The community of Outlook has been recognized at a provincial level for its beautification efforts, with special attention given to a new greenspace area located at the busiest traffic intersection in town.
The winners of the Saskatchewan Communities in Bloom program were recognized at the Saskatchewan Parks & Recreation Association (SPRA) Awards Gala during the 2019 SPRA Conference weekend on October 18.
Outlook was the winning community among those in the population ranking of between 2,001-3,000 residents, including Pilot Butte, Fort Qu’Appelle and Assiniboia. Outlook received three ‘blooms’ in the Competitive category, with the judges making special mention of the greenspace area located on a corner lot at the four-way stop at McKenzie Street and Saskatchewan Avenue.
Outlook was visited by judges with Communities in Bloom back on July 30. The Recreation Board promoted a contest at the time that encouraged people to take photos of themselves doing yard work and submit them to be entered into a draw for a gift card. The goal was to ensure that homes in Outlook looked in top form during evaluation by judges, and it looks as if those efforts have paid off for Outlook.
The SPRA noted that all 36 provincial participants had a very successful year in 2019. Participants in Communities in Bloom work towards enhancing their community in relation to six criteria:  Tidiness, Environmental Action, Heritage Conservation, Urban Forestry, Landscape and Floral Displays.
Other provincial winners aside from Outlook include Wolseley (population 501-1000), Preeceville (population 1001-2000), Nipawin (population 3001-4999) and Estevan (population 5000 and higher).
Communities in Bloom (CiB) is a provincial program and national organization that recognizes community participation in projects involving community enhancement, beautification, heritage and environmental awareness. Â Participants are evaluated on the quality of the municipality's green spaces, dedication to quality of living, general tidiness, environmental awareness, heritage and the level of community involvement.
