OUTLOOK - The province's yearly Communities in Bloom competition has announced its latest results, highlighting a number of communities around Saskatchewan that stand out for a number of reasons.
Spearheaded by the Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association (SPRA), the winners of the Communities in Bloom program in 2024 recognized 37 participants in 2024.
Participating towns and villages enhanced their communities and were evaluated by the following criteria: Community Appearance, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Tree Management, Landscape and Plant & Floral Displays. Participants are recognized with a Bloom Rating and through the program’s evaluation, Special Recognition Awards and a Photo Contest.
The town of Outlook, competing amongst other communities in the Population 2,001-3,000 ranking, came in 2nd Place and garnered 4 Blooms, with Outlook's efforts to build community involvement gaining special mention by the judges.
The community of Moosomin came in 1st Place in the Population 2,001-3,000 ranking with 5 Blooms.
Special Recognition Award Winners
Six communities and one group are recognized with the Special Recognition Awards:
Community Appearance - St. Walburg for their Best Garden Contest and Twinkle Tour
Environmental Action - Moosomin for their Community Wide Clean-Up
Trees and Urban Forestry - Moosomin for The Labyrinth
Heritage Recognition - Redvers for their Memory Pot Project
Floral Displays - Saskatchewan Beach for their Communities in Bloom Flower Pot Competition
Volunteer Recognition - The Bloomers Volunteer Group in Sturgeon Lake First Nation
Community Spirit - Eastend for the Eastend Friday Night Market
Community Spirit - Craik for Growing Community Spirit with Craik Communities in Bloom
“Take a Shot!” Photo Contest Winners:
Three individuals are recognized for their submissions to the photo contest:
1st Place - Rosa Vázquez (Town of Eastend) in Eastend, SK
2nd Place - Chief Christine Longjohn in Sturgeon Lake First Nation, SK
3rd Place - Don Nicholson in St. Walburg, SK
Also being acknowledged are the communities of Kinistino, Melfort, Wascana Centre, and Government House, who represented Saskatchewan in the 2024 National Communities in Bloom Edition. Their achievements were recognized at the 2024 Communities in Bloom National Symposium featuring the National and International Awards Ceremonies on October 20 in Charlottetown, PEI.
Kinistino – Participant in the Circle of Excellence Category, non-evaluated
Melfort – Participant in the Class of Champions (Small) Evaluated Category, 5 Blooms Bronze, Special Mention for Goodman‘s Family Walking Labyrinth, Winner of the Municipal World WinterLife Award and the Scotts Youth Involvement Award
Wascana Centre – Participant in the Special Attractions Evaluated Category, 4 Blooms, Special Mention for Natural Heritage Conservation - Royal Saskatchewan Museum Native Prairie Plant Garden
Government House – Participant in the Special Attractions Evaluated Category, 4 Blooms, Special Mention for Cultural Heritage Conservation - Saskatchewan Residential School Memorial Garden
A full summary of the 2024 Provincial Winners and Participants with Bloom Ratings, Special Recognition Award Winners, and Photo Contest Winners is available online.
Results of the national and international program can also be viewed here: www.communitiesinbloom.ca/2024-cib-awards-results
