The Town of Niverville participated in Communities in Bloom again this year and received three blooms from the judges.

Communities in Bloom is a non-profit organization that fosters environmental responsibility, beautification through communities and enhanced green spaces. Each community that takes part in the program is evaluated on tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf and ground covers, floral displays and community involvement.

Bloomin' Business Award

Organizer Annette Fast says though they did not improve on the three blooms they received last year, there were some noticeable improvements and a 60% increase in participation from businesses. She notes one highlight was the creation of a poppy garden near the newly painted cenotaph and laser engraved stainless steel plaques put in the memorial garden donated by Crystal Springs.

Fast says Communities in Bloom is really beneficial to the health of the community.

"It builds community pride and civic pride, people come in and they show off their yards. These newcomers came to town and were chosen for the green thumb award and they loved it and they showed pride and how they connected with other people who had the awards, also it is an opportunity to network through the communities in blooms provincially and nationally."

Residential Green Thumb Award

Fast says it provides an opportunity to see what other communities are doing and how Niverville can learn from them.

Organizer Shirley Hoult says they gave a presentation to town council that outlined the areas that need improvement in order to receive more blooms in the future.

"The most important one was the Main Street improvement plan absolutely. Improvement there, to get the community involved and what that looks like. The hiring or consulting of an arborist for tree care in town, and then the third one is on the heritage conservation side, to build more on the heritage conservation in the town. For the residents of the town but also to attract more tourists to the town."

Shirley Hoult says they hope to continue with Communities in Bloom next year.