COQUITLAM, B.C., Aug. 19, 2020 – Coquitlam is encouraging local residents to show pollinators some love this summer and fall.
Activities that promote pollinators – bees, butterflies and other creatures that are essential for crops and flowers – and community spirit will soon be rolling out across the City as part of its 2020 entry for Communities in Bloom, a friendly competition between cities encouraging civic pride, beautification and environmental responsibility.
As part of the submission, a slate of fun and educational Coquitlam in Bloom activities is planned to help make the City more pollinator-friendly and to bring the community together.
Join in Coquitlam in Bloom 2020
Some ways to take part in Coquitlam in Bloom this year:
- Find one of the pollinator selfie stations at various Coquitlam parks, then post your photo on social media tagging #coquitlaminbloom and #CoquitlamSPIRIT. Locations include:
- Como Lake Park (700 Gatensbury St.);
- Crestwood Park (907 Crestwood Dr.);
- Glen Park (1149 Westwood St.);
- Good Neighbour Park (1415 Foster Ave.);
- The Inspiration Garden at Town Centre Park (1299 Pinetree Way);
- Mackin Park (1046 Brunette Ave.);
- Rochester Park (1390 Rochester Ave.); and
- Victoria Park (3435 Victoria Dr.).
- Watch for signs in pollinator-friendly gardens at local parks with fun and interesting facts.
- Snap a photo of pollinators you come across, then email them to parkspark@coquitlam.ca or share them on social media tagging #coquitlaminbloom and #CoquitlamSPIRIT.
- Make your garden pollinator-friendly by avoiding the use of pesticides and including plenty of flowering plants. View the video in the Outdoors section at www.coquitlam.ca/spirit to learn to build your own pollinator hotel.
Coquitlam in Bloom is also highlighting CoquitlamSPIRIT, a City initiative set up to support the community through the pandemic. Residents are encouraged to try out the activities at www.coquitlam.ca/spirit – including arts and crafts, fitness at home, safe outdoor experiences, and sections for children, youth, adults and seniors – and then spread the word on social media by tagging #CoquitlamSPIRIT.
More opportunities to get involved, such as park or volunteer programs, may be added in the coming weeks as the City continues to proceed with its phased reopening. Details will be posted at www.coquitlam.ca/cib.
Some Pollinator Fun Facts
Bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, moths and even bats help transfer the pollen needed to keep flowers blooming and crops growing. Some other interesting facts:
- Pollinators are crucial for the success of three-quarters of the world’s food crops and almost all ornamental flowering plants.
- Flowers use their bright colours and fragrance to attract pollinators.
- The agave plant – where tequila comes from – relies solely on bats for pollination.
- Beetles pollinated the first flowers when dinosaurs roamed more than 140 million years ago.
- B.C. has more than 450 species of native bees, but honey bees are not among them.
- Certain plants, such as tomatoes, may only be pollinated through vibration and rely on bumblebees for what is called “buzz pollination.”
The City’s Entry
Coquitlam – a Communities in Bloom winner at the provincial, national and international levels – will enter the competition’s Circle of Excellence category this year for past national winners. The City will vie for the new Best Blooming Community Award for 2020 initiatives as well as other outstanding achievement awards for Environmental Action, Winterlife (such as Lights at Lafarge) and Youth Involvement (such as The Pollinator Project).
Go to www.coquitlam.ca/cib for more information about this and previous years’ Coquitlam in Bloom programs are posted at www.coquitlam.ca/cib.
About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering community pride, environmental responsibility and beautification. It uses friendly competition between communities to bring together local businesses, service clubs, residents and civic government to focus on enhancing their community. Learn more at www.communitiesinbloom.ca. Coquitlam’s participation is outlined at www.coquitlam.ca/cib.