Terrace garnered an award for the best floral displays in the province at the Communities in Bloom competition this year.
“We have a place that really we should be proud of,” said Greater Terrace Beautification Society member Chris Hansen.
Terrace received four blooms out of five, meaning it achieved the ranking of 79.5 per cent; five blooms is 81 per cent.
“[This is for] recognition of Terrace's floral displays as we were singled out as the top community in the province for this criteria thanks to the city and the new gardener and the work of volunteers around town,” said Dave Gordon, holding a vase that is the award the city received.
Heritage Park Musuem received an honourable mention, added Hansen.
Dave Gordon was awarded the community champion.
Hansen told council it was the first to hear about the results of the Communities in Bloom competition.
The competition has three levels: provincial, national and international, and Terrace entered at the provincial level, which is evaluated on six pillars: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, floral displays, and landscape turf and ground covers with the subcategory of comm involvement, she said.
“The result gives a measure of the overall liveability of our community,” said Hansen.
In July, two judges toured 80 per cent of the community with the help of city councillors Brian Downie and Lynne Christiansen, and beautification society members Chris Hansen and Dave Gordon.
“The judges were really impressed and feel Terrace has tremendous potential to become provincial champions and ultimately reach the national level,” Hansen added.
The Community in Blooms committee – city representatives, the beautification society, Kermodei Tourism, Terrace Downtown Improvement Association and the Terrrace and District Chamber of Commerce – is already planning for 2017's competition, which will mean expanding efforts, highlighting our strengths and ultimately reaching the broader community, said Hansen.
“We hope to secure the city's support for next year,” she said.
Mayor Carol Leclerc said the area is naturally beautiful and the beautification society has been building on that aspect for years and has been the “backbone” of the work, acknowledging that the society has been around for more than 30 years.
“Thanks for getting us all to where we are today,” said Leclerc.