After a several-year hiatus, the Town of Ponoka has re-joined the Communities in Bloom program.
The goal of the program is to foster a sense of community pride, says Wes Amendt, community services director. It is also an effort to entice people to move here.
Town staff have been busy this spring, beautifying the streets with hanging flower baskets and Amendt says the town will be judged on several criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape and floral displays.
As this is the first foray back into the Communities in Bloom competition, the town has entered in the friends’ category, which is not as competitive.
“There’s a whole evaluating form,” explained Amendt.
He hopes this will also spark a desire in residents to beautify their yards and for businesspeople to consider the presentation of their storefronts. “It’s all about taking pride in the community.”
The Hudson’s Green Nature and Activity Centre has also received a landscaping update.
“Those are the things that we’re doing from a municipal perspective,” said Amendt.
He suggests small touch-ups will make a big difference in town and when judges arrive in Ponoka. Judging day is July 29.
Judges are picked from the Communities in Bloom organizers and in the friends category participating communities are recognized for their participation.