The small but busy community of Delia has been awarded with five “blooms” and awarded first in the province for communities of less than 500 people through their efforts with Communities in Bloom this past summer.
“Everyone works hard and it’s nice to be rewarded for that,” said Donna Isaac, the Delia committee’s chairperson. “When you put together everything the community has brought together, it is amazing due to the size of the town (204 population).”
Delia’s committee received the award in September at the Albertan awards night in Provost.
Communities in Bloom ranks their vying communities with eight categories: tidiness, environmental awareness, community involvement, natural and cultural heritage, conservation, tree/urban forest management, landscaped areas, floral displays, and turf and ground covers.
To receive the coveted five out of five blooms, a communities must garner an averaged 80 per cent grade from all categories.
“Every time the judges come through, you learn more and more about what they are looking for,” said Isaac. “The benefit is that it shows the general populous what a great little town Delia is.”
It really does take the entire village to come together to beautify a small place like Delia.
“We have a committee who spearheads this, but everyone participates,” said Isaac, adding everyone from the 4-H Club to seniors get involved.
“I’ve lived in many small towns in my lifetime, and I’d say this is the first town I’ve lived in that has a general feeling of everyone working together, no matter who you are.”
“Delia’s different... it’s hard to describe what’s happening. People are friendly, get along well, even though there aren’t that many people.”
