Blooming success
The Village of Pugwash has received special recognition
Pugwash’s beauty has never been questioned, but now it has garnered national attention through the Communities In Bloom competition.
The village has received a 5 Blooms – Silver rating and special mention for 2017 Pugwash, Our Community in Bloom Calendar during this year’s National International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Ottawa-Gatineau.
The community also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Home Hardware Community Involvement Award.
Pugwash participated in the Class of Champions (Small) category along with Ashcroft B.C., Kinistino, Sask. and Tignish, P.E.I.
“It’s very exciting, it’s a big deal for us,” Maureen Leahey of the Pugwash Communities In Bloom committee said.
The committee’s calendar project gained it special recognition. The calendar featured well known community members posing in what appeared to be their altogether. The recognition comes just as the group is launching its 2018 calendar.
This is the second time in three years Pugwash has been recognized. The village received five blooms in the 2014 competition and was the national winner in the population category up to 1,000.
It was also recognized for the Peace Ground in Eaton Park.
“This time we were in a different competition class. This time we were in the class of champions, meaning we were competing against other national winners,” she said.
Leahey said both the village of Pugwash and the Municipality of Cumberland played a strong role in the group’s success as did a solid core of volunteers.
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 Colleen Stockford and Susan Ellis wrote: “The creative, beautifully photographed, witty and just a little bit cheeky 2017 Pugwash, Our Community in Bloom Calendar was artfully produced, and became an immediate hit,” the judges said. “Not only did it sell out in record time, it raised $ 16,700 for Pugwash Communities in Bloom.”
This money has enabled the committee to support many local initiatives, including donating funds to the community food bank garden and to the local recycling centre. It has also enabled them to establish a Pugwash Communities in Bloom Student Scholarship of $500 for a deserving high school graduate who wishes to continue with post high school education.
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.