Did you know that over 200 (out of 444) Municipalities in Ontario have realized the benefits of participating in the CiB Program?

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1 Green for Life Did you know that over 200 (out of 444) Municipalities in Ontario have realized the benefits of participating in the CiB Program? Communities that look successful are more likely to be successful, on many levels. People and businesses want to be associated with a successful looking community, which is particularly important with respect to potential new residents, investors, visitors, developers, realtors and others. This community capacity building program is for those who aspire to excel in the CiB Ontario program and advance to the National and International levels of competition. Registrations for Communities in Bloom Ontario are categorized according to community population. Trained judges evaluate each participating community on the accomplishments of the whole team residential, business and municipal. Communities will be award a trillium rating along with a comprehensive 20 page report (estimated value $20,000) Why participate? Listen to what participating communities have to say: Communities in Bloom Ontario Volume 12, Issue 1 December 2010 Special points of interest: Benefits of Participation Invite to Mayors & Councillors Featured 2010 Programs Calendar of Events 1) In 2006, we conducted a survey on the benefits and other topics related to participation in Communities in Bloom. 102 Communities, all active and of various populations sizes, responded. 43,69% identified Civic Pride as a benefit of participation 41,75% identified Improved Appearance as a benefit of participation 35,92% identified Community Involvement as a benefit of participation 23,33% identified Increased Landscaping as a benefit of participation It is important to note that for the above question on benefits, the answers were not prompted (i.e. there was no list to chose from); these were free form answers that were supplied by the respondents. 2) In a more recent survey conducted in Manitoba (2009), participants rated their satisfaction vs. the following expected results of participation as follows (on a scale of 5): Community Pride: 4.57 Community Involvement: 3.71 Tourism: 3.63 Economic Development: 3.06 Inside this issue: Crystal Beach 2 City of Cornwall 2 Invite to Mayors & Councillors to Congress Contact us 4 Hold that Date... 4 Calendar 4

2 2011 ONTARIO EDITION REGISTRATION INCLUDES MEMBERSHIP PRICES SUBJECT TO CHANGE AFTER DEC. 31/10 REGISTER TODAY TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS & NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT AWAY. Municipality or Group (please print) Total Population (if applicable) Name of Municipal Contact Position / Title Street Address City/Town Province Postal Code ( ) ( ) Phone Fax address ALTERNATE CONTACT: Name of Community Contact Position / Title Street Address City/Town Province Postal Code ( ) ( ) Daytime Phone Evening Phone address Check One CIB Program Registration Category Registration Program Deadline Fees CiB Ontario Full Program Population 1-5,000 April 30, 2011 $ CiB Ontario Full Program Population 5,001-10,000 April 30, 2011 $ CiB Ontario Full Program Population 10,001-20,000 April 30, 2011 $ CiB Ontario Full Program Population 20,001-50,000 April 30, 2011 $ CiB Ontario Full Program Population 50, ,000 April 30, 2011 $ CiB Ontario Full Program Population over 100,000 April 30, 2011 $1, Landscape Ontario Green for Life Community Award June 30, 2011 $ Membership Program (non-evaluated) June 30, 2011 $ Signature: TOTAL Total Remitted Mail your completed registration form & cheque made payable to: to Communities in Bloom Ontario Lee Rozon, Executive Director Communities in Bloom Ontario 7856 Fifth Line South, RR4 Milton, ON L9T 2X8 Toll-free:

3 Crystal Beach Beautification Committee Crystal Beach Streetscaping Ten years ago a project was launched to encourage a community in despair for a decade over the closing of the Crystal Beach Amusement Park. The people desperately needed to be affirmed and self- images needed to be boosted. It all started when one individual planted 35 planter along the two main streets of the village. Today that project has grown to several (6-8 as a core group) volunteers with additional part time helpers who raise much of the funding, plant and maintain 90 planters and more. At the village entry is a theme oriented sign, a boat surrounded by floral billows, On down the street is an avenue, a block long of pavement red roses, day lilies, Russian Sage, sedum. and more. What a welcome! Where the two main streets intersect a cluster of planters crowned by red canna lilies, red dragon wing begonias and geraniums along with chartreuse potato vine provide a striking display. As well the junction marks the beginning of coordinating hanging baskets of purple, white, and red petunias. Below the hanging baskets are 86 heavenly blue morning glories climbing a wrought iron fence. An extension of this street is marked by 70 flowering shrubs. All of this is fertilized, mulched, and fully maintained by volunteers. Volunteers have watered for 8 years: only last year and this year assistance has come from the town for partial coverage of watering staff. These volunteers have served with passion and have done an outstanding job for their community. *Winner of the CiB Ontario Floral Displays Award* Cornwall is more than just sidewalks and City of Cornwall Full Ontario Program traffic lights. It is people. Our city has an abundance of green space; arts and sports are embraced; adversity is By Joel D. Herrington overcome; family comes first. It is a generous community. Cornwall is a Two judges from Communities in Bloom (CiB) Ontario were in Cornwall last July to Community in Bloom! evaluate a number of positive features and projects undertaken and presented by the city. At the CiB Awards Ceremonies in Sarnia on September 24 and 25, Cornwall Parks and Landscaping Supervisor Laurie Weatherall was on hand to accept a Trillium Bloom certificate on behalf of the city for scoring a perfect five out of five blooms on the evaluation. Only two other participating areas in Ontario received a 5-bloom rating. Cornwall continues to shake up old perceptions about the City, this time with regards to our cityscape and how beautiful our City has become, said Mayor Bob Kilger in a press release. This award recognizes all of the hard work that the City, our business leaders and individual citizens have undertaken to balance urban living and our natural environment. Cornwall was judged, and received suggestions in eight categories, including: tidiness, environmental awareness, floral displays and landscaped areas. CiB Executive Director Lee Rozon congratulated the municipality and the residents of Cornwall for their dedication to making Cornwall a flourishing community. The CiB judges were Marie Huxter and Charlie Dobbin, who examined a number of areas in the city including Guindon Park, Lamoureux Park, Downtown Cornwall, and the new St. Lawrence Power Development Visitor Centre. This is the second time Cornwall has participated in the competition. Last year the city received a 4 bloom rating. A committee of volunteers from the community, along with City staff, organized the Cornwall entry. Communities in Bloom are a non-profit Canadian organization that encourages civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community participation and the challenge of a friendly competition. All municipalities involved were judged by trained volunteer judges on efforts made by residents, municipal bodies and all forms of businesses. Page 2

4 A Special Invitation to all Mayors and Councillors On behalf of Communities in Bloom Ontario, Ontario Parks Association and Landscape Ontario-Horticultural Trade Association, we cordially invite you to be our guest to the 3rd Annual Mayors GREEN CONNECTIONS, A Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships Event. On Tuesday, January 11, 2011 at the Toronto Congress Centre, the Green Connections event will feature guest speakers, networking opportunities, admission to Congress trade show and a luncheon. This free invitation is open to municipal mayors and councillors (limit of 2 free per municipality, additional attendees may register at a cost of $45 each), subject to space availability. This event begins at the opening of Congress 2011, Canada s largest horticultural trade show and conference. The Green Connections Event is a special feature of the show which is dedicated to initiatives that will better enable municipalities, contractors and suppliers to build and support sustainable communities for the enjoyment and healthy lifestyle benefits that our parks and green spaces can provide for all. You must be registered to attend. This FREE invitation includes: 8:30 a.m. Coffee and registration 9:00 a.m. Opening ceremonies featuring ribbon cutting with media and free admission to Congress :00 a.m. Green 8 presentation by the Town of Gravenhurst 12:00 noon Networking luncheon 1:30 p.m. Special Keynote Address Who Should Attend: The Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships program has a focus on long-term community green space planning and protection issues with key audiences that include: Elected municipal officials, including mayors and councillors Municipal senior parks administrators, managers and planners Landscape architects, parks planners and educators Municipal and local volunteer groups and parks issue champions Not-for-profit groups that support community parks, facilities and recreational spaces Other non-for-profit conservation and environmental groups This complimentary invitation-only event is a unique opportunity for municipal leaders, parks staff and community stakeholders to meet, share information and build consensus on how to develop strategies to encourage people of all ages and abilities to enjoy gardening, recreational parks, parklands and landscapes in their communities. To register your selected municipal representatives' FREE attendance, please contact Lee Rozon, Executive Director, Communities in Bloom at or info@cibontario.ca For information on Congress visit Volume 12, Issue 1 Page 3

5 Thank You to our Sponsors and Partners! Trillium Level: Lee Rozon, Executive Director 7856 Fifth Line South Milton, On L9T 2X8 Phone: Showcase your Community at Canada Blooms Three Bloom Level: Association of Municipalities of Ontario Two Bloom Level: International Society of Arboriculture - Ontario Ontario Small Urban Municipalities Trystan Site Furnishings Inc. Partners: Master Gardeners of Ontario Municipal Cultural Planning Inc. Ontario Horticultural Association Ontario Parks Association Parks & Recreation Ontario Rural Ontario Municipal Assoc. ROMA For a list of National Sponsors visit inbloom.ca SPECIAL CiB ONTARIO OFFER - a block of space is being held for a very limited time for CiB members to exhibit at Canada Blooms. Please reply ASAP. Communities in Bloom Ontario participants have been given an opportunity to save approx. 50% off the regular exhibit booth space at the very prestigious Canada Blooms this year. We thank you for your participation last year and are pleased to hear that your involvement in the show was a positive experience for your community. A message from Bob Marshall, Tourism Manager for the Port of Goderich: I am writing to thank you for allowing the Port of Goderich to have a Communities in Bloom booth at last year's Canada Blooms. The interest generated from visitors to our booth was fantastic. We ran a contest for a weekend away in Goderich and had over 500 entries. Canada Blooms is an excellent location for us to market the Port of Goderich. I understand that we plan to have a booth again in the Spring. RECENT & UPCOMING EVENTS EVENT Bruce Warren (CiB Ontario judge) presented the Park Revitalization Award to the City of Hamilton Council & Staff. Tony DiGiovanni (Landscape Ontario) presented the Landscape Ontario Green for Life Community Award to Kincardine & District Secondary School at Expo EXPO 2010 CiB Ontario Exhibit Booth Denis Flanagan (Chair, CiB Ontario) to present the Forest Management Award to the Town of Markham Council & Staff. Landscape Ontario Congress 2011 Canada Blooms 2011 EXPO 2011 CiB Provincial Awards 2011 DATE Oct 4, 2010 Oct. 20, 2010 Oct , 2010 Nov. 23, 2010 Jan , 2011 Mar , 2011 Oct. 18 & 19, 2011

6 ONTARIO PARTICIPATING COMMUNITIES All Years Ajax Algonquin Almonte Amherstburg Arnprior Athens Aurora Aylmer Bala Bancroft Barrie Belleville Biddulph Blue Mountains Bluewater Twp Blyth Bonfield Bracebridge Bradford West Gwillimbury Brampton Brantford Brighton Brockville Bruce Mines Plummers Burlington Cambridge Campbellford - Seymour Cardinal Carleton Place Central Elgin Centre Wellington Champlain Chatham-Kent Clinton Cobourg Cochrane Colborne Collingwood Cornwall Crysler Crystal Beach Deep River Deseronto Dorset Downsview Park Dryden Dunnville Durham Dysart et al (Haliburton) Eganville Elliot Lake Elmvale Elora Essex Etobicoke Exeter First Unitarian Congr. Fergus Fort Erie Fort Frances Front of Yonge Gananoque Glen Morris Goderich Gravenhurst Greater Napanee Greater Sudbury Guelph Halleybury Halton Hills Hamilton Highlands Huntsville Ingersoll Innisfil The Junction Kanata Kapuskaping Kawartha Lakes Keene Kenora Kincardine King Kingston Kingston- CFB Kitchener Lambton Shores Lanark Leamington Leeds Leeds & Thousand Islands Lincoln London Loyalist Twp Lucan Lynedoch Community Gr. Manotick Manulife Financial Marathon Markham Marmora & Lake Meaford Merrickville Middlesex Midland Mildmay Millbrook Milton Minden Hills Minto Mississauga Mitchell Mount Forest Napanee Nepean Neustadt New Liskeard New Tecumseth Niagara Falls Niagara-on-the-Lake North Bay North Dorchester North Glengarry North Huron North Perth Norval Oakville Orilla Oshawa Ottawa Hort. Society Ottawa Frontenac Owen Sound Parkhill Parry Sound Pelee Pelham Pembroke Perth Petawawa Petawawa-CFB Peterborough Petrolia Pickering Port Carling Port Colbourne Port Hope Prescott Prince Edward County Red Lake Red Rock Renfrew Richmond Hill Rideau Lakes Sarnia Sault Ste.Marie Scarborough Schreiber Scugog Seaforth Smith's Falls Southhampton South Huron Southwest Middlesex Springwater Stratford Strathroy-Caradoc St. Catherines St. Marys St-Thomas Sudbury Sundridge Strong Tay Temiskaming Shores Thames Centre Thunder Bay Tiverton Toronto Trent Hills U of Western Ontario Uxbridge Vaughan Verner Walkerton Wasaga Beach Waterloo Wawa West Gwillimbury West Elgin West Perth Westport Whitby Whitechurch/Stouffville Wilmot Windsor Wingham Woodstock

7 For immediate release December 1, 2010 Lieutenant Governor to present at the Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships Event being held at Congress 2011 Toronto, Ont. The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, will be presenting the keynote address Green Connections at the Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships event at Landscape Ontario s Congress on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, at the Toronto Congress Centre. The Green Communities, Parks and Partnerships event is a joint venture between the Ontario Parks Association, Communities in Bloom Ontario and Landscape Ontario. The event is dedicated to initiatives that will better enable municipalities, contractors and suppliers to build and support sustainable communities for the enjoyment and healthy lifestyle benefits that our treasured parks and green spaces can provide for all. The goal of this year s event, the Green Connection, is to bring together over 200 municipal leaders, parks staff and community stakeholders to raise awareness on the importance of implementing strategies which encourage people of all ages and abilities to enjoy gardening, recreational parks, parklands and landscapes. We are exceptionally pleased that the Lieutenant Governor has accepted our invitation to present at the Green Communities, Parks & Partnership event, said Lee Rozon, Executive Director, Communities in Bloom Ontario His Honour has been tireless in his efforts to promote accessibility, during which he has gained a keen awareness that parks and green spaces and their enjoyment by all, is an important part of his mandate as Lieutenant Governor continued Rozon. The Green Connection event will run from 11:00 AM 5:15 PM on Tuesday, January 11, 2011, in the Waxman Room at the Toronto Congress Centre. Tickets for this event are $45 per person and can be purchased online at until January 7, About Congress 2011 and partners: Landscape Ontario s Congress is one of North America s largest horticultural, lawn and garden trade show and conference drawing together in excess of 13,000 horticulture industry trade, sub-trade and municipal green professionals and from across Canada and the United States. The exposition, of four shows in one, spreads over more than eight acres of leading suppliers products and services required for the construction and maintenance of commercial, public and residential landscapes. Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association is one of the most vibrant associations of its kind, comprised of over 2,000 members, ten sector groups and nine local chapters. Its trade mission is to promote the horticulture industry in Ontario, and its public mission is to promote the joys and benefits of green spaces. The Canadian Fence Industry Association is a non-profit organization representing contractors, retailers, agents, wholesalers and manufacturers of fence products and services. They are dedicated to representing high construction standards as well as a high level of ethical business behavior in a competitive market place.

8 The Ontario Parks Association is a registered charity organization that is devoted to bringing together those people who are interested in the development and protection of parks and green spaces. The OPA is committed to educate park professionals and enable them to meet or exceed industry standards while actively advocating for the protection and enhancement of parks and open spaces. Our motto Protecting Tomorrow Today is a commitment to civic beautification and the advancement, protection and conservation of parks, open space and the environment in the province of Ontario. Communities in Bloom Ontario is a non-profit Canadian organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community participation and the challenge of a friendly competition. The Communities in Bloom program helps inspire communities to enhance and sustain the visual appeal of neighborhoods, public spaces, parks and streetscapes through the imaginative use of regionally-appropriate flowers, plants, trees and landscaping. The preservation of heritage and cultural assets with attention to environmental stewardship is an integral part of its success resulting in an improved quality of life for all. Media Contact: Stephen Murdoch Enterprise Canada Tel: X22 Cell: smurdoch@enterprisecanada.com -30-