Jasper has outdone itself, receiving a five blooms bronze award at this year鈥檚 international Communities in Bloom competition. The award was presented on Oct. 29听 in Regina.听
This was Jasper鈥檚 fourth year competing on the international stage, after winning at the national level in 2012 and the provincial level in 2010. Since competing in the international category, Jasper has consistently been praised with a five blooms award鈥攂ut this is the first year the town has scored high enough to snag the bronze status.
鈥淲e were very pleased with the score and the fact that we鈥檝e gotten better,鈥� said Colleen Green, co-chair of Jasper鈥檚 Communities in Bloom committee.
Jasper鈥檚 overall score was 841.5 out of a possible 1,000 points. The judges, who travelled to Jasper in July, rated the community on six criteria: tidiness (127 out of 150), environmental action (125.5 out of 150), heritage conservation (129 out of 150), urban forestry (168 out of 175), landscape (168 out of 200) and floral displays (145 out of 175).
To receive five blooms, a community has to tally at least 820 points. Bronze status is then doled out to communities that receive at least 840 points. To be awarded gold, a community must score 900 points or higher.
Along with a full bouquet of blooms, Jasper also received a special recognition for effective environmental management.
鈥淲e applied for an outstanding achievement award for environmental action and we got an honorable mention so that鈥檚 still good,鈥� Green said.
Following their evaluation, judges Evelyn Alemanni and Ga茅tan Desch锚nes noted the close partnership between the Municipality of Jasper and Parks Canada.
鈥淵ou should know that the territory of Jasper is located inside the park. The extremely cooperative way in which they both work together makes it possible to implement environmental policies that contribute to the quality of life of the citizens,鈥� wrote the judges in their joint evaluation.
Despite the praise, the Town of Estes Park, Colo., earned the most points to take home the top prize in the medium category.
鈥淚鈥檝e been in communication with Estes Park to find out what we can do better for next year,鈥� Green said. 鈥淭hey have the same challenge as us because they are also in a national park.鈥�
Jasper was also one of 50 Canadian communities to receive a $25,000 grant from the CN EcoConnexions Community Tree Planting Program.
According to Green, the municipality will match the grant.
Jasper received the same grant in 2012 and it was used to plant 104 Douglas-fir trees along Connaught Drive, across from the Sawridge Inn.听
鈥淲e could plant trees and shrubs with this grant, but we haven鈥檛 decided anything yet,鈥� said Green, adding that the grant funding will also go towards labour costs and irrigation systems for the trees.
鈥淣ow we just have to get together with the municipality and figure out where we want these.鈥�
听Kayla Byrne [email protected]
