Centre during the Communities in Bloom provincial awards hosted by the City of Stratford.
The Town also picked up a criteria award for Heritage Conservation which takes in both built and natural heritage. The Orangeville evaluation noted the restoration of Mill Creek, and the preservation of century homes and the county courthouse.
“We are really excited to be heading to the national competition next year – and with everyone’s help we know we will shine there also,” said Ted Zarudny, chair of Orangeville’s Communities in Bloom Committee. “We have to thank all the residents and businesses in Orangeville for helping to make this Town a beautiful place to live, work and visit. We would also like to thank the Town of Orangeville and our sponsors for helping make these awards possible — Orangeville Home Hardware, Amaranth Lions, Dufferin Garden Centre, and Whispering Pines Landscaping. Communities in Bloom representatives were very impressed with the gardens at the hospital and the work that all the volunteers have done and continue to do in this area.”
Communities in Bloom Ontario is the provincial edition of the national program, a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement, with a focus on the enhancement of green spaces in community settings.
The program consists of communities receiving information and being evaluated either provincially or nationally by a volunteer jury of trained professionals on the accomplishments of their entire community (municipal, private, corporate and institutional sectors, citizens) on the following key criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape, and Floral Displays.
The Council-appointed Orangeville Communities-in-Bloom Committee acts on behalf of the community, to co-ordinate participation in the Communities in Bloom program and conduct a local Communities in Bloom competition that recognizes the environmental, beautification and volunteer efforts of Orangeville property owners and organizations.
A complete list of the provincial & national results along with an online copy of the latest Communities in Bloom magazine will be available on the national website www.communitiesinbloom.ca following the National Symposium & Awards Ceremony to be held from October 27-29, 2016 in Regina, Saskatchewan.
Next year’s national competition will include special recognition of municipalities and community groups that honour Canada’s 150th birthday.