QUALICUM BEACH — Some of the best-loved streets, neighbourhoods and public places on Vancouver Island may have already been nominated as Canada’s greatest places, but there’s still time to make sure your favourite Oceanside locale is in the running.
Nanaimo’s Commercial Street, Courtenay’s Ryan Road, Pacific Rim National Park, Cathedral Grove, Sydney by the Sea, Ladysmith, Chemainus, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria’s Inner Harbour and Gabriola Island have all received nominations for this first of what is hoped will become an annual contest to find the great places in Canada.”
The contest is being run by the Canadian Institute of Planners (CIP) as a way to celebrate the wonders of this great country.
The contest is open to anyone. To participate, visit www.GreatPlacesInCanada.com.
At that site, you can nominate, write about, and post images of the place that inspires you. And by making a nomination, you’ll be entered into a draw for fabulous prizes. You can also vote for places already nominated.
Votes will be tallied in real time so it will be easy to track the leading locations. Nominating and voting will close March 25, 2011. A judging panel of planning experts will then select the finalists in late April, and the winners will be announced in May.
Each winning location will receive a plaque, presented to the local mayor or reeve, and winning nominators will also be awarded.
“I’ve been fortunate to live and work as a planner across Canada, including in many of the communities nominated,” said Mark Holland, MCIP, consultant with HB Lanarc and a PIBC member. “It’s exciting to see so many British Columbians taking an interest in a contest that really underscores the value of registered professional planners in making our communities more livable, helping to create and realize a community’s vision for the future, and finding big picture solutions for people, communities and the environment.”
— The News
