The Village of Ashcroft received 5 Blooms – Bronze and a special mention for the Heritage Place Park during the 2015 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Kamloops last weekend. The Village of Ashcroft participated in the Class of Champions (Small) category along with Antigonish, N.S., Millet, Alta., Pincher Creek, Alta. (Winner), Sussex N.B., and Tignish, PEI.
Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector – including volunteer efforts – in regards to the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays.
Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Lorraine Hunter and Gerry Teahen wrote: “We would like to give special mention to Heritage Place Park, Ashcroft’s Millennium Project, which is an interpretive walk through the town’s history “A Walk Through Time,” and a work in progress. The major project for this year was the establishment of a new feature the Daylily Garden, as the town has adopted the daylily as its official flower. Highlights of the park include a large mural as the focus of a small Japanese garden celebrating Ashcroft’s sister city, Bifuka, Japan, a transportation mural, the old Ashcroft Train Station, an operating waterwheel, copper mining artifacts, an old red caboose, a gazebo and shaded picnic tables.”
Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society.