Cliffe Avenue will be blooming once again this summer, just without the help of volunteers.
The annual Mile of Flowers is still going ahead this year but because of the COVID-19 pandemic, city council decided rather than the usual volunteer plant-in and associated events, the flowers will be planted by park staff over a period of several days.
“Last year, the loss of the Mile of Flowers was just one of countless negative impacts to our community due to the pandemic,” said Courtenay Mayor Bob Wells.
“The plant-in typically attracts hundreds of volunteers, so we knew we wouldn’t be able to run our usual big event. We’re pleased that staff have found a workaround that will allow this tradition to continue this year. We hope the flowers are a sign of hope for better days ahead.”
The City of Courtenay says Planting will occur in the early morning hours to avoid impacts to commuters, and will follow WorkSafeBC regulations and Public Health guidelines to keep staff and the general public safe.
The Mile of Flowers is a Comox Valley 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. From those beginnings launched an annual effort to plant tens of thousands of flowers in garden beds along Courtenay’s main thoroughfare.
For more information, visit the CIty of Courtenay’s website.
