“Growing Great Places Together” is our slogan, and it captures the essence of the program.

History. Established with the guidance of Britain in Bloom, Tidy Towns of Ireland and Villes et Villages Fleuris de France, Communities in Bloom held its first edition in 1995 and 29 participating municipalities were honoured at the first awards ceremonies on Parliament Hill. The program now includes hundreds of communities across the country and an international challenge involving communities from the United States, Asia and several European countries allows participants to compete internationally.

Program. The program consists of communities receiving information and being evaluated either provincially or nationally by a volunteer jury of trained professionals on the accomplishments of their entire community (municipal, private, corporate and institutional sectors, citizens) on six key criteria: Community Appearance, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Tree Management, Landscape and Plant & Floral Displays.

Benefits. Participating communities unanimously agree!  Growth in civic pride, positive sense of community, and tangible improvements generated by their efforts are immediately felt.  Communities in Bloom is a community program where everyone wins.  It is a citizen led, community economic development program, with a Return on Investment that is measurable, predictable and accountable.   An invaluable information exchange network also allows communities to share accomplishments, best practices and projects. All participants are showcased on www.communitiesinbloom.ca which highlights the communities, features in-depth articles and provides educational content. There are also promotional opportunities through special initiatives and events.