The District of Sooke has once again proudly toured the Communities in Bloom judges through our community, highlighting various new and innovative improvements to our town. Communities in Bloom is about people, plants and pride in the community and Sooke wowed the judges with the strong steps forward Sooke has made in these areas since the judging last year.
Communities in Bloom is not just about flower baskets -- the judges wanted to know about our new planning documents (Official Community Plan, Sooke Zoning Bylaw) and what Sooke was doing to support and promote environmental protection, volunteerism, and a sustainable community. A profile book was provided to them presenting considerable information on our community efforts for Communities in Bloom.
Sooke will be evaluated by the two trained judges on the eight program criteria of: Tidiness, Environmental Awareness, Community Involvement, Natural & Cultural Heritage Conservation, Tree/Urban Forest Management, Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays, and Turf & Groundcover. The awards will be presented at the BC Communities in Bloom Awards and Conference to be held September 23 – 25, at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort and Conference Centre.
While in Sooke, the judges participated in the presentation of the Communities in Bloom Neighbourhood and Business Beautification Awards to local business and residents.
Congratulations to the following who received the 2011 Communities in Bloom decal:
The Alternative Kitchen Cafe
The Bee’s Knees Children’s Store
Christine George
Dr. Bart Wilson
The Edge Restaurant
Goodlife Wellness Centre
Harborview Mortgages
Heritage Row
Holy Trinity Anglican Church
The Kaltasin Project
MapleLine Business Centre
Marlene Barry Reflexology
Mom’s Café
Mulligan’s Bar & Grill
Otter Point Veterinary Hospital
The Reading Room
The Royal Canadian Legion Branch #54
Royal Canadian Legion Housing
A Sea of Bloom
Sooke Fine Art Gallery
Sooke Glass
Sooke Home Hardware
The Stick in the Mud Coffee House
Stone Pipe Grill
Sunriver Allotment Gardens
T’Sou-ke Nation Smart Energy Group
T’Sou-ke Nation Park
T’Sou-ke Nation Administration Buildings
T’Sou-ke Nation Bus Stop
T’Sou-ke Nation Lady Bug Garden
Wiskers and Waggs
Winners were Stick in the Mud, the Sunriver Allotment Garden and T’Sou-Ke First Nation.
The District of Sooke and the Communities in Bloom committee would like to sincerely thank everyone who worked so hard to clean up Sooke before the judges’ visit. A special thank you is extended to Edith Newman, Elida Peers, Maywell Wickheim and Phoebe Dunbar for their outstanding contributions to the event.