DIDSBURY - The Town of Didsbury's council has decided to officially pause the Communities in Bloom (CIB) program in town due to a decline in the volunteer committee participation.
The move came by way of motion at the May 13 council meeting.
“The premise behind the CIB program is that it is to be a community-led initiative, with support from the municipality,” the town's acting chief administrative officer Amanda Riley told council.
“Unfortunately, over the past two seasons there has been a significant decline in membership of the CIB committee, placing much of the the CIB program administration and project ‘heavy lifting’ with the Town of Didsbury instead, leaving the limited CIB members to oversee planting and other small projects around the community.”
The CIB program saw town property owners undertake beautification of their respective properties, with program judges visiting during the summer and providing comment on the results.
Administration proposed that council consider pausing our participation in the provincial CIB program until a time when a group of interested citizens can lead the program once again, she said.
Mayor Rhonda Hunter commended the volunteer committee members for their past efforts.
“I did have the opportunity to go on the tour last year and there were beautiful yards,” she said. “Hopefully it can be revived again when there in interest.”
Council carried a motion pausing participation in the CIB program.
Administration also proposed that the 2025 CIB funding of $3,000 be instead used for parks beautification, which would allow for additional funding for internal improvement projects within the community, lead by the parks staff.
“The money that would have been directed to beautification programs will remain the same, but where it will be spent will be decided by the parks department. CIB was never a budget line,” communications coordinator Lisa Bastarache told the Albertan.
