Communities in Bloom once again honoured horticultural noteworthy cities and towns throughout Canada in their national community pride program.

     Held September 30 in Edmonton, Alberta, the 2000 National Awards Ceremonies honoured municipalities from each province and territory across Canada in the sixth annual edition of Communities in Bloom.

Receiving national accolades were:
Town of Birtle, Manitoba (1 to 1,000 population)
Town of Viking, Alberta (1,001 to 3,000 population)
Town of Meaford, Ontario (3,001 to 5,000 population)
Town of Stony Plain, Alberta (5,001 to 10,000 population)
City of Camrose, Alberta (10,001 to 20,000 population)
City of Brandon, Manitoba (20,001 to 50,000 population)
City of Kanata, Ontario (50,001 to 100,000 population)
Greater Saint-John, New Brunswick (100,001 to 300,000 population)
Edmonton, Alberta (Over 300,000 population)

     Stratford and St. Mary's, Ontario won the first edition of the Canadian Classic, a category in which past winners were twinned with municipalities who had never participated.

     Following along the same lines, the International Challenge was won by Kelowna, British Columbia and Solihull, England (large city category), along with St-Adolphe-d'Howard, Quebec and Pitlochry, Scotland (small municipality category). In this first edition of the International Challenge, past winners of Communities in Bloom were twinned with past winners of European contests.

     For information on the Communities in Bloom program or the 2000 National Awards, please contact Raymond Carriere at (514) 694-8871 or fax (514) 694-3725.