5 Blooms – Silver Veterans Park
PRESS RELEASE: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
STRATHCONA COUNTY, Alberta, September 29th, 2018 —
The City of Sarnia received a 5 Blooms – Silver rating and a special mention for Veterans Park during the 2018 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Strathcona County, Alberta. The community also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Scotts Turf Builder Landscape Award. The City of Sarnia participated in the Class of Champions (Large) category along with Coquitlam BC; Edmonton AB and Wood Buffalo AB.
Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – in regards to the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Evelyn Alemanni and Jim Baird wrote:
“The citizens of Sarnia enjoy a quality of life not experienced in many larger cities. The crystal clear blue waters of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River belie the city’s heavy industrial heritage. Parks and open spaces provide for both active use and appreciation of the natural environment. The tree canopy is mature and well cared for. Floral gardens and beds are varied and distributed throughout the community. The downtown area is alive and features numerous heritage buildings that have been repurposed while respecting the origins of the buildings. The historic Veterans Park has been rejuvenated by introducing special benches with symbolic tributes to veterans of WWI and WWII. New flower beds and new tree plantings add to the existing mature tree cover.”
Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.
For a complete list of the results and the electronic copy of the Communities in Bloom magazine, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca