The accolades keep coming for Pugwash.
The village recently received a rating of 5 Blooms – Gold and a special mention for Friends of the Pugwash Estuary during the 2025 Communities in Bloom National/International Symposium and Awards ceremony in Stratford, Ont.
Pugwash participated in the International Small category along with Abbeyleix Tidy Towns in Laois, Ireland and Yarmouth, which took top honours.
The recognition for Pugwash comes three years after Communities in Bloom Canada declared it the winner of the Class of Champions – Small category. They received a rating of 5 Blooms – Silver and a special mention for Prospering Partnerships.
“This isn’t as much a Pugwash Communities in Bloom award as it as an award for Pugwash as a whole,” Communities in Bloom member Maureen Leahey said. “It’s amazing for Pugwash to be recognized internationally and it’s even more special when the other communities we were competing against are either towns or cities.
“You can’t buy the kind of publicity this gives Pugwash.”
Pugwash recently received a rating of 5 Blooms – Gold and a special mention for Friends of the Pugwash Estuary during the 2025 Communities in Bloom National/International Symposium and Awards ceremony in Stratford, Ont.
Pugwash was also recognized with an Outstanding Achievement Award for community involvement.
Susan Ellis of Pembroke, Ont. And John Lohuis from Tillsonburg, Ont. were in Pugwash on Wednesday, July 16, and Thursday, July 17, to judge the village in the 31st edition of the Communities in Bloom in the International Challenge Small category.
They evaluated the community appearance, environmental action, heritage conservation, tree management, landscape and plant and floral displays.
“Friends of the Pugwash Estuary is a volunteer group that has partnered with the Nova Scotia Department of Fisheries and Oceans Community Aquatic Monitoring Program to collect data on water quality, fish species and abundance at several sites around this biologically important estuary,” the judges wrote in their evaluation. “They also monitor bird species for Birds Canada, and the health of fish habitat in streams feeing into the estuary. This is exceptional work and citizen science of benefit to the entire region and is highly commended.”
They likened returning to Pugwash after last judging the community in 2017 as meeting an old friend who is intentionally taking care of all the important things.
“The accomplishments achieved over the years since you first started this journey in 1995 are exceptional,” the judges wrote. “Your public art program is highly regarded across Canada and beyond; volunteerism is a foundational part of the community and was recently recognized by Canada’s Governor General; the Historical Society and the work being done to preserve natural, built, and cultural heritage is commendable and the contributions made to the community by all of the service clubs and associations is extraordinary.”
The village commission added its thoughts giving congratulations to Communities in Bloom and the organizers.
“These distinctions reflect the shared values and dedication that Communities in Bloom inspires across the country—environmental stewardship, community pride, heritage preservation, and sustainable development. Your leadership and encouragement empower communities like ours to grow stronger, greener, and more connected,” the village wrote in an email to Communities In Bloom. We extend sincere thanks to the judges, organizers, volunteers, and the entire Communities in Bloom organization for your vision and commitment. Your work not only celebrates beauty but cultivates collaboration and lasting positive change.”
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit volunteer and partnership-driven organization that uses a multi-tiered competitive evaluation process to foster community strength, involvement, and continuous improvement. This is accomplished by nurturing environmental sustainability, enhancements of green spaces, and heritage conservation in cultural and natural environments encompassing municipal, residential, commercial, and institutional spaces.
Its vision is to inspire all communities to enhance the quality of life and our environment through people and plants to create community pride. Growing Great Places Together is the organization’s slogan and it captures the essence of the program.
International Communities in Bloom judges John Lohuis (left) and Susan Ellis (second right) are shown with Teresa Kewachuk from Thinker’s Lodge National Historic Site (second left) and Noreen Smiley of Pugwash Communities in Bloom during a visit to the community on Thursday, July 17, 2025. Darrell Cole – Municipality of Cumberland photo