Communities in Bloom Kingston: Winter Lights
IS YOUR NEIGHBOURHOOD A WINTERLIGHTS WONDERLAND?
The National WinterLights Judges Karen Neerhof and Claude Lachance are coming to town on Dec. 13 and 14. We want them to see that Kingston's great beauty shines all year long.
If your holiday spirit has curb-appeal, please contact: Sue Hitchcock, WinterLights Coordinator, 613-546-4291, ext. 1716 or sueh@cityofkingston.ca.
The LED lights on 45 trees in City Park were switched on for the season during this year's Jingle Bell Walk.
This year Kingston is participating in Winter Lights — the cold-weather version of the Communities in Bloom program — putting its winter celebrations and civic beautification efforts in competition with five other Canadian communities with populations of more than 50,000.
Kingston will receive marks in Winter Lights competition categories including: Festive Season Celebrations (for holiday-season events), Winter Pleasures (seasonal activities), Goodwill Programs and Tourism/Promotion. Each category will be marked out of 100 points for items such as program availability, municipal support, and business, community-group and individual involvement.
"Visual presentation — like having an LED light display in your home or business — is just one element of what the judges are looking for. They are interested in how enthusiastically our community embraces opportunities to celebrate and highlight its assets," says Sue Hitchcock, Winter Lights Coordinator.
WINTER LIGHTS JUDGES IN TOWN FOR OLYMPIC TORCH RELAY
The Winter Lights judges will be in town for the Olympic Torch Relay celebrations on December 14. That's only 26 days away — count down the days until the Torch comes at www.cityofkingston.ca.
Kingston's current roster of winter celebrations should stand it in good stead. This year, the following will all be billed as Winter Lights' events:
- Nighttime Santa Parade - Saturday, Nov. 21, runs down Princess Street starting at 5 p.m.
- Jingle Bell Walk and Lighting of City Park - Friday, Dec. 4, starts in Springer Market Square at 6 p.m. and the walkers go to City Park where the lights go on at 7 p.m.
- Olympic Torch Relay - Monday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. in Springer Market Square.
- New Year's Eve at the K-Rock Centre - Friday, Dec. 31, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the K-Rock Centre with fireworks finale in Confederation Basin at 9:15 p.m.
- FebFest - February 2 to 7, 2010 in Springer Market Square.
Competing communities can also win special awards for Youth Involvement, Winter Festival and Mentoring.
Kingston — a Communities in Bloom full 5-Bloom city — will be vying for top honours with Prince George and Kamloops, BC; Brampton and Barrie, ON; and Halifax, NS. The Winter Lights Celebrations Symposium and Awards Ceremony is set to take place March 4 to 6 in Charlottetown, PEI.
