Gardeners and landscape artists across town have been out in their yards, pruning and primping in preparation for a summer of beautiful blossoms and lush green grass—and all of their efforts are just in time.
Five weeks from now—from July 27–29—two judges will be in Jasper to rate the community for the international Communities in Bloom (CiB) competition.
The judges—Lucie Gagne of Bocherville, Que. and Maurice Edward Baren of West Yorkshire, England—will spend one whole day, from morning until evening, touring the town and rating it on eight criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf and ground-covers, floral displays and community involvement.
This is Jasper’s second year competing on the international stage, having won at the provincial level in 2010 and the national level in 2012. In last year’s competition, Jasper received top marks—five blooms—but in overall points, it was beat by Abbeyshrule, Ireland.
Gerry Lettner, the chair of Jasper’s CiB committee, is hoping that this will be the year for Jasper to reach the “pinnacle” of CiB recognitions.
But to achieve such a feat, the committee needs the community’s help.
Lettner asked that before the judges arrive on July 27, people keep their eyes out for areas that could use some improvement, whether that be some gentle weeding or a quick litter pickup, and either take it upon themselves to do the work or to alert the committee of the need.
“It doesn’t have to be manicured and full of blossoms, it just has to be clean,” he said of the community, noting that it’s the little things that count.
In the 2014 competition, Jasper will be competing against six communities, five of which are from Canada, while the sixth is from Ireland. On the list are Castlegar, B.C., Trail, B.C., Stettler, Alta., Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Man., Fogo, Nfld. and Moynalty Village, Ireland.
To be successful in the competition, the CiB committee needs to prove that there is community buy-in and involvement in keeping Jasper in tip-top shape.
“It’s about showing community spirit,” said Lettner, who noted that the committee tries to highlight that spirit in the community profile it presents the judges upon their arrival.
In an effort to get the community involved this year, the committee is encouraging the town’s budding photographers to send in their best photos to the CiB national photo contest.
The criteria is that the photos must represent either greenspaces, community features or community involvement—people working on CiB projects.
Submissions are welcome until midnight on July 31 and can be submitted to [email protected]. The prizes for the top three photos are gift certificates to Home Hardware.
Also new this year, the committee will be sending out postcards recognizing and thanking people for “random acts of beauty” around town.
As an example, Lettner pointed to the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, which recently had its garden tidied up.
“It’s really impressive what was done at the museum,” he said. “It looks really nice.”
Nicole Veerman
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