Criteria

Expert, specially trained volunteer judges travel across Canada during the summer to evaluate municipal efforts of the whole community on eight key criteria:
 

Community Involvement
It doesn't happen without you! Citizens' involvement in projects for the betterment and enjoyment of the whole community. It includes horticulture and garden clubs, service groups, recreation and sports clubs, school children, teens, seniors, municipal workers and local businesses. Volunteers can be involved in long-term or short-term projects (Clean up days, Adopt-a-Park, etc.) and recreational programs (coaches, team managers, etc).

Environmental Awareness
It includes such things as sustainable development, policies and by-laws, waste reduction, landfill sites, hazardous waste collection, sewage disposal, transfer / recycle stations, recycling initiatives, Plant Health Care, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), water source, treatment and conservation, naturalization, environmental clean up activities, environmentally friendly transportation.

Floral Displays
Floral Displays include the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens. It includes arrangements of flowers & plants, originality, distribution, location, diversity and balance, harmony, quality and maintenance. This pertains to flower beds, carpet bedding, containers, baskets, window boxes - annuals, perennials, bulbs, ornamental grasses etc.

Turf & Groundcovers
Turf and Groundcover Areas include the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens. It includes the quality of naturalization, the use of groundcovers and wild flowers, turf management (manicured to rough), maintenance (mowing height / frequency, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), fertilization programs, irrigation, water restrictions). Areas include private homes, public buildings, municipal and private sports fields and athletic parks.

Landscaped Areas
Landscaped Areas includes the efforts made by municipal, corporate and private citizens in regards to creating an environment where the plants form an essential element of the whole surroundings. It includes overall design and suitability for location and / or use, the use of native plant materials or introduction of new materials, a balance of plant material and constructed elements, harmony (colour, texture and shape), integration of art elements and high standards of maintenance and site rejuvenation and rehabilitation.

Natural & Cultural Heritage Conservation
Heritage Conservation includes efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens to preserve heritage within their community. Support and attention to museums, archives, history books and interpretative programs, policies and by-laws, natural heritage management plans, preservation and restoration of buildings, cemeteries, parks, heritage gardens, trees, monuments and artefacts, historical societies and advisory committees.

Tidiness
Tidiness includes an overall tidiness effort made by the municipality, businesses, and private citizens of a community. Tidiness of green spaces (parks, etc), medians, streets, sidewalks, ditches, road shoulders, signage, vacant lots and buildings with regards to garbage, weeds, maintenance and repair, dog droppings, notices / posters, graffiti and vandalism.

Tree / Urban Forest Management
Urban Forestry includes the efforts made by municipal, corporate (including all forms of local businesses) and private citizens in regards to urban forestry. It includes any written policies, by-laws and regulations, short and long-term plans, maintenance (IPM, pruning, etc), new plantings, heritage trees and woodlots, preservation of trees and succession planting. An effort in developing concepts and designs around existing trees or to include new plantings.