With only about a week to go before a couple of judges tour Sundre in the competitive Communities in Bloom category, the local committee’s members are encouraging residents who haven’t already done so to tidy up their properties.
Next Wednesday, Aug. 7, the two judges will begin their tour at the municipal office starting around 8:30 a.m., spending the day visiting different sites until they wrap up at roughly 3:30 p.m. at the Sundre Community Centre, said Jon Allan, a member of the local Communities in Bloom committee.
“We have a large list of destinations that we’ll be visiting,” said Allan, adding stops will include the surrounding area.
Among the many planned locations are the Sundre and District Museum, the new Greenwood Community Gazebo, the Sundre Hospital and Care Centre’s garden and adjacent community garden, the Sundre Cemetery, the Homecoming Veterans’ Park and cenotaph, Snake Hill, local trails as well as the lagoon and water treatment plant.
“We are competing in the provincial competitive category for communities with a population between 2,001 and 6,000,” said Allan.
Efforts to revive the Communities in Bloom initiative in Sundre started a couple of years ago with an informal run in the non-competitive part of the program. That success led to last year’s attempt at entering the competitive category.
“We finished second to St. Paul,” said Allan.
“We received a bloom rating of four out of five, and special recognition for the cohesion between area volunteers and town staff,” he wrote in an email, adding St. Paul earned a full five blooms.
“To help make sure that Sundre wins this year, please try to cut lawns, do weeding, and remove garbage and debris from properties in the days in advance of the tour,” he said.
“This goes for residential properties and businesses alike. Sundre stands a really great chance at winning this year — not only because the CiB volunteer committee has been working really hard to spread the word about the competition and get us ready to show the town off, but also because of the municipality’s new outdoor amenities and beautification efforts.”
Some of those new highlights include the gazebo, the new public parking lot south of the Sundre Hotel and Restaurant, as well as the new regional asphalt path along Main Avenue West. Additionally, although a new memorial garden park remains under development, he said the committee hopes to show the site to the judges.
Allan, who is also the municipality’s economic development officer, said, “Both community development and urban beautification are some of my favourite elements of my job.”
Sundre Communities in Bloom was initially organized and led by the Downtown Area Revitalization Committee, which has been on a hiatus. Since the initiative goes hand in hand with Allan’s role with the town, he decided to get involved.
“It’s been my pleasure to take the reins of the project. I also have a real competitive streak so I’m really hopeful we can win this year.”
The program is important for a community because it “helps inspire the leadership in residents necessary to create a beautiful place.”
Additionally, he said Communities in Bloom supports place-making, ultimately leading to an improved quality of living since people are generally more content to reside somewhere green and appealing.
Furthermore, charming communities that boast thriving recreational and cultural opportunities, which are also focal points of Communities in Bloom, represent important investment factors, he said.
“I — and the Town of Sundre — support Communities in Bloom because participation in it helps the community be more attractive to visitors and potential new residents.”
A five-bloom finish would generate exposure at a national level for people who follow Communities in Bloom, he said.
“Not to mention it would be a huge honour that we’d be able to promote and hopefully generate publicity with.”
Jean Jones, a coordinator who this year joined the Sundre CiB committee, also encourages residents to keep an eye out for small details, such as picking up litter including cigarette butts.
“We got nailed a bit on that last year,” she said.
People — residents and business owners — who are interested in showcasing the labour of love they’ve invested in their yards and properties are also encouraged to submit photos, she said.
“Take before and after pictures to show the community has pride of ownership,” she said, urging everyone to help make Sundre shine for the judges’ visit.
“Let’s boast what a great community Sundre is!”
Anyone who might be interested in joining Sundre CiB, or perhaps sending pictures, can contact Allan at [email protected] or Jones at [email protected].
