Communities in Bloom Steering Committee

TOWN OF MARKHAM

Canada Room, July 5, 2006 at 7:00 p.m.

 

 

MINUTES

 

ATTENDANCE

 

Present                                                          Staff

 

Richard Jarrell, Chair                          Jackie Ward, Public Relations Assistant

Councilor Alex Chiu                            Catherine Harrison, Manager,

                                                                        Communications Services

Elizabeth Hutchison                            Cathy Joyce, Manager, Marketing and

Ed Law                                                            Community & Fire Services Commission

Tim Armstrong                                    Joanne Olson, Executive Assistant

Nirmala Persaud-Armstrong               Mark Ingwersen, Manager Parks

                                                                        Maintenance

                                                            Julie Wilson, Public Relations Assistant,

                                                            Tina Murphy, Special Events Coordinator

                                                            Pam Cook, Committee Clerk

 

  1. CALL TO ORDER

 

            Committee Chair, Richard Jarrell called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m.

 

 

  1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 7, 2006

 

            Moved by Elizabeth Hutchison

            Seconded by Tim Armstrong

 

That the minutes of the Communities and Bloom Committee held on June 7, 2006 be adopted as presented.

 

CARRIED

 

 

  1. REPORT FROM PROGRAM COORDINATOR

 

Catherine Harrison congratulated everyone on a tremendous effort and is confident we are well positioned going into the Judges’ Tour.  Catherine reported that the CIB team has been out every week and on weekends to a number of community events and plantings and collecting photos - most recently Warden House, Cornell Park, Rougehaven and Eton Park – Village Green.

 

To date 148 gardens have been identified in the Garden Recognition Contest, with more being called in each day.  Entries close on Friday, July 14th.  Mark is working for signs for these gardens.

Communities in Bloom Committee

July 5, 2006 – Page 2

 

 

Fifteen gardens have been nominated for the Places of Worship Recognition and letters will be sent out to all of these nominations.  In addition, thirteen organizations have undertaken a cleanup or plantings.

 

The Amici event at Warden House has been completed and the window-box planning at Thornhill Community Centre has been scheduled.  CIB was at the Canada Day Seniors Luncheon at Milliken Mills Community Centre.  An enthusiastic response was received from the invitation for seniors to put their names into a draw for a three-course luncheon at the Heintzman House on July 24th.

 

The Arts Council has selected the winners of the photo competition held for professional, student and amateur categories.  These photos will be on display at the Varley Art Gallery on July 24th.

 

The Environmental Art Event kicks off with an Urban Fishing Festival on July 8th , followed by an invitation to the public to attend an Artists’ Reception at Varley Art Gallery on July 18th.  In keeping with the theme “A Real Picture of Markham”, the artists have enlisted the help of residents of all ages with a focus on innovation and diversity.

 

The Mayor’s Youth Task Force has been busy at Beaupre Park.  More youth involvement was requested, and we have exceeded our target for Adopt-a-Park, reaching 40 in total.  As well 26 Colour Your Corners, 42 Pitch-Ins, 6 commemorative trees and 9 commemorative benches have been accomplished.  In response to a reminder from Councilor Chiu, Town staff will ensure that the names of participants for the Adopt-A-Park will be posted in each location over the next few days.

 

 

  1. REPORTS FROM SUB-COMMITTEES

 

    1. Community Outreach

 

Elizabeth Hutchison expressed gratitude for the assistance from Shanon Elliot and her team.  Unionville High School and Unionville Meadows Public School won first prize for the Environmental and Stewardship Competition and received $250 along with a small presentation and letter of thanks.  Central Park School won first prize in the Greatest Number of Hanging Mobiles Award – 92 in total.  A pizza party was held at the school for the teachers and students involved, and will be followed up with a letter of appreciation.

Communities in Bloom Committee

July 5, 2006 – Page 3

 

 

Ms. Hutchison reported frustration that they had communicated with 72 schools, but that only about 10% had participated.  Catherine indicated that a lot of schools have participated in the clean ups, but are not reflected in these numbers and as far as the judges are concerned our school involvement should look very good. 

 

The Chair commented that is crucial to get a key figure from within the schools.  Ms Hutchison suggested that has been one of the challenges and in order to compete internationally for next year, we need to convince the principals that the school’s environment is important to everyone.  Councilor Chiu commented that he approached the school across from his home directly when he noticed problems with litter and there was a noticeable improvement throughout the school year.

 

    1. Business Outreach

 

Catherine Harrison reported that business response has been tremendous with 97 committing to barrel sales and an increase in the number of banner sales have increased as well.

 

    1. Community Outreach

 

Nirmala Persaud-Armstrong reported that the Lions Club committed to $1,000.00 to CIB, but the Knights of Columbus declined for this year. 

 

Wismer Rate Payers Association did have their clean up, despite a low turnout.  On July 8th they are holding a barbeque and expect to do a little more at that time.

 

CIB sponsored a team in the Canadian Cancer Relay for Life on June 23rd and got good visibility by wearing the CIB tee-shirts and setting up a table for the kids to colour daffodils and gave out lots of seeds.

 

The rain for the Canada Day celebrations brought people into the tent for shelter and facilitated more opportunity for discussion about CIB.

 

Community Outreach members attended the Filipino Independence Day Festival and again gave out seeds and got the children to colour flowers.  The Committee members also attended the Markham Village Festival and Taste of Asia.

 

The Outreach Committee is also working trying to get more gardens recognized.

Communities in Bloom Committee

July 5, 2006 – Page 4

 

    1. Judges Tour

 

Joanne Olson tabled a schedule of the Communities in Bloom National Competition for Sunday, July 23rd through to Tuesday, July 25th.  The CIB Committee members will be expected to attend the festivities on Monday, July 24th evening events at the Main Street Bandstand and walk to the Varley Gallery for the presentation.  It is also expected that the committee members should expect to join the Judges for the luncheon on Tuesday, July 25th at First Markham Place, Ding Tai Fung restaurant.  Catherine indicated that invitations are being prepared for CIB members to formalize this request.

 

    1. Special Events

 

Tina Murphy announced that the theme “A Real Picture of Markham” is being incorporated into the Judges tour.  At various stops along Main Street a 4 x 8 foot photo frame with a live person representing each event/person is being used to better introduce them.  A Polaroid photo of each judge at each stop will be put into a photo album, already being set up, to be presented to them at the luncheon at the end of their tour.  The first show at Varley Gallery will be by invitation only and the second open to the public.

 

Jackie Ward and Shanon Elliott attended the Markham Village Music Festival and facilitated a display and draw prize.  Pencils were handed out at the Taste of Asia and the next day they attended the Cornell Garden Festival to talk to participants about Communities in Bloom.

 

Ms Ward attended a seniors luncheon on Canada Day and organized a draw prize for a three-course lunch at the Heintzman House on July 24th.  As, well CIB were on the float in the parade and handed out colouring sheets and information to the onlookers.

 

    1. Communications

 

Catherine Harrison reviewed the Communications Update tabled at the meeting.  Community Leaders have been invited to take part in a basket-planting competition on Tuesday, July 11th at noon.  Communications staff have worked with Waste Management to advance “Anti-Litter Campaign”, with signs on Eucan bins along the route.

Communities in Bloom Committee

July 5, 2006 – Page 5

 

The Community Profile Book is being actively worked on and edited, communications staff are getting some last minute pictures, and it is scheduled to go to print on July 10th.  There is a meeting tomorrow to talk about community profiles and the staff will focus on putting together the binders – 8 binders are being condensed into one.  A ‘cheat-sheet’-like document that shows pictures of every stop is being developed to give to each judge to help them better remember each location for their evaluations.

 

 

  1. OTHER BUSINESS

 

    1. Next Meeting

 

The decision from the Judges should be known by the third week in September.  It was agreed that a meeting will be held shortly thereafter to celebrate and look at the international competition for next year.  In the interim Shanon Elliott will be the contact person should any concerns arise over the summer.

 

 

  1. ADJOURNMENT

 

The Communities in Bloom Committee adjourned at 7:55 p.m.

 

Next Meeting – following Judges’ decision in September, 2006.