Home Hardware Congratulates the 2012 'Communities in Bloom' Award Winners

ST. JACOBS, ON, Oct. 18, 2012 /CNW/ - Everything is coming up roses for ten communities across Canada as Home Hardware Stores Limited congratulates the winning communities of this year's 18^th annual Communities in Bloom Challenge. The national finalists, and international challenge participants, were announced at the National Awards Ceremony hosted in the Edmonton Capital Region on October 13. Home Hardware Stores Limited supports Communities in Bloom as a national sponsor.

Winners of this year's Outstanding Achievement Awards include the Municipality of Lambton Shores, which received the National Award and the Home Hardware Community Involvement Award, and The City of Pembroke, which received the Home Hardware Beauti-Tone Heritage Conservation Award.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the promotion of green spaces in community settings. Participating communities are evaluated by volunteer judges on eight separate criteria: tidiness, environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, landscape, turf & groundcovers, floral displays and community involvement.

"Communities in Bloom's commitment to improving the environment in communities across Canada and around the world is one shared by all Home Hardware Dealer-Owners who proudly support this organization," said Paul Straus, President and CEO, Home Hardware Stores Limited. "On behalf of Dealer-Owners at close to 1,100 Home stores across Canada, I would like to congratulate the winning communities on this great achievement."

An international organization, municipalities from the United States of America, Scotland, England and Japan all took part in the challenge. Every year, hundreds of Canadian communities take up the challenge in the national and provincial edition of the program.

"Communities in Bloom and Home Hardware have enjoyed a fantastic and mutually beneficial partnership since our program launched," said Raymond Carriére, Founding President of Communities in Bloom. "Home Hardware Dealer-Owners are strong supporters of local community involvement and the environment, and we are honoured to have them with us every year as we recognize Canada's most beautiful communities."

The following ten communities were recognized based on their population:

Up to 1,200:	Appleton, Newfoundland & Labrador
1,201 to 3,000:	Beausejour, Manitoba
3,001 to 6,500:	Jasper, Alberta
6,501 to 10,000:	Castlegar, British Columbia
10,001 to 20,000:	Lambton Shores, Ontario
20,001 to 50,000:	Fort Erie, Ontario
Over 50,001:	Granby, Québec
Canadian Forces Sustainable Communities:	CFB Borden, Ontario
Class of Champions Large Population:	Strathcona County, Alberta
Class of Champions Small Population:	Boissevain, Manitoba

About Home Hardware Stores Limited
100% Canadian owned and operated, Home Hardware Stores Limited has a presence in every Canadian province and territory and is the country's largest independent, Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials and furniture cooperative. Founded on January 1, 1964 by 122 independent hardware Dealers, the cooperative now includes close to 1,100 stores, under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners, with annual collective retail sales of more than $5 billion. Home Hardware's independent Dealer-Owners, recognized by the North American Retail Hardware Association as Canada's best-trained Dealer group, have access to 100,000 quality brand name and private label products, a world-class distribution system and draw upon the power of Home Hardware's network to provide their local communities with top quality products and services at competitive prices.

Image with caption: "Home Hardware Gardening Expert Mark Cullen awards the City of Pembroke the Heritage Conservation Award at the 2012 Communities in Bloom National Awards Ceremony. Home Hardware Stores Limited supports Communities in Bloom as a national sponsor. (CNW Group/Home Hardware Stores Limited)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20121018_C8110_PHOTO_EN_19549.jpg

SOURCE: Home Hardware Stores Limited

Rob Wallace, Public Relations & Promotional Events Manager, Home Hardware Stores Limited at 519-664-4710 or [email protected], or
Lindsey Dietrich, Public Relations Coordinator, Home Hardware Stores Limited at 519-664-2252 ext. 6676 or [email protected].