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: Aa 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 ACommunities 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
