City poised for Communities in bloom judging

The volunteer judges have been visiting communities across Canada to evaluate overall performance in tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays, and turf and groundcovers.

Evaluation will be based on the local conditions and the achievements of citizens, businesses, institutions and the municipal government working together.

On Monday, Mayor Karin Marks will host a special luncheon in the judges’ honour in Victoria Hall — an invitation-only event designed to introduce the judges to members of City Council as well, as the dedicated volunteers, municipal staff and representatives of local organizations, each of whom contribute to community life in Westmount. After the luncheon, the judges will be escorted around the city to evaluate Westmount’s performance.

In the lead-up to the judges’ visit, residents and businesses are getting into the spirit of the competition by sprucing up their own properties. Citizens are doing their part throughout Westmount by planting flowers to beautify storefronts, removing ragweed and other allergy-inducing plants, and tidying laneways by removing clutter and pruning foliage.

Volunteers have also been handing out special ‘Communities in Bloom’ decals to recognize special efforts. New photo galleries featuring images of some of this fantastic work will be available as of Wednesday, Aug. 8 on the City’s website at www.westmount.org.

This year, Westmount is competing against Langford BC, Lloydminster SK, Grande Prairie AB, Charlottetown PEI and Westbank BC.

Results will be announced at the National Awards Ceremonies in Moncton, NB on Sept. 22 and 23. For more information on the competition, consult the special Communities in Bloom section of Westmount’s website or the official competition website at www.communitiesinbloom.ca.