From left, Geoff Ball, Executive Director of Milner Gardens & Woodland, and Communities in Bloom Judges Leslie Cornell and Tina Liu tour Milner Gardens & Woodland. Vancouver Island University photo
Volunteers and staff showcase the beauty and history of Milner Gardens to Communities in Bloom judges during evaluation tour.
Vancouver Island University's Milner Gardens & Woodland is participating in the 30th Edition of Communities in Bloom (CiB) in the Special Attractions category.
Communities in Bloom Judges Tina Liu, from Ottawa, Ontario, and Leslie Cornell from Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, toured the grounds and met with volunteers and staff on July 26 to evaluate Milner Gardens. The judges will rate the public garden from one to five blooms. A five-bloom rating can earn the garden a bronze, silver or gold status.
"The whole team of volunteers, staff and I are extremely proud of what VIU has here and the chance to compete with other attractions across the country for recognition," said Geoff Ball, Executive Director of Milner Gardens & Woodland. "It's an opportunity to put ourselves forward to be recognized for the beauty of this wonderful place."
During the judging tour, each attraction is evaluated based on several key factors, including visitor experience and broader environmental and cultural impacts, explained Liu. These assessments cover areas such as the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, strategies for addressing climate change, the planning and design of versatile green spaces and the effectiveness of volunteer programs.
The Special Attractions category is for living history museums, public gardens and parks, and other locations. The national and international results will be announced during the 2024 National Symposium and Awards Ceremonies, October 17 to 20, in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island.
The CiB program is also about mentorship. The judges touring Milner Gardens have a wealth of knowledge in garden tourism, horticulture and community attractions. Ball said receiving constructive criticism from the judges will help Milner Gardens strive for the highest quality experience possible.
"We see so many communities that we can take what we've learned in one community and share it in the next community because sometimes it's relevant even across different zones," said Cornell. "It could be a practice, or a tool, that may work for you. We can bring that to the table plus our knowledge and training to share cultural and economic growth areas."
Cornell said every attraction will have a unique feature of its own and they look for heritage, community and other features.
"Everybody's evaluated on their own merit, their best day," said Cornell.
Liu said when participants compete in the Communities in Bloom categories, they aren't competing against each other. Instead, they're competing against their own potential.
"Each attraction is unique, with its own set of challenges. Rather than comparing them to one another, our evaluation focuses on how well each attraction is performing in relation to its potential, considering the resources and operational capacity it currently has," said Liu. "The CiB judging team, made up of professionals with diverse expertise, conducts a thorough review to provide valuable feedback on how these spaces are adapting to meet today's demands and opportunities."
Spaces like Milner Gardens are about appreciating nature and the environment, said Liu. She said they have strong emotional ties in communities and are places where people make strong memories.
"The climate crisis and global pandemic have reshaped how we view and use outdoor environments," said Liu. "Green spaces are now more valued than ever, recognized as essential for environmental action, health, recreation and well-being. To reflect this shift, the CiB updated the Special Attraction evaluation package to fit the current context."
