Two judges for the provincial Communities in Bloom program visited the town of Barriere on July 18 and 19, to evaluate the municipality for the 2012 competition. Prior to their arrival area residents created a hive of activity throughout the community as they mowed grass, weed-wacked, and in general put the finishing touches on the town’s appearance as a whole. Judges however, look at a number of criteria, including tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf and groundcovers, floral displays, and community involvement.
Other communities entered in the provincial CIB program are Agassiz, Cache Creek, Chetwynd, Clinton, Kelowna, Lake Country, Logan Lake, Mackenzie, Merritt, 100 Mile House, Salmon Arm, Sooke and Vernon.
All participating communities receive a rating from the judges of one to five ‘Blooms’. The community with a top five-bloom score (one in each population category) may receive an invitation to participate in the following year’s national program. All participants are promoted within B.C. and nationally, and are invited to attend the provincial Awards Ceremony which will be hosted for 2012 at a CIB conference in Kelowna, Sept. 21 to 23.
The community of Barriere hosted a welcome to the judges barbecue on Wednesday evening, and the judges then spent the next day touring throughout the town with tour guides Councillor Virginia Smith, and District CAO Colleen Hannigan. Stops on the tour included; the Wildfire Dragon Monument and Spirt Square, Barriere Farmer’s Market, Sunset Heights/Mountain Road, the ball diamonds, a river walk and look at the cemetery, lunch at the community garden, Yellowhead Pioneer Residence and grounds, Teacher’s, Glentanna and Green Tree subdivisions, drop in at municipal hall and the North Thompson Volunteer Centre youth program, the North Thompson Museum, and the North Thompson Fall Fair facility - including the companion garden and the Agriplex.