Jasper is at it again. For the second year in a row the town is vying for another international Communities in Bloom award.
Under rainy skies, July 14, Communities in Bloom judges Evelyn Alemanni and Ga茅tan Desch锚nes took a tour around town, judging the community in several different categories including tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, landscape and floral designs.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a complicated judging process, but it鈥檚 more than just flowers,鈥� said Alemanni, who was also in Jasper in 2013 to judge the community.
In previous Communities in Bloom competitions, Jasper received provincial and national praise for its landscapes, tidiness and heritage conservation. At the international level, Jasper snagged an outstanding achievement award last year for community involvement, earning locals an evening with gardening guru Mark Cullen in May.
Despite the soggy weather, the local Communities in Bloom chapter made sure the judges saw some of Jasper鈥檚 finest stops, including the Jasper-Yellowhead Museum and Archives, Alpine Summit Seniors Lodge, the community garden, the heritage fire hall, the farmers鈥� market and the new Jasper Library and Cultural Centre.
鈥淚t was a long day, but we showed them everything鈥攚e are what we are. There are weeds that need to be pulled and some grass that needs to be cut, but we鈥檝e got nothing to hide,鈥� said Jasper Communities in Bloom co-host Shannon Greer. 鈥淭he main thing about this program is not about how your town looks鈥攊t鈥檚 about the community as a whole.
鈥淲e had a judge a few years ago say that we show the community behind the international tourism destination and that鈥檚 what we strive to show each year.鈥�
This year Jasper is competing in the international medium category against the likes of Estes Park, Colo., and Stettler, Alta.听 Although the official results won鈥檛 be announced until the end of October, both Alemanni and Desch锚nes were able to drop a few hints about what they enjoyed most about Jasper.
鈥淭he location makes Jasper a unique and memorable place and all this rain didn鈥檛 deter me one bit. I鈥檓 from California where it never rains so to me the weather just added a wonderful element to this beautiful town,鈥� Alemanni said. 鈥淭he people here are also fantastic. In a town overrun by tourists locals tend to stick to themselves and keep their heads down, but everyone here has been so nice and welcoming.鈥�
Alemanni also added that the new听 Jasper Library and Cultural Centre impressed her.
鈥淭he building is nice, but it was also nice to see the effort that the staff went through to welcome us,鈥� Alemanni said. 鈥淚n every room there were gardening books showcased and I thought that was really special.鈥�
For Desch锚nes, he said it was Jasper鈥檚 commitment to preserving its heritage, which stood out to him, although, he wouldn鈥檛 say exactly what sites dazzled him most.
鈥淎ll I will say is that I was very impressed with the attention this community puts on its heritage buildings,鈥� Desch锚nes said.
The Communities in Bloom national and international results will be announced Oct. 27-19 in Regina, Sask.
Kayla Byrne [email protected]
