Communities in Bloom
Working in cooperation with municipal employees, volunteer groups, businesses and individual citizens, Communities in Bloom has been successful in raising our Yarmouth civic pride. Not just because of our parks, streetscapes, and public areas, but also for the increased dialogue concerning environmental and beautification projects. Thanks to volunteers, projects ranging from litter pick-up to celebrating the Daylily have been enormously successful
The Communities in Bloom Committee receives full support from Yarmouth Town Council. Additionally, Communities in Bloom recognizes and applauds the significant achievements of some local business owners who are leading the way in innovative waste reduction projects. The Town of Yarmouth is also home to many spectacularly lovely private gardens both historic and contemporary. We take pride in the many stately first-generation trees which grace our streets and public buildings, and we celebrate the pride that our heritage homeowners take in their properties.
2006 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 4 blooms in the Provincial Category- 2007 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms in the Provincial Category
- 2008 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms and was the Provincial Winner in our Category
- 2009 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 4 blooms in the Provincial Category and 5 blooms in the National Category
- 2010 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms in the National Category and won the Beauti-tone Heritage Conservation Outstanding Achievement Award
- 2011 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms in the National Category. Winner Residential Flower Garden - Small Garden
- 2012 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms in the National Category and the Art Gallery's Innovative Programs received Mention
- 2013 - Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms in the National Category and won the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association Environmental Action Outstanding Achievement Award
- 2014 – Yarmouth was awarded a rating of 5 blooms and was the National Winner in their category with a special mention of Mayor Pam Mood’s, “All Hands on Deck Initiative”
- 2015 – Yarmouth won the Butchart Gardens Land Reclamation Project Award
- 2017 – Recognition for Canada 150 banners and “This is Us” display at Art Gallery
- 2018 – Yarmouth won the National Urban Forestry Award, from CN
- 2019 – Yarmouth hosts the National Symposium of Parks and Grounds and International Awards. This was the first time a small town hosted the national symposium.
- 2020 – Yarmouth wins a national award for Community Appearance Community Appearance includes an overall tidiness effort. Elements for evaluation are parks and green spaces, medians, boulevards, sidewalks, and streets; municipal, commercial, institutional and residential properties; ditches, road shoulders, vacant lots and buildings; weed control, litter clean-up (including cigarette butts and gum), graffiti and vandalism programs.
- 2021 - Plant and Floral Displays Award.
- 2022 - 5 Blooms-Gold rating in the Class of Champions – Medium category
- 2025 - Yarmouth won its first International Award: winner of the Class of Champions – Medium category. They received a rating of 5 Blooms - Gold and a special mention for Main Street - Street Scape during the 2022 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in Victoria, British Columbia. The Town of Yarmouth was in competition with Kingsville ON; Stettler AB and Stonewall MB. The community also received an Outstanding Achievement Award for the Scotts Turf Builder Landscape Award.
- 2026 - 5 Blooms - Gold in the Healthier, Livable Cities category and a special mention for Community Engagement during the 2026 National/International Symposium and Awards Ceremonies in the City of Montréal, Québec
Neighbourhood Programs
Neighbourhood programs support residents who want to improve their streets, parks and public spaces.
Groups making a difference:
- Community garden groups — Beacon Church garden and two community gardens in the South End.
- The Yarmouth Garden Club
- Community Housing Options Initiative through Collaboration and Engagement (CHOICE)
- Milton Improvement Society - to learn more, contact Carol Weir at 902-749-1617
- Yarmouth Community Improvement Group
Start a group
If you’re starting a neighbourhood association, contact Town Hall — we’d love to hear from you.
Town and provincial support
Housing Nova Scotia’s Neighbourhood Improvement Initiative provides grants to homeowners and landlords for street-facing exterior improvements. The Town also supports local committees and programs that boost neighbourhood pride.
Key programs and initiatives:
- Join our local committee for initiatives like Adopt-a-Block!
- Yarmouth Volunteer Network
- Heritage properties (conservation and stewardship)
- Downtown Facade Improvement Program
Donate to support neighbourhoods
The Community Asset Donation Program accepts donations that benefit parks, urban forests, greenspaces and other community projects.
Contact
For more information or to get involved, contact Town Hall.