Community Gardening Competition

The Economic Development Committee recommends the adoption of the following report (May 5, 1999) from the Commissioner, Economic Development, Culture and Tourism:

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; and

(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 neighbourhoods 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 22^nd 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 "Mayor'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:

(1)The city wide garden competition shall be called "Neighbourhoods 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: "The 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 "District 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