Activities that promote community spirit and pollinators will be the foundation for Coquitlam’s 2020 Communities in Bloom competition entry.
COQUITLAM, B.C., Aug. 13, 2020 – Activities that promote community spirit and pollinators will be the foundation for Coquitlam’s 2020 Communities in Bloom competition entry.
Selfie stations, fun facts in parks and other public pollinator-related activities will roll out in the coming weeks as part of the City’s involvement in Communities in Bloom – a friendly competition between cities encouraging civic pride, beautification and environmental responsibility – and its own CoquitlamSPIRIT program that has been keeping residents active and engaged during the pandemic.
The City is continuing its annual Coquitlam in Bloom tradition in 2020 with an entry in the Circle of Excellence category for past national winners. The City earned a first-place national win in 2018, and last year took first place in the international competition against similar-sized cities in Hungary, the United Kingdom and the U.S. state of Kentucky.
Raising Spirits in 2020
During a year in which good news is in high demand, the Coquitlam in Bloom program is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of residents, volunteers and businesses while providing a focus for activities that bring people together and promote community spirit.
Coquitlam is vying for the 2020 Special Award for Best Blooming Community with a submission centred around the CoquitlamSPIRIT initiative, which has been supporting community well-being over the past several months with free activities and resources at www.coquitlam.ca/spirit based on the themes of caring, connections and community.
The City is also compiling entries for the special achievement award categories of Environmental Action, Winterlife (such as Lights at Lafarge) and Youth Involvement ((such as The Pollinator Project).
Getting Involved in Coquitlam in Bloom 2020
Community spirit is one of the main thrusts for this year’s Coquitlam in Bloom activities. Residents are encouraged to check out the dozens of CoquitlamSPIRIT 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.
The promotion of bees, butterflies, bats and other pollinators is another focus this year. Crucial for the success of crops and other flowering plants, pollinators help ensure we have food to eat and beautiful gardens to enjoy. Pesticides and habitat loss are major threats to their important work.
In the coming days and weeks, residents will be encouraged to submit photos of pollinators, snap pictures at selfie stations, watch for signs in local parks with pollinator facts, and make their own gardens more pollinator-friendly. They’ll also be encouraged to post photos on social media, tagging #coquitlaminbloom and #CoquitlamSPIRIT, to inspire others.
Other opportunities to get involved this year include signing up for the Adopt a Park program. Watch for details to be 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.