They came. They saw. They, well, judged.
The Communities in Bloom (CIB) national judges arrived in Humboldt July 19 to take in the sights and sounds of the city, which is hoping to earn five out of five blooms for the second year in a row.
Jim Baird, from New Brunswick, and Berta Briggs, from Alberta, had never been to Humboldt, since the judges are rotated each year in order to keep first impressions fresh and genuine.
And as we know, first impressions mean everything.
So what did Baird and Briggs think of Humboldt as they pulled into the city?
"It's definitely an active place and seems like a real community," Briggs said enthusiastically. "It's obviously a community that's really involved. It's functional and it's beautiful," she added.
This is Briggs' 14th year judging for CIB, and Baird's fifth year. With 19 years of experience between the two of them, they've borne witness to the way communities have evolved and what they're trending towards as the years roll on.
"Take recycling programs for instance," Baird said. "A number of years ago, that was cutting edge, for a city to have a blue box program or a place to take bottles to. Nowadays, it's the norm."
Briggs added, "So what we look at nowadays isn't the presence of these programs but the quality of them."
It's apparent from talking to the two, as they stroll through Humboldt & District Heritage Garden accompanied by the local CIB committee, that they care just as much about the competition's cities as their own.
"We're all chasing the same butterfly," Briggs said. "We want to make communities the best they can be. We're not here to criticize whatsoever. We're here to help."
The judges admired the varying, bright flora in the heritage garden, which is part of an exhibition including three rural communities within the Quill Plains region.
After walking over to Civic Park next to city hall, Darrell Lessmeister, director of leisure services for the City of Humboldt and a member of the local CIB committee, informed the judges of the city's community development policy, touching on everything from the grassroots community trails initiative to local nature conservation ambitions, like the Kloppenburg Wildlife Refuge and the Humboldt Wildlife Federation.
Both judges were also impressed with the pride in which the city, with a population just shy of 7,000, presents itself.
"Oh, there they are! I see them popping up all over now," Briggs said, pointing out the city's fire hydrants, notable for being painted to look like Broncos hockey players.
Lessmeister also explained the city's emphasis on heritage conservation, introducing the judges to numerous historical monuments and plaques throughout the grounds of city hall.
They were particularly fascinated by a certain display, the bell from the last locomotive that ran through Humboldt.
It was also noted that the committee heeded the suggestions featured in the CIB report from last year's competition; flower pots bearing the CIB emblem can be seen outside local stores and businesses, with pre-arranged floral displays from Misty Gardens nursery blooming inside the planter.
Elvircia Natlazo of the Humboldt Regional Newcomer Centre spoke of how the city isn't just focused on its longtime residents, but its new arrivals, setting up housing and clothing for them, and preparing the proper documents.
Natlazo, who originally hails from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, understands the nerves that come with being an immigrant to a new land.
"For us as newcomers, it was hard to know where to go and what to do," she explained. "That's why a place like the newcomer centre is so important."
It's the little extras that seemed to catch the attention of the judges: murals or displays done by local residents. Coun. Rob Muench, for example, constructed the railway mural seen running along Fifth Avenue, Bob Saretsky designed the flower pots and entrance signs for the city and Doris and Fred Hale donated the sign welcoming visitors to the heritage garden.
The little touches are done for the people by the people.
Patti Durand, founder of the Humboldt Community Trails Association, led the crew along the Fifth Avenue trail that is currently in the works, explaining the organization began in 2008 and had to do everything from scratch, working with consultants and the city to find and establish safe trails.
The judges also took in the Humboldt & District Museum & Gallery, as well as the golf course, Water Ridge Park, and the community garden, among others.
So it was certainly a long day and probably felt so given the downpour of rain that took over that day but suffice to say, the outgoing judges seemed more than impressed by the committee's presentation of the city.
Humboldt is competing against five other communities, including Amherst, N.S. and Vegreville, Alta. and is hoping to earn five blooms.
Last year, the city earned that coveted rank but narrowly lost to Jasper, Alta. for first place.
