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STRATHCONA COUNTY, Alberta, September 29th, 2018 — Reford Gardens – Jardins de Métis received a 5 Blooms - Gold rating and a special mention for An Exceptional Learning Experience during the 2018 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Strathcona County, Alberta. Reford Gardens – Jardins de Métis participated in the Special Attractions category. Over the summer, trained volunteer judges travelled to participating attractions to evaluate based on the efforts in management, planning, maintenance, improvement and innovation in the following criteria: Tidiness, Environmental Action, Natural and Cultural Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays. Following their evaluation, volunteer judges Gaétan Deschênes and Anne-Marie Parent wrote: "With the lush richness of its facilities, the Reford Gardens are ranked among the most beautiful places of its kind in the country. In recent years, however, managers have made great efforts to give greater importance to the pedagogical side. Suffice it to mention the creation of the International Garden Festival, which attracts young landscape architects from all over the world; his remarkable exhibitions on the work of the founder, Elsie Reford and the tools used in gardening in the past century as well as her lectures given by various specialists in the world of arts and culture. To this must be added the passionate work of the chef who makes it a point to showcase vegetables, herbs and fish from the region. " Within the actual context of climate changes and environmental concerns, communities involved in the program can be proud of their efforts, which provide real and meaningful environmental solutions and benefit all of society. For a complete list of the results and the electronic copy of the Communities in Bloom magazine, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca About Communities in Bloom Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca