This past July, judges Barb Jordan and Debbie Chaffee from Communities in Bloom (CIB) British Columbia came to Gibsons to evaluate the town.
Gibsons entered the CIB program on a participation level in early May of this year.
Participants do not receive awards or recognition for their efforts, but they do get the advantage of the judges' evaluation as if they were being judged.
ÊThe judges met with CIB committee members, participating business owners, Mayor Barry Janyk, Wendy Gilbertson, director of Parks and Aquatics, and Lisa Simard, Gibsons gardener, for a brunch at Molly's Reach. They then spent the day being escorted throughout the town of Gibsons to observe and to make their evaluations.
The judges have now provided the committee with their completed evaluation which comes with a wealth of information, advice and suggestions for improving the community and to assist the committee in the full competition level they will be entering in 2006.
Gibsons CIB was evaluated on eight criteria and received encouragingly high marks for the early efforts in all categories. The criteria were: tidiness 93/125; environmental awareness 72/125; community involvement 103/125; natural and cultural heritage conservation 81/125; tree/urban forest management 88/125; landscaped area 82/125; floral displays 103/125 and turf and groundcovers 78/125. The CIB committee is now undertaking the task of sorting through all the material presented so they can strategize for the coming competition.
To be successful, volunteers are needed to help with all aspects of gardening and clean up.
If you're ready to get your hands dirty, you can call Katherine Magor at 604-886-6754 or attend the next meeting on Oct. 5 at 2:30 p.m. at municipal hall.
