The Communities in Bloom judges will be evaluating Stettler on July 25 in the International Challenge (small) category. Various events related to the judging will take place throughout the day, and the community awards will be given out at the end of the day. The judges are Lucie Gagné and Piet Boersma.
Gagné has been the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Plant Health Survey Biologist for the Québec area. She researches plant pests in order to manage and eradicate them.
Boersma has been an inspector in the Netherlands with the Plant Protection Service since 1975. He inspects plants exported from the Netherlands and conducts field studies to detect diseases that don’t normally occur in Europe.
Stettler is competing against Castlegar, B.C.; Fogo, Nfld.; Jasper, Alta.; Killarney-Turtle Mountain, Man.; Moynalty Village in Ireland and Trail, B.C.
The judges arrive at 9 a.m. and begin their tour at 9:30 a.m. The first half of the tour is followed by lunch, and then the second half of the tour begins. At 6 p.m., the judges will have dinner in the Hub, give their comments, and hand out community awards.
The national and international results are set to be announced in Charlottetown, PEI from Sept. 17 to 20.
Communities in Bloom is an organization that seeks to promote environmental responsibility and beautification through an annual challenge.