YARMOUTH - Interested in helping out at one of the largest garden-focused symposiums in Canada?
Wade Cleveland, a Yarmouth town councillor and chair of the local Communities in Bloom (CIB) committee, is looking for volunteers to help Yarmouth host the Sept. 24-29 national symposium in 2019. A volunteer welcome meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5 p.m. upstairs at Mariners Centre in the Community Room.
“It’s a big event,” said Cleveland of the symposium.
“It’s going to bring probably 350 people into the area over that period of time. Most of them will be from Canada but some will be from the United States. We want to put our best foot forward and really make a good impression.”
Volunteers for helping with promotion, greeting, transportation, assembling programs, social event planning and much more are required. The committee will also be hosting several large dinners and a community showcase at the Mariners Centre.
Cleveland says that while it’s always good to have people with experience it’s not necessary.
“We’re looking for people who are interested in coming out and being a part of this whole thing.”
Overall about 60 volunteers are required but for starters, even 20 would be a great beginning, says Cleveland.
A committee from Yarmouth will be hosting a dinner at this year’s national CIB symposium in Strathcona County, Alberta, and doing their best to entice guests to come to Yarmouth in 2019.
Yarmouth’s CIB committee has been chaired by several since its inception close to a decade ago: Esther Dares, the late Ken Langille, Yarmouth town councillor Sandy Dennis and most recently, councillor Cleveland.
Here’s a list of awards received over the years:
2017 - 5 leaves - bronze in the Canada 150 Category, with recognition for the Downtown Core Streetscape
2016 – 5 blooms - bronze in the Circle of Excellence Category, with recognition for Helping Hands & Growing Pride
2015 – 5 blooms - bronze in the Circle of Excellence Category, with recognition of Streetscape Upgrades on Hawthorn Street
2014 – National Winner in the 5,001-9,000 population category, with recognition of Mayor’s All Hands on Deck Initiative
2012 – 5 blooms in the 6,501-10,000 population category, with recognition for the Art Gallery’s Innovative Programs
2013 – 5 blooms in the 5,001-10,000 population category and the Canadian Nursery and Landscape Association Environmental Action award
2011 – 5 blooms in the 7,501-10,000 population category, with recognition of the 250th Anniversary Celebration as a Community
2010 – 5 blooms in the 3,001-7,500 population category, with recognition for Reverence for Heritage
2009 – 4 blooms in the 5,001-8,000 population category, with recognition for Blooms by the Sea
Interested in becoming a member of the 2019 CIB convention committee?
Attend the 5 p.m. meeting at the Mariners Centre on Tuesday, Jan. 9 or email councillor Wade Cleveland.
