May 5, 1999
To: Economic Development Committee
From:Joe Halstead Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture & Tourism
Subject:Community Gardening Competition
Purpose:
To institute a Community Garden Competition and Terms of Reference for such.
Financial Implications:
There are no financial implications. The recommended actions can be achieved with existing
resources.
Recommendations:
It is recommended that:
1.A friendly community garden competition be instituted in 1999 in accordance with the
Terms of Reference included in this report.
2.A working committee with representatives from City staff, industry professionals, the
community and City Council be struck to determine judging criteria for the 1999 competition
and to further refine and harmonize the competition process and Terms of Reference for the
year 2000.
Council Reference:
On February 17, 1999 Etobicoke Community Council recommended that: "a friendly
competition be instituted between the neighborhoods of the new City of Toronto, similar to
the Communities in Bloom concept, and that Terms of Reference for such competition be
brought forward as soon as possible". At its meeting of April 6, 1999 the Economic
Development Committee referred this matter to the Commissioner of Economic
Development, Culture and Tourism with a request that he report back to the Committee by its
May 21, 1999 meeting.
Currently, three gardening competitions exist covering four Community Council areas.
1.Scarborough Trillium Awards Program
This was first established in 1977 on the recommendation of the Scarborough Horticultural
Society. Now entering its 22nd year, the program is a partnership of the Scarborough Garden
and Horticultural Society, the Agincourt Garden Club and the City of Toronto through the
Parks and Recreation Division of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism
Department.
2.East York Blooming Contest
This has been long established as the AMayor=s Blooming Contest@ and has continued in
1998 and 1999 with the modified title. It is an initiative of East York Community Council in
partnership with the Leaside Garden Society, the East York Garden Society and Art Drysdale.
3.West Toronto Garden Award Program
Garden competitions have been run in the former municipalities of York and Etobicoke over
the past few years. For 1999, a combined competition has been organized in partnership with
the Etobicoke, Kingsway/ Sunnylea, Roselands and Westway Horticultural Societies; various
local news media, City of Toronto Parks & Recreation Division and Councillors from the
Etobicoke and York Community Councils.
In response to a request from Councillor Saundercook, the Parks and Recreation Division is
working towards establishing a city-wide garden competition for 1999. A meeting was held on
March 29, 1999 with representation from Horticultural Societies and Garden Clubs across
Toronto. While general agreement was expressed in establishing such a competition, the
consensus was that time was insufficient to design and execute an inclusive and harmonized
program for 1999. Further consultation determined that the most practical way to proceed in
1999 would be to submit the winners from the existing contests as finalists in a city-wide
competition.
In order to include areas of Toronto not currently involved in garden competitions (the former
Cities of North York and Toronto), local Horticultural and Garden Clubs will be invited to
nominate finalists. The Parks and Recreation Division will support these groups by providing
proposed judging criteria and other technical advice and training as may be requested.
Terms of Reference
- The city wide garden competition shall be called A Neighborhoods in Bloom @ pending
ratification or modification of the Committee proposed below.
2.The purpose of the competition is to recognize and celebrate the contributions of the
citizens of the City of Toronto in beautifying and enhancing the environment and engendering
an increased civic pride for Toronto:AThe City Within a Park@.
3.A Garden Contest Committee comprised of City staff, members of the community,
industry professionals and interested City Councillors will be selected on the basis of
experience and expertise with community representation from each Community Council area.
4.The Garden Contest Committee will determine the judging criteria and process for the
1999 city wide competition.
5.Finalists to the 1999 competition will be those winners identified in the Scarborough
Trillium Awards Program, East York Blooming Contest, West Toronto Garden Award
Program and others as submitted by Horticultural and Garden Societies in the North York and
Toronto Community Council areas. These finalists will be deemed ADistrict Winners@ for
the purposes of the City wide competition.
6.Judging will be conducted by a panel of professionals which may include local experts,
City Staff and qualified members of the community.
7.Judging of 1999 finalists will be conducted over the summer period of year 2000 in order
to facilitate a fair and comprehensive process. This approach is consistent with the National
"Communities in Bloom" contest.
8.Corporate sponsorship will be solicited for the provision of appropriate prizes for contest
winners, honorariums for judges and promotional and administrative costs.
9.An award ceremony will be held at City Hall in Fall, 1999 in which finalists will be
appropriately recognized. The year 2000 ceremony will award winners from 1999 as well as
recognizing finalists from 1999 and the year 2000.
Conclusions:
This city-wide contest should be inclusive of existing competitions as well as encouraging the
participation of areas not currently involved. The approach outlined in this report allows for a
competition to be held in 1999 while planning for a further refined and harmonized process in
the year 2000.
The dedicated efforts of very large numbers of volunteers, many associated with Horticultural
Societies and Garden Clubs has been instrumental in the success of garden contests
throughout Toronto. Such continued and expanded participation should be nurtured as a key
component of continued success.
Contact Name:
Arthur Beauregard,
Manager of Natural Environment & Horticulture
392-0724
Joe Halstead
Commissioner Economic Development, Culture and Tourism