Communities in Bloom Home     Communities in Bloom is a world wide project organized to recognize the efforts and
 involvement of all (municipal, residential, industrial, commercial, institutional and community groups) segments of each community in tidiness, urban forestry, floral display, landscaping, heritage conservation, groundcover and environmental awareness. There are three levels of participation: provincial, national, and global. The theme is "People, Plants and Pride ...Growing Together".
    Central Elgin entered the competition for the first time in 2004 under the leadership of Jen Reimer, a volunteer from Dexter Line with the invaluable help of Ron Richards, municipal Recreation Superintendent. A volunteer committee of people from all over our municipality met monthly to learn all they could about our municipality and to initiate new projects to improve our municipality. The volunteers were so enthused that they expanded the committee for the 2005 competition and worked under the co-chairs, Craig Cole of Port Stanley and Sally Martyn of Sparta. The committee of volunteers grew to 29 and in both years we achieved 4 blooms out of a possible 5. We scored greater that 80% in 4 of the 8 categories. In 2006, Craig and Sally continued as our chairs and lead us on to achieving the highest standing of 5 blooms with 80% or greater in all categories. As a result we were invited to participate in the National competition for 2007 and accepted. We are also in the National vompetition for 2008.
    In 2007 and 2008, Ron Richards was our chair and Jennifer Richards our secretary. The committee
  worked hard to improve our municipality in our weaker areas. The council have worked with us and improved our garbage collection to make it more environmentally friendly and to re-institute hazardous waste, large item and appliance drop off days. We achieved five blooms again in the national competition and are eager to participate again this year under the same leadership. New members of the committee are always welcome.
We want to work with you to make Central Elgin an even better place to live. We are proud of our municipality and its wide variety of communities that all contribute to make Central Elgin special..
Current sub-committee co-ordinators are:
Tidiness & Community Involvement: Shelia Wood (Belmont), Sue Roy, Gini Bryer, (Port Stanley),
Environmental Effort & Forestry: Ron Casier (Southdale Line), Ed Pietrzak (Dexter Line), Sally Martyn (Councilor Ward 2)
Heritage Conservation: Bob Burns (Sparta)
Landscaped Areas, Floral Display, Turf and Groundcover: Ron Richards, Debbie rimnyak (Yarmouth)
Public Relations:  Sue Roy (Port Stanley), Sheila Wood (Belmont)
Awards Banquet: Jennifer Richards, Sue Roy (Port Stanley)
Greening Schools: Gini Bryers (Port Stanley), Sally Martyn (Councilor Ward 2)
Council Representatives: Sally Martyn (Ward 2), Gerald Reu (Ward 5)
Other members of the committee represent the rest of the municipality and help on the various sub-committees. Come join us and enjoy the sense of community spirit this competition has engendered. We meet the last Wednesday of every month at the municipal offices at 450 Sunset Drive at 7:30 pm in the conference room on the lower level of the Central Elgin section of the building. Use the north back door to access the building