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Calling green thumbs: Coquitlam plants Hope Gardens at Poirier this month for Communities in Bloom contest

This month, the Park Spark team will expand its garden volunteer initiative to the Poirier pavilion in Coquitlam.
Janis Cleugh
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Park Spark supervisor Sara Yastremski at Coquitlam's Inspiration Garden, where yellow flowers abound.JANIS CLEUGH/THE TRI-CITY NEWS

If there was anything positive that came out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s that Coquitlam residents with time on their hands gave their time freely. 

Municipal parks and recreation staff were grateful for the volunteers and especially for their work to help plant yellow Hope Gardens in civic spaces as part of the city’s 2021 Communities in Bloom competition entry. 

This month, the Park Spark team — under supervisor Sara Yastremski — will expand its garden volunteer initiative to the Poirier pavilion, before the city finalizes its submission for the national judges’ consideration. 

Kathleen Reinheimer, manager of parks and facilities, says Coquitlam has won all its eligible Communities in Bloom categories to date. 

“We have done so well and so quickly. We didn’t want to lose the momentum.” 

Besides the planting at the Inspiration Gardens and at Poirier, the city will also include the three new pop-up parks with its entry:

To join the Park Spark volunteers, you’re encouraged to email [email protected]. 

Meanwhile, Coquitlam residents are invited to take part in the Communities in Bloom social media contest, featuring their own Hope Garden.

The deadline is Aug. 31 to take and share photos. The winners will be named on Oct. 7. 

To register, you can visit the Hope is Growing website.