November 15, 2011
Denis Flanagan CLD
Director of public relations and membership services

Denis FlanaganThe Ontario Communities in Bloom awards ceremony held at Expo was well-attended, with over 30 different municipalities represented from across the province.

The Green for Life entries were submitted with digital images and a 50-word description of the project. These were judged by Tom Somerville and Bruce Warren, both experienced industry representatives and also judges for Communities in Bloom program.

The judging criteria are based on innovative ideas, community spirit and sustainability. Liz Klose from CNLA did a wonderful job hosting the event, keeping things moving in a timely fashion. She made a special presentation to Martin Quinn from Goderich, recognizing the difficult times that community has faced after a devastating tornado.

Twenty-six communities were recognized with certificates and a winner for each of the three categories:
Green for Life School Award, City of Niagara Falls for Schools in Bloom, Green for Life Parks Award, Municipality of Chatham-Kent for Kingston Regional Park project, Green for Life Community Award, Owen Sound for Scenic City Order of Good Cheer, The Judges’ Choice Award for 2011 was presented by Caroline de Vries from Tradewinds International of Mississauga and Mark Cullen to Kettle and Stony Point First Nations for Hillside School Green Thumb Gardeners project.

Mark Cullen commented during his congratulations, “Kettle Point, near Forest, Ontario, gets its name from the unique round kettle-shaped rock which formed naturally and slowly in the shale.”

Landscape Ontario members who submitted entries and received certificates were Parklane Nurseries of Beaverton for the Courtyard of Learning project, The Scott Wentworth Landscape Group of Picton for Come Alive Outside project, and Brydges Landscape Architecture of Galt and Ground Effects Landscapes of Hanover for Hanover and District Hospital Garden of Fond Memories project.

The afternoon concluded with our generous sponsor Caroline de Vries handing out a box of bulbs to each community that entered.

The Green for Life Community Awards is an initiative of The Landscape Ontario Garden Centre Sector Group and was successfully organized and administered by Lee Rozon, executive director of Communities in Bloom — Ontario.
Denis Flanagan may be contacted at dflanagan@landscapeontario.com.

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