2015 is the first year our town is taking part in the provincial initiative called Communities in Bloom.
This year’s project has been headed up by our own Niverville in Bloom Committee, which includes Shirley Hoult, Annette Fast, Mona Bilodeau, and a very enthusiastic high school student, Lili Iai.
Communities in Bloom focuses on six key areas: sustainable best practices, environmental awareness, beautification, heritage presentation, education, and networking. This means that tidy lawns and a good-looking flowerbed are only part of the process.
People in Niverville of all ages have played a role. At the elementary school, students helped to build a raised garden, while the seniors at the Niverville Credit Union Manor have created breathtaking patio gardens of their own.
Judging took place July 27. Two representatives from the Communities in Bloom committee came to Niverville to score the town overall between 1 to 5 blooms, 5 being the highest score. The judges’ categories included tidiness, floral display, landscape, environmental, heritage conservation, and urban forestry.
“Once a town or city reaches 5 blooms and is deemed ready, it can compete at a national level,” Hoult says.
The results will be posted September 12. Until then, the Town of Niverville has been
giving Green Thumb recognition awards to individual residents and businesses. The winners are posted on the town’s website, www.whereyoubelong.ca.
In the meantime, over the next few weeks, art created by the Junior Gardeners Club, the Personal Care Home, and Growing Minds Daycare will be displayed in the gardens behind the Heritage Centre. The art display is planned to stay up for the next two years. On your next walk around town, take a look at these creative displays.
The Niverville in Bloom Committee would like to extend their appreciation to Town Council and Niverville’s residents for their support and participation in the program.
