By Kevin Sabo For the Independent
The hard work put in by the Heartland Beautification Committee was on full display July 9.
Judges Larry Hall and Bernadette Solon spent July 9 touring the community with a delegation from the town before attending a small awards banquet held at the Hub in the evening.
“It’s been a pleasure touring your community,” said Judge Larry hall, before switching gears and speaking about the Communities in Bloom competition and how the name “Communities in Bloom” misleads people to believe the judges are in looking at flowers, when the name speaks to the fact that “It’s not the flowers that are blooming, it is the community.”
Stettler is blooming. The beautification committee has put in countless volunteer hours on many projects across the town, the Community Orchard near the mall being an example, the organization of the Walk ‘n’ Roll competition, and many different environmental action programs being others.
While the results of the Communities in Bloom judging won’t be announced until the Sept. 26 to 29 conference and awards ceremony in Strathacona County, the town did hand out some awards of their own.
Gwen Keith and the Stettler Learning Center both received Eco Excellence Awards for their efforts to reduce waste and increase recycling efforts in the community, Skaley Landscaping and Bobcat services received the award for Beautification Champion for his work and volunteer efforts around town, and Lee Penner, who is currently enjoying retirement in BC and joined the ceremony via facetime, was awarded the new award of Beautification Visionary for his decades of work in Stettler.
Stettler hasn’t scored below five blooms, the maximum score, since they began competing in 2008 and the Heartland Beautification committee is looking at keeping the streak going.
