The Municipality of Chatham-Kent, a finalist in the 55,001 to 150,000 population category of the 2008 Edition of Communities in Bloom (CiB), received a 5 BLOOM rating and a ‘special mention’ for Student Summer Staff. The results of the National Level of the challenge were revealed at the annual CiB Awards Ceremony, in Lethbridge AB on Saturday, Sept. 20. Maintaining this prestigious 5 Bloom status, the highest rating CiB competitors can attain, since 2005, validates what a beautiful, healthy and vibrant community Chatham-Kent is!

Obviously pleased with the July 30 – Aug. 2 community tour and the extensive documentation provided, the National judges were especially impressed this year with the CiB Summer Student Staff. Each community is unique, but students’ responsibilities are primarily horticultural in nature. The judges commented that “in addition to this very visible work they serve as ambassadors for their Municipality and help greatly to identify each community as part of the greater whole of the Municipality of Chatham Kent. Some of these students are in their second year and bring experience, skills and enthusiasm to their role. They are each very visible on the streets and provide a friendly link between communities and with the Municipality.”

The CiB competition’s assessment takes into consideration 8 different components that constitute a flourishing or ‘blooming’ community. Whether competing provincially or nationally, trained, professional judges assign marks to the combined efforts of the entire community (municipal, commercial, service groups, and citizens) in 8 categories: Tidiness, Environmental Awareness, Community Involvement, Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscaped Areas, Floral Displays, and Turf & Ground Cover Areas. Barrie ON was this year’s National champion in Chatham-Kent’s population category, outperforming Kawartha Lakes ON, Peterborough ON, Wood Buffalo AB and Chatham-Kent. National judge Berta Briggs from Wetaskiwin AB, wanted to remind competitors though, that as much as it is a competition, it is really a comparison against each community’s potential and how they measure up to being the best that they can be. She noted it was obvious the Municipality understands the program and what truly makes a community a winner.