Millet in Bloom
The Millet & District Museum, Archives and Visitor Information Center has been the proud winner
of the Local Competition "Best Organization" Award, for both 2010 and 2011.
Communities in Bloom is a volunteer-based, non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental awareness and municipal beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program.
For more information on this program, contact Carol at 780-387-4554.
Communities in Bloom is a national program involving hundreds of communities across Canada and abroad. In July and August, trained volunteer judges travel to participating communities to evaluate the overall contributions of municipal council and departments; industry; businesses and the private sector - including volunteer efforts - in regards to the following eight criteria:
- Tidiness
- Environmental Awareness
- Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation
- Urban Forestry
- Landscaped Areas, Turf & Ground Cover Areas
- Floral Displays
Community involvement is included in all above categories.
People, Plants and Pride... Growing Together
Celebrating 17 years of Millet in Bloom (1996 - 2012)
Millet has participated in Communities in Bloom in numerous ways:
1996 Provincial Competition - Turf Areas
1997 PROVINCIAL WINNER
1998 National Competition, Floral Displays
1999 National Competition, Landscaped Areas
2000 International Competition with Audley, England - Integration of Historical
Artifacts & Landscaping
2001 NATIONAL WINNER - Museum Project
2002 International Challenge, Hwy 2A Park
2003 International Challenge, Pipestone Creek Park
2004 National Competition, Dedication to One’s Community
2005 Provincial Competition, Community Involvement
2006 PROVINCIAL WINNER
2007 NATIONAL WINNER
2008 National Competition, Heritage Murals & Criteria Award for Heritage Conservation
2009 National Competition, Museum Archives
2010 National Competition, Floral Displays on Main Street
2011 Circle of Champions Small Category
View our virtual Millet in Bloom exhibit here: Online Exhibits
July 18th, 2011 - Community Falls Due to Hail Storm
The Town of Millet was struck with a horrendous hail storm on July 18th which devastated gardens, trees, and houses and shocked all the citizens. However the tornado-like storm did not dampen the community spirit. Numerous volunteers banded together to clean up the wreckage around town. The story was covered by Global News Edmonton and was shown both locally as well as nationally on Tuesday July 19. In addition to the news coverage, a plea for help was made to Millet Community Groups & Organizations by the Town of Millet and within 24 hours at least 75 volunteers came together to clean up the damage done by Monday’s violent storm.
Wednesday, July 20 brought all sorts of surprises to Communities in Bloom as generous souls started calling in wanting to donate replacement plants. The first call came in from Joan at Visser Greenhouses who had not only offered the replacement flowers and plants but also delivered them! The next call came from Andrea at Arber Greenhouses donated many new plants and flowers for the CIB volunteers to plant. Jason with the City of Leduc Parks and Recreation Department donated planters and the County of Leduc donated hanging baskets. The Town of Calmar offered hanging baskets as well. Char-Mar Greenhouse brought replacement plants and started planting. Prairie Rose Greenhouse donated flats of flowers. Early Wednesday morning the streets sweeper arrived to clean our streets of all the leaves and branches.
All that remains of the storm is multi colored duck tape covering holes in the siding. Red Green would be so proud of us. The volunteers of Millet are to be commended for without their hard work and dedication we could never claim to be the “Prettiest Little Town in Alberta”.
We lost our plants, but the people of Millet and surrounding area had pride and pitched in to clean up the Town.
Communities in Bloom Competition 2011
On July 29 the National Communities in Bloom judges, Maurice Baren and Bob Lewis, came to Millet to judge the community for the Circle of Champions Small Category.
Millet in Bloom chair, Carol Sadoroszney, with the judges and Millet Museum curator, Tracey Leavitt, viewing the Hindenberg post card on display at the museum. The text of the post card states: On March 23rd, 1936 the LZ 129 Hindenberg ship carried mail and passengers for the first time. This post card is believed to be carried on this first flight in 1936.
Local Competition Winners
Special Feature - Barb Sobkowich
Front Yard - Margie and Randy Jones
Front Yard Honourable Mention - Gerald and Irene Callum
Backyard - Jocelyn Macinnis
Back Yard Honourable Mention - Lori Marzole
Overall - Mike and Joy Storey
Mobile Residence - Paul and Mona Badry
Most Improved - Lillian Black
Vegetable Garden - Marge and Richard Reed
Organization - Millet and District Museum and Archives
Business - Butterfly Boutique
Public - AB Centennial Heritage Garden
Public Honourable Mention - Legacy Garden
For more Communities in Bloom programs click below:
Adopt A Tree
Its Our Environment Booklet
Memorial Rose Garden Policy
Merchandise Sales Poster
Park Benches Receptacles
Tree Resource Guide
Wood Chips Sales Poster
Media Coverage of the July 18, 2011 Hail Storm
For further support material click below:
http://www.wetaskiwintimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?archive=true&e=3232803
Alberta Primetime talks about the devistation in Millet during their "Talk of the Town: Flowers Destroyed in Millet on July 29, 2011
http://www.albertaprimetime.com/Archived.aspx?pd=2660
Millet was also featured on CTV News Edmonton about our weather and the Communities in Bloom National Judges. These air dates were July 19 and July 29, 2011. Watch for video, coming soon!
You can also see Summer Student Kayla Shaver cleaning up outside the museum, during the Global Edmonton brodcast reported by Fletcher Kent on July 19, 2011
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