People, plants and pride...  growing together!

Purpose of Communities in Bloom

Strathcona County endeavours to beautify the community through the efforts of County staff, Strathcona in Bloom volunteers and local businesses, and by encouraging the efforts of private home owners.

Since 1998, Strathcona County has been a proud participant of Communities in Bloom National program. Over the years Strathcona County has received the five-bloom (highest score) silver rating in the Circle of Excellence category and the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association's 2023 Green Cities Award.

Help make your community bloom - become a volunteer with Strathcona in Bloom.

In addition to the County's participation in the Communities in Bloom National program, Strathcona in Bloom promotes local beautification and community involvement through volunteer opportunities in their programs:

• Community Flowerbed Planting program: help plant and maintain a community flower bed
• Front Yard Recognition program: celebrate the hard work of Strathcona County residents
• Outdoor Spaces program: recognize a local non-profit or business

New board members are always welcome. Join the Strathcona in Bloom executive board for the opportunity to contribute to your community while developing contacts and friends.

Communities in Bloom evaluation categories:

Tidiness

• Pitch-in
• Road-side clean up
• Parks maintenance
• Graffiti removal

The environmental actions in our community

• Organic pick-up (Green Routine)
• Recycling and Christmas tree pick-up (Green Routine)
• Curb side clear bag composting (Green Routine)
• Large item pick-up twice a year at curbside
• Broadview Enviroservice Station
• Naturalization of parks
• Drought-tolerant plants
• Reduced fertilizer and chemical use
• Integrated pest management program

Community efforts to maintain and preserve the legacies of yesterday

• Strathcona County Museum and Archives
• Sherwood Park natural area stewards
• Smeltzer House historic site preservation
• The Heritage Mile project
• A. J. Ottewell Community Centre preservation

Urban forestry (the management, planting and maintenance of tree and tree stands)

• Dutch Elm disease monitoring program
• Naturalization of park areas
• Tree seedlings planted by community groups and businesses
• Inventory and replacement schedule

Landscaped areas (the management, planting and maintenance of green spaces)

• Broadmoor Lake Park hosts major events
• Smeltzer House is a historic site and botanical garden
• over 60 km of heritage parkway trails

Turf areas (the management, planting and maintenance of turf areas)

• sports fields and high profile areas fertilized for stronger turf
• variety of ground cover, grasses and perennials

Floral displays (the management, planting and maintenance of planting beds and planters)

• garden beds and planters
• over 15,000 flowers annually planted in beds and planters by Strathcona in Bloom volunteers and staff
• Nominate your neighbour Front Yard Recognition
• floral beautification of public spaces

Community involvement (non-profit groups, businesses and citizens involved in the Communities in Bloom program)

• volunteers plant flowerbeds
• schools and youth groups planting
• Arbor Day and the annual Pitch-in campaign
• business sponsorship