Communities in Bloom
judges Ed Borczon of
Aurora and Catherine
Percell of Brampton arrived
in Bradford West Gwillimbury
on Monday, for a
Meet & Greet with the local
Communities in Bloom
Committee - at the new
sales pavilion for
Brookfield Homes' Grand
Central Subdivision.
Why a subdivision sales
office? Because, Chair
Mikki Nanowski told the
judges, it represents a new
era of responsible development
in Bradford, making
use of natural areas to
enhance the community.
The sales office also
offered access to audiovisual
equipment, and the
judges were introduced to
the community not only by
Brookfiela's promotional
video, but a presentation on
Vermicomposting starring
Cathy Nesbitt of Cathy's
Crawly Composters, and a
slide show depicting the
making of the Great Blue
Heron water fountain.
Local historian George
Jackson spoke of the long
history of the area, and of
the newlv-formed Municipal Heritage Committee,
which will be working to
"create a positive attitude
towards heritage designation"
and preserving the
Town's built heritage.
The judges then joined the
Committee at Poco Cappello
Ristorante for dinner -
followed by a ride on the
South Simcoe Police boat,
to view the Ducks
Unlimited wetlands.
Bright and early on July
18th, Judges Borczon and
Percell joined a convoy of
vehicles for a tour around
the municipality, starting at
the Millennium Clock
Tower, driving past the
historic train station now
being restored by GO
Transit, and on to the
Holland Marsh, to the Art
Janse Pumping Station.
They saw lush fields of
carrots and onions - and
heard about Integrated Pest
Management and new
techniques that reduce use
of pesticides, and help
prevent subsidence. They
stopped at the largest
greenhouse operation in the
Marsh, L & D Ferragina,
and admired decorative
flowering beds and 60,000 sq. ft. "under glass."
The route
took them to the volunteer-driven Danube Seniors Centre, to the Scotch
Settlement Arboretum and the Auld Kirk Presbyterian Church, to the historic
woodlot that is part of Al Kuzmich Memorial Park; to the waste water
treatment plant, the landscaped grounds of Vins Plastics, and finally
to Scanlon Creek Conservation Area, for a BBQ. In the afternoon, stops
included the hamlet of Bond Head, and new Reservoir.
This year, town staff and
Council participated in the
effort - with Mayor Frank
Jonkman welcoming the
judges in the morning, and
thanking the Communities
in Bloom Committee. The Town has never looked as
beautiful, he said. At the
BBQ, Deputy Mayor
Dennis Roughley,
Councillors Del Crake, Ron
Simpson and Peter Dykie Jr.
joined Department heads
and staff, to answer
questions about the community,
identify achievements
to date, and talk
about what is still to come.
"As beautiful as the Town
is today, we have even more
wonderful plans for the
future," Director of
Planning Geoff McKnight
said' - plans for walkways
and new parks creating
linkages between subdivisions,
a new rose garden
to fill a piece of vacant land
up -by the water tower,
completion of the GO Train
Station, repairs to historic
buildings damaged by fire,
plans for gateway signage.
In summing up the next
day, the Judges praised the
energy and enthusiasm of
the Communities in Bloom
volunteers, and urged them
to continue - to build on
their achievements, and
carry forward the momentum,
transforming Bradford
West Gwillimbury into a
Community in Bloom.
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