Communities in Bloom
The County of Brant participated in the 2024 Communities in Bloom event!
Communities in Bloom (website) is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and an annual national program that challenges communities to enhance green spaces.
2024 Event
For the 2024 campaign, everyone was encouraged to plant orange, as well as pollinator and native plants to showcase our Communities in Bloom spirit, and help create a healthier ecosystem!
The 2024 year marks the 30th anniversary of Communities in Bloom, and the County of Brant’s inaugural year of participating!
Check out the 2024 Brant in Bloom - Community Profile (PDF)! The Community Profile showcases the beauty, sustainability practices, ecology and diverse attractions that make the County of Brant a vibrant and dynamic place to live and visit.
Three Blooms and the Urban Forestry Criteria Award for the County of Brant!
The County of Brant is proud to have been awarded three blooms and the Urban Forestry Criteria Award in its inaugural year participating in the 2024 Communities in Bloom (CiB) program. This achievement reflects the collective efforts of the community, staff, and leadership, and highlights our commitment to environmental sustainability, heritage preservation, and civic pride.
“The dedication shown by our staff and community in making this year’s Communities in Bloom participation a success is truly inspiring,” said Mayor David Bailey. “I am particularly proud of our team for their hard work, and of our community for coming together to showcase the best of Brant.”
The CiB judges praised the County of Brant for a number of outstanding accomplishments, including the well-organized presentation of the Community Profile, which used innovative technology to showcase key aspects of the area.
The judges’ feedback highlighted several strengths in Brant’s presentation, including the inclusion of Indigenous history, a comprehensive and well-organized website, and strong collaboration across municipal departments.
“It’s an honour to see our efforts acknowledged for preserving and enhancing our parks, forests, and communities” said Meghan Hunter, Manager of Parks Capital Planning & Forestry. “This achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our council, community and the dedicated staff who worked tirelessly to keep Brant beautiful and ensure the success of this initiative.”
Recommendations were also provided and the County looks forward to continuing to build on this years success and planning for improvements by collaborating with community members to further elevate our standing in the Communities in Bloom program.
Judges' Tour - July 18-20, 2024
The judging process is designed to encourage communities to work together to create beautiful, sustainable, and environmentally responsible spaces to enhance the quality of life of their residents.
All municipalities across Canada are judged by dedicated, specially trained volunteer judges based on six criteria which include efforts made by residents, municipal bodies and all forms of businesses. The judges travel across Ontario during the summer and evaluate each location based on six factors.
Based on the evaluation, communities may be awarded ratings from one to five blooms, five blooms being the highest rating. Based on their ranking, communities can move on to the national and international competitions. Communities may also be eligible for special awards based on specific criteria such as sustainability, biodiversity, or community involvement.
Our 2024 judges were Karen Stephenson and Matt Robertson. Karen is a Communities in Bloom judge for Ontario, leveraging her 30+ year career in corporate leadership roles focused on Regulatory Compliance, Stakeholder Relations, Communications, and SHEQ Management. Karen's long-standing relationship with Communities in Bloom began in 2009, and after retiring in 2022, she aims to continue contributing to community improvement through this organization. Matt graduated from the Niagara Parks Commission School of Horticulture in 1987. He is the co-owner of Verdant Landscape and Design Inc., a Milton, Ontario based landscape firm. Matt teaches horticulture technician students at both Mohawk and Humber colleges during the winter months.
Karen Stephenson - CiB Judge Biography (PDF)
Matt Robertson - CiB Judge Biography (PDF)
Six Factors of Judging Criteria:
| Environment Action |
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This aspect examines the community's efforts to address environmental concerns. Judges evaluate initiatives related to waste reduction, landfill diversion, composting, hazardous waste management, water conservation, energy conservation, and sustainable development practices, particularly in green spaces. |
| Heritage Conservation |
| Here, the focus is on preserving both natural and cultural heritage within the community. This includes policies, plans, and actions aimed at conserving biodiversity, as well as tangible heritage elements such as historical buildings, monuments, memorials, and intangible elements like traditions and customs. |
| Landscaped Areas |
| Landscape evaluation encompasses the planning, design, construction, and maintenance of parks, green spaces, and cemeteries throughout the community. Judges analyze the use of native and introduced materials, biodiversity, integration of hard surfaces and artistic elements, and the provision of safe and secure public spaces. |
| Floral Displays |
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This category focuses on the design, execution, and maintenance of plant and floral arrangements within the community. Judges evaluate the diversity, balance, color harmony, and originality of displays, which may include flowerbeds, container gardens, hanging baskets, and window boxes. |
| Tidiness |
| This criterion focuses on the overall aesthetic appeal of the community. Judges assess factors such as the maintenance of parks, green spaces, medians, boulevards, sidewalks, streets, municipal, commercial, institutional, and residential properties. They also consider measures taken for weed control, litter cleanup (including small items like cigarette butts and gum), graffiti prevention and removal, and vandalism deterrence programs. |
| Urban Forestry and Trails |
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This criterion assesses the community's management of its tree population, including the formulation and implementation of policies and standards for tree selection, planting, maintenance, and replacement. It also considers efforts to promote biodiversity, protect pollinators, and manage tree-related pests. |
What You Can Do
As we begin to prepare for 2025, we encourage Brant residents, businesses and organizations to consider how you can actively participate in and prepare for the next Communities in Bloom Judges' Tour:
| Tidy Up |
| Pull those weeds, sweep your sidewalk and pick up litter in neighbourhood green spaces, vacant lots and local parks. |
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Show Off Your Creativity |
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Spruce up your flowerbeds, baskets and planters. No project is too small! |
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Respect Our Environment |
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Any effort towards protecting and conserving the environment will help impress the judges! |
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Join the Community |
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Get involved in the beautification and betterment of our community. Join a local horticulture club, service group or community organization. |
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Celebrate our Heritage |
| Brant’s heritage and events shape our community's distinctive character and provide a sense of place. |
| Support Urban Forestry Efforts |
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Share Forestry information about how we can protect and enhance our local trees and forests. |