Yellowknife (July 28/04) - Judges were in Yellowknife, Monday, for the 10th annual Communities in Bloom competition.

"I'm quite impressed by the participation of the community overall," said Bob Lewis, one of two judges assessing community efforts in the national program.

Yellowknife is entered in the non-competitive Canadian Capitals category of the program devoted to civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification.

"Nationally, it's almost a movement," said Mary Bishop, director of planning for Conception Bay South, Nfld., who is judging the program with Lewis.

"It's not just the flowers in bloom but the whole package, what communities are doing to improve their city," added Lewis.

Brian Kelln, city programs manager, took the judges to many of Yellowknife's beauty spots, including parks, gardens, Pilot's Monument, the new Rotary waterfront park, and the community gardens on Franklin Avenue.

Lewis, director of lands and transportation for Ottawa, said the contributions from businesses that donated materials to the Franklin Avenue gardens were praiseworthy.

"The community here in the last 10 years has done a lot to pull it together," said Lewis.

Bishop and Lewis were impressed by the spirit of the Yellowknife community. Lewis commended the city's attention to heritage preservation, and to attracting visitors.

The judges travel to Edmonton next. The results of the review and competition will be announced in September.