CANORA - “We can’t wait to show off our beautiful community.”
Community in Bloom Week is coming up in Canora from Aug. 9 to 16.
“It’s going to be our biggest Community in Bloom week in a long time,” said Brandi Zavislak, community development officer. “The reason is we’re taking part in a national Community in Bloom competition. We have worked hard to get Canora back to the level where our community is competing again against other communities. This is done through bylaws, cleanup work and that sort of thing.
“In past years we had a huge influx of nuisance properties and standards became low. It is a long and challenging job to clean up the community.”
Zavislak added that Kevin Ludba, Canora’s bylaw officer, “takes pride in our community, and he has been well received in Canora.”
Working together with the public works department, Zavislak said they have put in many hours striving for community beautification.
“For instance, we demolished the old building on the Highway 9 and 5 north junction, and replaced it with the memorial garden. We have also put in a number of green spaces around town,” said Zavislak.
Community beautification projects supported by the Canora Tourism Fundraising Committee include new Canora signs and trees planted in memory of loved ones.
“Now we have a huge influx of people moving here that want to retire here or raise families here.
"No one wants to move to a town with numerous messy properties. We take a lot of pride in our community,” said Zavislak.
According to information provided by the Communities in Bloom Contest, there are many benefits to look forward to from this competition:
- Increased tourism
- Increased civic pride and community involvement
- Participation from all ages and walks of life
- Information exchange and networking with other Communities in Bloom communities
- National recognition
- Citizens groups, organizations, businesses and municipal government all mobilized and working together
- Continuous improvement in the entire community
- Valuable information and feedback from the judges
- Economic development and increased property values
- Marketing and promotional opportunities
- Positive benefits for the tourism, hospitality and retail industries.
Community in Bloom Week in Canora is scheduled to begin with a parade on Aug. 9 followed by a pickleball tournament, a sport that is gaining popularity across the country.
Sunday, Aug. 10 will feature a non-denominational church service at King George Park.
Other events will include the always-popular perogy lunch at St. Andrews Church, train rides at the Huebert Homestead, and Fun Night at the Canora Golf and Country Club.
Judges will be here for the Community in Bloom competition.
Members of one of Canora’s treasures, A Community Thread Quilt Club, will show their amazing work, and sewers will also demonstrate their craft.
Canora Legion will feature a pulled pork and coleslaw lunch.
The final day on Aug. 16 will highlight the Canora Street Festival, “the biggest one ever” according to Zavislak.
“There will be awesome entertainment, food trucks, a car show, and fireworks to end off the night,” said Zavislak.
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