Communities in Bloom judges Kathy Shaluk and Shirley Kalyniuk experience the blossoming partnership between Portage la Prairie and the Southport Aerospace Centre firsthand this week, touring both locales as a combined entry in the provincial beautification contest.
Their visit yesterday included a morning assessment of Portage's urban landscape, followed by lunch and presentations at Southport’s Alpha boardroom, culminating in an afternoon tour of the aerospace community.
Judges immediately noted significant progress in Portage la Prairie.
Shaluk, who judged the city last year, expressed admiration for the transformation.
"I had judged Portage last year, and Shirley judged the year before, and in these last two years, we've seen big changes in Portage. Coming in today... Saskatchewan Ave; that had to have been the big highlight for me to see the completion of that project – stunning, wonderfully done."
Both judges praised the evident community pride.
"Everything seemed so well kept, like we didn't see a weedy mess anywhere," Shaluk observes, with Kalyniuk adding, "I'm amazed at the green space, all the parks... Portage residents should be extremely, extremely proud of what they have."
Southport steps into the bloom spotlight
Following the Portage tour, judges joined officials for lunch at Southport’s Alpha conference room.
Southport Aerospace Director of Development Colby Orchard detailed their environmental initiatives and future plans during a presentation.
"Dean Rennie, our manager of Business Development, gave a great presentation on our path to net zero and all of our climate projects that we're working on. The Communities in Bloom Team is interested in... environmental [impact] and making sure that we're being good stewards of the facility," Orchard explains.
He highlighted unique features for the judges, including newly installed historical aircraft monuments, saying, "I'm excited for them to see those pieces... We also have a lot of things throughout the site that talk about our history as a base."
This marks Southport's debut in the contest, partnering with Portage for the first time.
"We're very excited to be part of this program this year," Orchard states.
City pride and partnership praised
Portage la Prairie City Councillor and Deputy Mayor Joe Masi emphasized the contest's alignment with city goals.
"One of our top five [strategic plan items] is to beautify and showcase our community, and we think Communities in Bloom is a great program."
He specifically thanked the local committee for their dedication to the joint effort, saying, "I want to thank the Communities in Bloom Committee for Portage... thanking them for all their work in putting the program together for Portage and Southport, in particular thanking Cathie McFarlane, Lynne White, Yvette Cuthbert and Byrna McDermid."
Masi noted the judges' positive initial feedback on visible improvements, reinforcing the city's commitment to beautification investments like the green space policy and increased road budgets.
Cathie McFarlane, Chair of the Communities in Bloom Committee for both Portage and Southport, underscored the significance of the joint entry.
Related stories:
- Portage and Southport blossom together in Communities in Bloom bid
- Portage and Southport team up in national beautification program
"We've never included Southport before. This is the first year, so I think that was very helpful during the lunch hour for the CEO and for Colby to show them the evolution of this place."
She highlighted the value of showcasing often-overlooked community assets.
"People can take us for granted. We're on the Trans Canada, so it's easy to drive by and not come in, and people don't know all the little gems that we have here."
Judges Shaluk and Kalyniuk also stressed the contest's broader purpose beyond aesthetics, aiming to inspire more communities post-COVID.
"This program is about community development and making it a livable place," Shaluk states, with Kalyniuk adding, "It's the environment. It's your trees. Everything... It's a big, big picture. Not just flowers."
The judges' evaluations contribute to Portage's aim for a third consecutive Five-Bloom rating, now alongside its new partner, Southport.
Results are expected later this year in October.
Sign up to get the latest local news headlines delivered directly to your inbox every afternoon.
Send your news tips, story ideas, pictures, and videos to news@portageonline.com.
PortageOnline encourages you to get your news directly from your trusted source by bookmarking this page and downloading the PortageOnline app.