The 2012 Communities in Bloom (CiB) judges swept through 100 Mile House on July 16-17, and local organizer Angela Cole says she is optimistic the community garnered good ratings for this year's competition.
"This year was a phenomenal year to me. I feel really confident we're going to get a better score [than in 2011]."
The CiB 2012 provincial judges Don Aldberg of Qualicum Beach and Yvette May of Clinton told her they were "very impressed" with what they saw on their guided tour of the community, Cole explains.
The judge's favourable impressions notably included the elements of local history, she adds.
"Last year, we were lacking a big history component. This year, we covered history like there was no tomorrow."
She explains Marina Cecil welcomed the judges into her historic barn on 100 Mile Ranch, served them lunch on her sun deck and provided a verbal overview of her family's history in the development of 100 Mile House.
Lady Marina June Cecil was born in 100 Mile House in the 1950s and is the daughter of William Martin Alleyne Cecil, 7th Marquess of Exeter (better known as Lord Martin Cecil) who was a prominent cattleman credited with the early development of the community.
Cole notes Marina also spoke about the role and history of the local Emissaries of the Divine Light spiritual community, including the positive effects it had on 100 Mile House.
District of 100 Mile House Councillor Bill Hadden's assistance with the tour guiding also added a "really great" aspect, she says, as he has resided and ranched in the South Cariboo community for many years and has a working knowledge of much of its history.