Communities in Bloom judges checking out Charlottetown

National Communities in Bloom judges are wrapping up their tour of Charlottetown this week as they size up the city in the Class of Champions category.

Charlottetown is competing against three other municipalities: Beaumont, Alta., and Castlegar and Trail in B.C.

Lorna McIIroy, a lifetime gardener and horticulturist from Grande Prairie, Alta., and Mauro Paradisi, whomanagesfloral displays and garden maintenance in Turin, Italy, have been touring gardens and green spaces in the city.

"Over the 20 years that Charlottetown has been in Communities in Bloom, they have been winners in so many ways. They have won many awards," said McIIroy.

"But I think the important thing is that a community is really competing with themselves because they are judged on what they are doing with what they have."

Quality of life

While in Charlottetown, the judges have taken in a heritage and planning walking tour, plus visited public gardens and natural areas.

They've also met with groups such as Downtown Charlottetown Inc., the Island Waste Management Corporation and officials from the new UPEI School of Sustainable Engineering.

They look at everything from landscaping and floral displays to heritage conservation.

"We are here to judge the quality of life of your citizens, the people that live here, but also for the people that come here such as tourists," said Paradisi.

The winners of the competition will be announced during the Communities in Bloom Symposium and Awards being held in Regina, Sask., at the end of October.

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