In the same way that a long journey begins with the first steps, preparing an entire community for judging in a national-level competition like Communities in Bloom takes the efforts of everyone.

While no one person can do everything, everyone can do something, and added all together it will make for the presentation of Weyburn as one of Canada's most beautiful cities in its population category when the judging takes place on Friday, July 27.

Weyburn is heading into its fourth year of competition in this program, its third at the national level after winning at the provincial level in our first year; each year the city has improved and looks better, with little touches added here and there that will hopefully put us over the top this time. Last year, Weyburn earned a five-bloom rating, which is the highest level without actually winning the category, quite an accomplishment when one sees what communities we were up against.

To take part in Communities in Bloom, every aspect of the city is looked at and judged, not just residential flower gardens; there are also categories for commercial/industrial, business, and municipal properties and parks, and judges also look at heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscaped areas, floral displays and turf and groundcovers. This takes in quite a variety of properties in and around the city, each one considered for how it adds to the whole community.

In addition to how well groomed all these areas of the city looks, the judges will also take into consideration such factors as how well civic pride is fostered by the local CIB committee, how the community looks after its environmental responsibilities, and how wide community participation is in the program.

This is the part where everyone can make a contribution, even if it's just cleaning up one's own property and ensuring it looks as nice as possible. When the judges make the tour of the community, their eyes will be taking in everything, the school yards and parks, the residential neighbourhoods and boulevards, municipally-owned land, and commercially-owned properties.

To be sure, Weyburn's Communities in Bloom committee has put in a lot of work, including such extra touches as new flower planters along Government Road and on the boardwalk, the Adopt-a-Planter program in the business community downtown, among other efforts.

The public education and encouragement for full involvement is continuing, and the yearly efforts at beautification are paying off; now, we just need to make sure any last final touches are made that will say to the judges, "Weyburnites care about and love the community they call home."

This is all part of what Communities in Bloom is all about as a non-profit national organization: fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification of the community through community participation and involvement.

The sheer number of volunteer groups and organizations who have been looking after the downtown flower gardens, not to mention the residential participation in "Yahoo For Your Yard", shows Weyburn is suitably proud of our community; let's put it over the top and let all of Canada know this is a beautiful community in every way. - Greg Nikkel