Communities compete in beauty contest
Shannon LeClair – Times Reporter
On July 22 the Communities In Bloom, C.I.B, judges were in Strathmore to rate the town on a variety of aspects. This was the fifth year the C.I.B organization has been in Strathmore, and last year was the only one judges didn’t check out the town. Last year the provincial awards banquet was held in Strathmore, and the town hosting the banquet is not judged that year.
“They have a grid for the town and they judge the town and do interviews with people,” said Robert Breitwieser a member of C.I.B.
There was a dinner reception held for the judges in the evening of July 22. C.I.B judge Louise Bruins spoke to the guests and offered information about what the judges look for.
Some of the eight items judges look for are things such as tidiness, tree and urban forest management, and environmental awareness.
In each of the eight categories the judges look at what the municipal and public properties have done. They also look at commercial and industrial, churches, schools and not-for-profit groups. Lastly they look at residential areas to see how they tie in as individual groups, and as a whole.
The Town has done well in the past, but no one will know until September how the Town did this year.
“We won’t know until the provincial awards banquet in Provost in September. So we’re on pins and needles wondering,” said Breitwieser.
Towns are awarded with blooms and can receive up to five blooms. If more than one town receives five blooms than the judges will choose one town for each category.