Ashcroft Communities in Bloom is pleased to announce that they have received a five bloom rating for the 2011 year of the National competition. While their percentage score of 83.4 per cent was not enough to rank them the honor of top place, it was an improvement over last year’s score.
Each year the committee strives to improve and utilizes the Evaluation Report submitted by the judges to aid in the process. The Evaluation Report serves not only as a report card, but also gives constructive feedback and useful suggestions. Having judged in many communities both large and small across Canada, the judges are very knowledgeable and experienced and able to pass along useful information and ideas that other communities have used.
Judges were very impressed with Ashcroft’s new brand “Wellness Awaits You” and commented that Ashcroft looks like an oasis in the desert with peaceful tones of sage and cactus dotting the hills. They noted that they had read the book “Bittersweet Oasis, A History of Ashcroft, The First 100 Years”, and noted that residents and visitors from as early as the turn of the century had made the connection of wellness to Ashcroft.
A quote from the Bittersweet Oasis says “Ashcroft’s citizens have long liked to boast of its healthy climate. Not just its sunny warmth and a dry air which does wonders for rheumatism, arthritis and lumbago ... there is no healthier spot on the globe” coined by a turn-of-the-century editor of the local newspaper who was also a medical doctor.
Communities in Bloom strives to work in all areas of our community and with all age groups to help our community “bloom”. We are pleased with the results and improvements we have achieved to date and believe that Ashcroft residents have become more aware of their community, increased their pride and we have all benefitted and “bloomed” in the process. Thank you to the community for all your efforts and words of encouragement.
The Ashcroft Communities in Bloom committee will be entering the National competition again for the 2012 year and have already begun planning upcoming projects. We are always open to new members, so if you are interested please call Andrea Walker at 250 453 9402.
Andrea Walker