Bowen’s best assets were evaluated last week by visiting judges from the national-based Communities in Bloom civic pride program.
“The first thing we noticed was the yellow flowers and the blue picnic benches, and how beautiful they looked down there on the dock,” said Shirley Culver, a Communities in Bloom judge from Kamloops, during her first-ever visit to Bowen last Wednesday.
Bowen has gradually come into bloom, in bits and pieces and through the efforts of community members, after the municipality signed up for the program last year.
The municipality pitched in $10,000 that was put towards Communities in Bloom innovation grants, the Snug Cove Garden Gateway Project, among other Bowen beautification initiatives.
The Village Square patio is now adorned with new decorative pots and plants, as is Boulevard Cottage in Snug Cove. Artisan Square has been outfitted with a new bench and planter, while Bowen Court seniors housing co-operative has added a colourful floral display and improved the overall appearance of the property.
Many areas of the island have undergone a makeover this year, including crosswalks, the exterior of the library building and the ferry dock.
Fellow Communities in Bloom judge Susan Burdeyney, from Cache Creek, joined Culver at a welcome reception July 13 at The Gallery at Artisan Square, where they mingled with council members and volunteers ahead of the evaluation tour last Thursday.
“It feels very much like you are coming home,” said Burdeyney of her impression of Bowen. “I love it here. I have been here a couple of times before. Just to see the nice big trees and the
ocean, and the smells.”
The Communities in Bloom committee, with representatives from many Bowen service organizations, businesses and council, spent 300 volunteer hours preparing for the judges’ visit.
Snug Cove, Bowen Island Community School, Tunstall and Cape Roger Curtis beaches, the recycling depot and the golf course were showcased during the judges’ one-day tour.
The judges evaluated the community’s combined efforts towards environmental action, urban forestry, tidiness, heritage preservation, landscape and floral displays.
Coun. Maureen Nicholson, chairwoman of Bowen’s Communities in Bloom committee, said all the hard work by volunteers that went into beautifying Bowen shows they care about the island.
“We are on our way, and it (Bowen’s Communities in Bloom program) will be better next year,” said Nicholson.
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement. Bowen will be awarded a bloom rating, from one to five blooms, at a provincial awards ceremony this fall.
