Communities in Bloom

The City of Brantford is thrilled to share that it will be participating in this year's Communities in Bloom event!

Communities in Bloom

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and an annual national program that challenges communities to enhance green spaces. To learn more, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca. 

Judges' Tour August 6 to 8, 2024

The Communities in Bloom judges will be visiting Brantford on August 6 to 8, 2024 to evaluate the City’s horticultural efforts. All municipalities across Canada are judged by dedicated, specially trained volunteer judges based on six criteria which include efforts made by residents, municipal bodies and all forms of businesses.

Environmental Action
Evaluates the community's efforts to address environmental concerns. Judges evaluate initiatives related to waste reduction, landfill diversion, composting, hazardous waste management, water conservation, energy conservation, and sustainable development practices, particularly in green spaces.
Heritage Conservation
Evaluates the community's efforts to preserve natural and cultural heritage including policies, plans and actions concerning all elements of biodiversity and associated geological structures and formations. Cultural conservation refers to the heritage that helps define the community including the legacy of heritage buildings, monuments, memorials, cemeteries, artifacts, museums, traditions, customs, festivals and celebrations. 
Landscaped Areas
Evaluates the planning, design, construction and maintenance of parks and green spaces in the community. 
Floral Displays
Evaluates the design and arrangements of flowers and plants (annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses, edible plants, water efficient and pollinator friendly plants) in the context of originality, distribution, location, diversity and balance, colour, and harmony. This pertains to flowerbeds, carpet bedding, containers, baskets and window boxes in the community.
Tidiness
Evaluates the overall aesthetic appeal of the community. Judges assess factors such as the maintenance of parks, green spaces, medians, boulevards, sidewalks, streets, municipal, commercial, institutional, and residential properties. They also consider measures taken for weed control, litter cleanup, graffiti prevention and removal, and vandalism deterrence programs.
Urban Forestry and Trails
Evaluates the community's management of its tree population, including the formulation and implementation of policies and standards for tree selection, planting, maintenance, and replacement. It also considers efforts to promote biodiversity, protect pollinators, and manage tree-related pests.

Based on the evaluation, communities may be awarded ratings from one to five blooms, five blooms being the highest rating. Based on their ranking, communities can move on to the national and international competitions. Communities may also be eligible for special awards based on specific criteria such as sustainability, biodiversity, or community involvement.

Locations to be judged

The community is invited to visit the following selected locations for judging:

  • Lorne Park, 15 Colborne Street West
  • Glenhyrst Gardens, 20 Ava Road
  • Waterworks Park, 400 Grand River Avenue
  • Brantford City Hall, 58 Dalhousie Street
  • Harmony Square, 89 Dalhousie Street
  • Brant County War Memorial, 6 Dalhousie Street
  • Bell Memorial, 41 West Street
  • Prominence Point, 2 Brant Avenue
  • Brantford Children’s Memorial Garden, intersection of Brant Ave. and Palmerston Ave.

2024 Judges 

Harry Jongerden 
Harry Jongerden is the retired Executive Director of Toronto Botanical Garden, Garden Director of VanDusen Botanical Garden and Bloedel Conservatory (Vancouver), and Head of Horticulture at Royal Botanical Gardens (Hamilton). He was also Head Gardener at Ontario's Stratford Festival for seven years and worked for 17 years in various roles for the Metro Toronto Parks Department.
Kathy Smythe

Kathy Smythe is a current member of her local Horticultural Society, and past society president, Director of District 11, and President of the Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA). She is now the secretary of District 11 of the OHA. In her “spare” time she is an active volunteer as a member the Chatham-Kent Heritage Committee, a member of the Chatham-Kent Tourism Advisory Council and Southwest Tourism. She has gardened ever since she can remember, having been raised on a farm in Chatham-Kent with vegetable, fruit and flower gardens covering two acres. She is a passionate gardener and enjoys an extensive plant and tree collection and has her judging certificate as an Ontario Horticultural Association Floral Judge. Kathy has worked with her community as a member of the Chatham-Kent Communities in Bloom Committee since 2008, and has first-hand experience earning the coveted 5 Bloom award as winner in provincial, national and international categories, and as the National winner in 2010. 

Brantford is Bloomin'

Discover Brantford will be inviting residents and businesses to participate in the campaign leading up to the judging period.

Residents with exceptional residential gardens are invited to share their photos on social media using the hashtag #BrantfordIsBloomin.

Local businesses are invited to participate by decorating their storefronts with floral displays, offering a product, service, or event with a floral theme, or just a bloomin' good deal. All businesses are welcome to participate and Discover Brantford will provide a free Brantford is Bloomin’ decal for your storefront window, while supplies last. To learn more, visit www.discoverbrantford.ca/Bloomin.