Volunteers Needed For Mile Of Flowers Plant-In

The City of Courtenay is marking 58 years of the Mile of Flowers.

On Tuesday, May 27th, once again Cliffe Avenue boulevards will be filled with colourful blooms, and volunteers are needed.

The Plant-in starts at 5 p.m. and goes until around 7 p.m.

The community is invited to fill the garden beds on both sides of Cliffe Avenue from 8th to 21st Streets with summer flowers provided by the City.

No prior experience is required – just pick an open spot and begin planting.

Participants are asked to bring garden gloves and a trowel or spoon for digging.

Typically, between 200 and 500 volunteers are needed.

Youth groups are encouraged to take part and all youth groups attending will be entered in a random draw to win a one-hour pool party at the outdoor pool in Lewis Park.

Mayor Bob Wells encourages residents to join the Plant-in.

“The Mile of Flowers is one of Courtenay’s most cherished traditions, and it’s incredible to see how it continues to bring our community together,” said Wells.

“Whether you’ve planted with us before or are joining for the first time, it’s a chance to make a lasting mark on our city and help brighten the heart of Courtenay for the entire summer.”

The Mile of Flowers is a tradition dating back to 1967, when Kathleen Kirk set out to commemorate Canada’s centennial year.

That year she planted 7,800 seedlings as a welcome to tourists. What began as the initiative of one woman now involves hundreds of volunteers and around 30,000 flowers.

The City of Courtenay maintains the flower beds, watering as needed, using compost and mulch to improve water retention.

Water-efficient drip-irrigation systems have been installed in a number of beds.

Some have also been converted to water-efficient perennial blooms and shrubs.

For more information, visit Mile of Flowers.