Communities in Bloom
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Communities in Bloom
The Parrsboro Communities in Bloom Committee (PCIBC) was established in January 2010, with the function of organizing and facilitating the Town of
Communities in Bloom is a National non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility, and beautification through community involvement. The Provincial edition is coordinated by Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS), and involves community projects, an evaluation by trained volunteer judges, and the awarding of “Bloom Ratings” based on a system of 1-5 Blooms. CIB began in
Four Blooms for Parrsboro
By Andrew Wagstaff (The Citizen)
PARRSBORO - The first year of participation in the Communities in Bloom program has been a tremendous success for Parrsboro, which received a four-bloom rating from the program at last week's awards ceremony. Rated in criteria such as tidiness, community involvement, culture, heritage and environmental awareness, the four-bloom rating was accepted with delight by Community Development Coordinator Mary McPhee, who admitted she did not expect to place so high so soon. “Mostly we had assumed that we wouldn't score that highly because it was our first year, and we were limited by time," she said. "But where we really shone was in community involvement and tidiness, and that's all due to the volunteers who worked very hard."
McPhee and her band of volunteers spearheaded a number of Communities in Bloom initiatives during the summer, including the repainting of the bandstand, removal and replanting of flowers and shrubbery, street and beach cleanups, planting of trees, and a garden showcase that invited residents and business owners to take part. The community was visited by a judge from the program in August, and, judging by the high scores received, he was impressed. The maximum score through the program is five blooms, and Parrsboro received four. “Four out of five is extraordinary for a community to come out with in its first year," she said. "And it holds a lot of potential for development."
Perhaps the greatest advantage to the program is the publicity that comes along with it. Aside from the awards, the town will be featured on the program's national website and network, as well as the provincial Communities in Bloom website, and through the Tourism Industry Association of Nova Scotia (TIANS), which coordinates Communities in Bloom for the province. Although Parrsboro is registered in the provincial level of the program, it could graduate to the national and even international level in future years, explained McPhee, who said the national awards will be hosted in
Assuming council approves the town's continued participation in the program, she said there would be much more time to plan and promote next year's activities, and the more people involved, the better. “We like to think this program is for everyone, and we want to know what people think, what they like and what they don't like," she said.
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Parrsboro to participate in CIB in 2010! Join us…
The Parrsboro CIB Committee (PCIBC) is looking for members. This is a task-oriented group & anyone interested in the various aspects of CIB should contact Mary McPhee at Town Hall (email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 254-2036).
The Parrsboro CIB Program is looking for volunteers to become street representatives. This would involve keeping neighbors informed on upcoming events, programs and happenings. There would be no meetings to attend, you would only have to pass information along a few times a year given to you by a committee member. If you are interested please call the Town Hall at 254-2036 and we will contact you as soon as possible.
Communities in Bloom is a community development program which awards Bloom Ratings based on 8 evaluation criteria:
- Environmental Awareness,
- Turf & Groundcovers,
- Floral displays,
- Landscaped areas,
- Community Involvement,
- Tidiness,
- Natural & Cultural Heritage Conservation, and
- Urban Forest Management.
The PCIBC membership consists of:
Chair – Dawn Reid (Town Council)
Vice-Chair & Secretary – Lisa Ward (Town Council)
Treasurer – Karine McGregor (Citizen at Large)
Bev Taylor, Fibber Canning, Linda McPhee, and Lyle Yorke (Citizens at Large)
Community Development Coordinator – Mary McPhee
CIB requires the participation of community members, and is not simply a program about flowers. It requires the skills and talents of many and if you are interested in this community program, you are guaranteed to have a positive experience by becoming involved. Join us in Parrsboro in 2010 to make a difference in our community!
Important Dates
October 27-20th - 2010:
National CIB Symposium & Awards, NS Provincial Awards in
Late July - 2010:
Judge's Visit to Parrsboro for Evaluation
March 31st - 2010:
Registration Deadline for 2010 NS Provincial CIB
February 11th - 2010 - 1:00pm @ Town Hall:
Next Meeting of PCIBC. New Members Welcome!!
January 25th - 2010:
Dawn Reid named Chair of PCIBC. Vice-Chair & Secretary Lisa Ward, Treasurer Karine MacGregor, Citizens at Large Linda McPhee, Bev Taylor, Fibber Canning, and Lyle Yorke, as well as Community Development Coordinator Mary McPhee round out the Ctte thus far. New members are welcome!
January 18th - 2010:
Back in Bloom! The inaugural meeting of Parrsboro Communities in Bloom Committee (PCIBC) was held at the Town Hall.
December 1st - 2009:
Parrsboro was awarded a Four Bloom rating at the Provincial CIB Awards in
Links
Nova Scotia Communities in Bloom: http://www.novascotiacommunitiesinbloom.org/
- Check out this page to see Parrsboro’s profile, the program information, and the other beautiful Nova Scotia CIB communities!
National Communities in Bloom: http://www.communitiesinbloom.ca/
- Program information, Provincial profiles, links, info, awards.
Parrsboro CIB Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/group.php?gid=83813427769&ref=ts
- Check us out for the latest news, events, and photos!
Contact Information
Town of
Mary McPhee (Community Development Coordinator)
Email:
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Phone: 254-2036
Fax: 254-2313 |
