Communities in Bloom (CiB) is a provincial and national program that recognizes community participation in projects involving beautification, heritage, and environmental awareness. It is administered by the Saskatchewan Parks & Recreation Association (SPRA). Participants are evaluated on the quality of the municipality’s green spaces, dedication to quality of living, general appearance, environmental awareness, heritage and the level of community involvement. Pilot Butte is one of many communities in the south east that participate in CiB.
Pilot Butte formed a beautification committee in 2019 as a committee of council. Their goal was to work on sustaining projects that improve the town’s green spaces and to beautify the community. The committee is made up of 11 volunteers and is supported by town residents for assistance with projects. Scott Einarson, committee volunteer states, “it is imperative to have the ongoing support of Town Council and working alongside Town staff have contributed to the success of initiatives.”
The full-time committee receives funding through the Town as well as committee fundraising efforts such as the sale of Mother’s Day hanging baskets and recycling bins. The volunteers do much of their planning from September to May, May to June is a “sprint” of heavy work, and July to August is maintenance.
Scott explained that the committee entered the judging program (Novice Category) of CiB in the first year, “it set a framework for our committee and brought more understanding to the Communities in Bloom Program. The judges helped us to set priorities and goals for moving forward.”
The committee has had several accomplishments over the past three years including an urban food forest with 40 species of editable and medicinal plants, spray park landscaping plan and installation, Tradeshow “Blossoming Butte”, Summer and Halloween yard judging, weeding, planting trees and perennials, seniors flower bed, cemetery cleanup, tree inventory and park plan, year round metal bin for recycling, and much more!
Check out Beautify Pilot Butte on Facebook!
To get involved or to learn more about CiB visit www.spra.sk.ca.