Rosemère Wins Top Honors at the 2024 Communities in Bloom Competition

The Town of Rosemère achieved remarkable recognition at the 30th annual Communities in Bloom awards ceremony, held on October 20 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island. Competing against national and international communities, Rosemère was awarded the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award for Community of Gardeners and achieved a 5-Blooms Gold rating in the International Challenge – Medium-Sized Communities category. The town also received a special mention for its Community Engagement Program, specifically aimed at protecting the Monarch butterfly.
Outstanding Achievement Award for Community of Gardeners
Rosemère’s Hamilton House garden earned the Outstanding Achievement Award, a recognition of the meticulous care and creativity that have transformed the site into a community landmark. Maintained and designed with the collective efforts of residents, volunteers, and town staff, the garden’s unique guitar-shaped layout is a nod to the cultural heritage of the site and has become a central element of Rosemère’s beautification projects.
This award also reflects the success of long-running community initiatives like the Rosemère in Bloom competition, now in its 35th year, and the Secret Garden Tour, which invites the public to visit private gardens showcased by local residents. Additionally, the community gardens on the grounds of Externat Sacré-Cœur and Val-des-Ormes schools were highlighted as examples of the town’s commitment to cultivating beauty and sustainability.
International Challenge – Medium-Sized Communities
In the International Challenge category, Rosemère received the distinguished 5-Blooms Gold rating, an achievement that acknowledges excellence in environmental sustainability and green space enhancement. The town was also honored with a special mention for its Community Engagement Program to protect the Monarch butterfly, a species facing significant threats. Through this program, Rosemère’s residents have joined efforts to create habitats that support Monarch populations, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental stewardship.
Reflecting on Rosemère’s achievements, Mayor Eric Westram expressed gratitude for the community’s ongoing dedication to green initiatives:
“We are honored to be a finalist alongside such fine Canadian and European cities. Winning in this category is a great reward for the Town of Rosemère, which has been participating in Communities in Bloom since its very first edition, 30 years ago. This honor would never have been possible without Monique Keurentjes, foreman of green spaces and environment, who has made Rosemère a town that shines both provincially and internationally for its landscaping and management of natural spaces. She will be leaving us at the end of the year for a well-deserved retirement. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Monique, for 35 years of passion and commitment, and for making Rosemère as green and flourishing as it is today.”
About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a volunteer- and partner-driven organization dedicated to enhancing community participation, environmental sustainability, and heritage conservation. Through initiatives that promote the improvement of municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional spaces, Communities in Bloom encourages communities across Canada and internationally to develop beautiful and sustainable green spaces.