Stonewall residents are being asked to tidy up their gardens and public spaces as Communities in Bloom judges are set to tour the Manitoba town on July 30 and 31. The Town of Stonewall posted a public notice on July 17 asking everyone to help present the community at its best for the annual competition, which rates towns on things like landscaping, heritage protection, and environmental efforts.
Stonewall is competing in the 2026 National Edition in the “Healthier, Livable, Cities” category. The town has a long track record in the program, taking part since at least 2003 and earning consistent five-bloom ratings since 2006. This year’s national theme is “Therapeutic Gardening,” focused on the restorative power of green spaces.
Volunteer judges use six criteria to rate communities: community appearance, environmental action, heritage conservation, tree management, landscape, and plant and floral displays. The route the judges will take has not yet been made public. The town said more details would be shared on its website.
Local residents and business owners are encouraged to keep their properties looking their best during the two-day visit. The timing aligns with Stonewall’s Yard of the Week contest and Best Blooming Business Award, both running through July and August. The town has a strong legacy of beautification, anchored by the 80-acre Stonewall Quarry Park, which features Kinsmen Lake, walking trails, and historic limestone kilns.
In 2017, Stonewall earned a National Edition Bronze award for “Land and Brownfield Redevelopment” for the Quarry Park Heritage Arts Centre project. Locals hoping for more information can contact Stonewall’s Communities in Bloom committee members Asta Johannesson at 204-771-8768 or Shelley Proven at 204-513-1968.
