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CiB conference starts today

Events include a presentation of the White Garden, tours of various Trail locations, and an awards ceremony Saturday evening.

Trail is blooming and gardeners, planters and city representatives are coming to town to celebrate a successful growing season, and maybe even take home a few awards.

The provincial Communities in Bloom Awards and Conference starts today and runs for three days. The planning committee has been busy at work planning and putting together events, luncheons, tours and guest speakers.

A large contingent of out-of-town delegates are expected for the event which will feature the “Look at us Now” Tour highlighting the achievements of the local CiB group.

Mary Martin of the planning committee says the one event she is looking forward to the most is the White Night on Friday

It will be held in Jubilee Park along the Esplanade and highlight the White Garden, which is a re-creation of the Sissinghurst Castle Garden in England.

“I don’t know if there is anything that stands out, but I am really looking forward to showing the White Garden,” she said. “I am really looking forward to showcasing that to out-of-town people.”

Martin added tents will be on standby should the weather not co-operate.

Along with the White Night, organizers have put together tours of Teck, the Friday Market, the Beaver Valley and speakers explaining the work Trail has completed to transform from a ‘dusty industrial town,’ to competing at an international level in CiB competitions.

Martin hopes that visitors from other cities and towns across B.C. will recognize the changes Trail has made over the years.

“We really hope to spread the word of how beautiful an area we have here,” she said. “We really want to showcase the community, the work that Communities in Bloom has done and the beauty of the area, for sure.”

Hosting the provincial conference isn’t just about showing off the beauty of Trail, but also about promoting CiB.

“I think our objective is to also enhance and promote the Communities in Bloom program,” said Martin. “What we would really like to see out of it is more communities joining. We also want to keep the interest and participation up and showcase the fun that is in it too.”

Martin invites all attendees to stick around the area into Sunday, even though there are no conference events planned.

“We would like people to hang around on Sunday,” she said. “The conference is over, but there is the Redstone Golf Course, sight seeing, going up to Rossland – just visit the whole area.”

Tickets for the conference are still available and can be picked up at Trail City Hall or at Century 21.

The final awards ceremony is the last event on the schedule for the three-day event and starts at 7:30 p.m. on Sept 13.

To view a full event schedule, visit trail.ca.