The Town of Minto will continue to participate in a non-competitive level of the national Communities in Bloom program. Council here approved spending $756 to participate in an evaluation phase this coming year.
Minto was a national winner in the competion in 2009.
Business and Economic Manager Belinda Wick-Graham explained that Minto was a national winner in the Communities in Bloom competition for municipalities under 10,000 population in 2009. Since then, the town has participated in the program’s Circle of Excellence Category at a cost of $414 annually. Ongoing participation allows Minto to continue promoting the town as a national Communities in Bloom winner.
To continue participation, municipalities must be evaluated every three years, with Minto’s turn coming up in 2013. The evaluation involves a one-day visit from a CIB judge and meetings with members of the local CIB committee or contact person.
“They need to see that you’re maintaining,” said Wick-Graham.
If Minto decided to drop out of the competition this year, they would be required to start over at the Ontario level should the town wish to participate again the future.
“A lot of volunteers and several staff members worked very hard for many years to take Minto the national level and then to be recognized as a national winner. It would be unfortunate to see us lose status and have to start over from the beginning,” said Wick-Graham.
