CARROT RIVER — Carrot River is set to participate in Saskatchewan’s 2022 Communities in Bloom judging, after earning three blooms from their first try in the 2021 novice category
The community was evaluated for a population between 501 to 1,000 in community appearance, environmental action, and landscape and earned a special mention for community pride and involvement.
Miranda Blaber, Carrot River’s community development manager, said that preparation for the judging was run through the recreation department, which formed a working committee of community members.
“I was really happy with the three blooms,” Blaber said. “This was our first year going into it as a novice competitor and the committee chose to keep it fairly simple and really look at what we were doing already that falls under these categories and some simple ways we can enhance them.”
Over 2021, Blaber said they “ramped up” their potted plant program, incorporating adults teaching younger youth in the community how to transplant. After which, the youth planted the plants themselves and distributed them through the community. Another project were community-wide cleaning days.
“We took an initiative with just an awareness and recognition that this was happening and just encouraging community pride, and the fostering of general tidying around town,” Blaber said.
“A lot of the other items that we were awarded for with Communities in Bloom are already things are municipality has been doing for years, we just haven’t really recognized it as a part of that program in regards to keeping the space clean and keeping our green spaces well maintained.”
To prepare for next year, Blaber said they will be increasing their potted plant program, and meeting with the committee to discuss other potential projects.
“Where the community goes after we meet, we’ll decide if we want to take it one step further and do specific projects.”
Community members wishing to volunteer may contact Blaber through the town office at 306-768-2515.
Communities in Bloom communities participate with other communities in their population category within their province. Provincial judges evaluate the communities on the eight program criteria and award a bloom rating from 1 to 5 blooms (5 being the highest ranking) at a provincial awards ceremony in the fall, where communities receive a certificate with their bloom rating.
