Communities in Bloom back this summer in Moosomin
Moosomin competing nationally in CIB
May 26, 2025, 1:41 pm
Ashley Bochek
Communities in Bloom is coming to Moosomin this summer. The town was awarded five blooms last year which gives the opportunity for the community to compete Nationally this year.
Angela Thorn, the Project Manager for Communities in Bloom, and Carol Fawcett, a member of the Communities in Bloom board spoke about this year’s CIB contests at the Chamber of Commerce meeting on Tuesday last week.
“Last year we received five blooms which gives us the opportunity to compete nationally” Thorn said.
“This year the theme is Edible Gardens, but this is a really small part of what Communities in Bloom is all about. We have a number of contests we are running this year.
“Our business contest is to grow one tomato plant and donate the proceeds to the local food bank. Being the theme is Edible Gardens we thought we would collaborate and work that into the community food share being it is so important in our community,” said Thorn.
Thorn explains the variety of community contests that are part of CIB this summer. “Our next context is for residents and businesses—Bloom and Nourish—best use of adding edible gardens in garden beds or boxes. We will drive around the town and pick a person and we will give you fertilizer and then you go and pick the next person. We will do that once everybody’s gardens start blooming.
“The Battle of the Blooms will be the best traditional planter so you can nominate yourself, neighbour, or whoever, and send it to my email at the Town Office and we will pick a winner for that.
“Bloomin’ Mad is unique repurposed planter boxes—that’s another contest.
“Blooming boxes considers the best use of your beds and space you have. The Backyard Bloom and Bounty—we are not allowed to walk around your backyards so if you have a beautiful garden or box please send it into us and we will then judge the different photos. There is also Climb and Bloom, we have posted the different contests on the Moosomin Communities in Bloom Facebook page.”
Thorn says the CIB will be holding a car show this June.
“We are also hosting a car show and craft sale June 20 at Bradley Park if you want to enter a craft table for it as well let me know.”
Raised garden beds at Community Garden
Murray Gray, Mayor of Moosomin adds raised garden beds are now available for rent at the Community Garden.
“We also have some raised garden beds at the Community Garden and they were just set up last week and will be for rent. So if you don’t have room in your yard—they are also self-watering so it is very easy. We have six of them for rent and it is only $30. Then you will be able to plant some vegetables by the south cemetery in the Community Garden.”
Room for improvement
Thorn says the CIB judges enjoyed touring the town and regional park last summer.
“The judges were so impressed on how much our community got involved last year from plant, floral displays, and our appreciation for the multicultural community, upgrading our infrastructure, site progress, and our heritage preservation.
“However, this year we suggest a rest area and tourist stop. We have secured the lot kitty-corner from the Red Barn just north of Margett’s to do that. I priced out a few picnic tables, a gazebo, a garbage can, and a message board and when people stop there will be some paper maps and brochures and QR codes to see what our town has to offer and we are hoping this will bring people across the tracks. From the highway people don’t see what we have and this will hopefully bring people to see our beautiful downtown and shop at our local businesses. The more time we can get people across the tracks and seeing our beautiful town, spending money at our businesses, eating in our restaurants, staying in our hotels, campgrounds, the better it is for the economy of our town. I think this would be a small investment for a greater return for our community. It is just something we have thought about for many years.”
Fawcett adds, “If we can get people to come across the tracks and see what we have to offer it would just add to our community. There are all sorts of things to do in town and lots the town offers, but you have to get across the tracks to see and explore.”
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