St. Jacobs, ON, October 3, 2017 - The 23rd Edition of the Communities in Bloom National & International Awards Ceremonies was held in Ottawa-Gatineau, ON. Home Hardware Stores Limited awarded two recipients with the Outstanding Achievement Award.

Established with the guidance of Britain in Bloom, Tidy Towns of Ireland and Villes et Villages Fleuris de France, Communities in Bloom held its first edition of the awards in 1995 and 29 participating municipalities were honoured at the first awards ceremonies on Parliament Hill. The program now includes hundreds of communities across the country, and an international challenge involving communities from the United States, Japan and several European countries allows participants to compete internationally.

The village of Pugwash, NS received the Home Hardware Community Involvement Award and was awarded the 5 Blooms - Silver rating by Communities in Bloom. The Village of Ashcroft, BC received the Home Hardware Beauti-Tone Heritage Conservation Award and was honoured the 5 Blooms - Bronze rating by Communities in Bloom.

"We congratulate the villages of Pugwash, NS and Ashcroft, BC for their commitment in beautifying their local community. Home Hardware Stores Limited is dedicated to helping municipalities acorss the country enhance their neighbourhoods, and is a proud sponsor of Communities in Bloom," said Terry Davis, CEO, Home Hardware.

Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces in communities.

"On behalf of the National Committee, Judges and Sponsors - sincerely thanks and congratulates all those involved in the program: their efforts are making our communities better places to live in, to work in ...and to visit," said, Bob Lewis, National Chair, Communities in Bloom.

For a complete list of the results, please visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca

The Village of Ashcroft, BC received the Home Hardware Beauti-Tone Heritage Conservation Award
at the Communities in Bloom National & International Awards Ceremonies held in Ottawa-Gatineau, ON.

About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a Canadian non-profit organization committed to fostering civic pride, environmental responsibility and beautification through community involvement and the challenge of a national program, with focus on the enhancement of green spaces. The pride, sense of community and feeling of accomplishment generated through participation are visible in communities across Canada. For more information about Communities in Bloom, visit www.communitiesinbloom.ca

About Home Hardware Stores Limited
Home Hardware Stores Limited is Canada's largest Dealer-owned hardware, lumber, building materials, and furniture home improvement retailer with close to 1,100 stores under the Home Hardware, Home Building Centre, Home Hardware Building Centre and Home Furniture banners with annual retail sales of over $6 billion. Founded in 1964 in rural St. Jacobs, Ontario, Home Hardware remains 100% Canadian owned and operated. Through the Home Hardware network, Dealer-Owners have access to 100,000 quality, brand name and private label products, a state-of-the-art distribution system and extensive marketing and training programs. Offering a mix of tradition and innovation, Home Hardware Stores Limited has received designation as one of Canada's Best Brands and Best Managed Companies and is committed to helping Canadians with all of their project needs. More information about the company is available at homehardware.ca.


For more information please contact:
Carly Verhoeven, Public Relations Coordinator, Home Hardware Stores Limited, (519) 664-2252 ext. 6676 carly.verhoeven@homehardware.ca

Jessica Kuepfer, Public Relations Manager, Home Hardware Stores Limited at 519-664-4612 or jessica.kuepfer@homehardware.ca