City raises competition flag

In an unprecedented show of support for the nation-wide summer event, the City of Westmount raised the organization’s flag outside City Hall during a brief ceremony yesterday at 12:30 p.m. It will remain in place for the next five weeks.

“Flying the flag at City Hall sends a powerful message to the community that the City considers this competition to be very important, and that we are in it to win,” said City Councillor George Bowser, chair of the Horticulture Advisory Committee.

“It’s all about civic pride, and demonstrating to people right across Canada how much we love the beauty of Westmount, and the lengths we’re willing to go to make our city a wonderful place to live.”

The Communities in Bloom flag has replaced the Westmount flag on the City Hall flagpole for the month of July and early August — the period leading up to the competition judging. Communities in Bloom judges are slated to arrive in Westmount on Aug. 13 to rate this city’s performance.

The raising of the flag coincides with the launch of a new information section on the City’s website www.westmount.org) regarding the competition. Once it is all in place, the section will include a history of Westmount’s involvement in Communities in Bloom, and some of the efforts underway in the community — including an enhanced ragweed removal campaign, the tidying of commercial districts and the beautifying of the city’s back lanes, an initiative playfully dubbed “Beautifying your backsides.”

Yesterday's flag raising also serves to underline the continuing efforts of local volunteers, many of whom have been distributing information flyers at community events and have been speaking with business owners and local institutions about the competition.

Communities in Bloom is a national organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental awareness and municipal beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national programme. More information on the organization can be found on their website at www.communitiesinbloom.ca.