1995 - 1999
1995
Millet in Bloom was established in autumn 1995 when Millet town administration registered Millet for the 1996 competition. A Communities in Bloom leaflet had been mailed to the town office advertising the competition, which had launched in Eastern Canada just that year. They were inspired by Bernice Knight, the town's gardening contractor, who had begun hanging flower baskets along main street. These hanging baskets would become one of Millet in Bloom's signature displays.
1996
As part of Millet's first year in the Communities in Bloom competition, beautification initiatives included repainting and adding window boxes to Millet Community Hall. 1996 also marked the beginning of Millet's Memorial Rose Garden, which began with Bernice Knight planting a rose bush across from the Millet Post Office on Main Street in memory of her mother. Community members were invited to get involved through the Best Blooming House and Business Competition, with judging held from July 19 - July 25. Each winner received a composter.
The theme for Communities in Bloom 1996 was "People, Plants, and Pride… Growing Together", which would become Communities in Bloom's official slogan. In the beginning of Communities in Bloom, there were 8 categories: tidiness effort, environmental effort, community involvement, heritage, urban forestry, landscaped area, floral arrangements, and turf areas. In its first year competing, Millet received Special Recognition for Maintenance of Turf Areas.
By 1997, Millet in Bloom was expanding both its scope and its team roster. The Memorial Rose Garden had increased in size as citizens began to join in planting efforts. The Millet in Bloom team now boasted 20 volunteer members. Community members noted increased tourist traffic through Millet as more and more visitors came to see Millet's award-winning beautification projects.
In only their second year of competing, Millet took home the overall provincial championship, firmly cementing the town's status as one of the most beautiful communities in the province.
1998
In 1998, Bernice Knight spearheaded a project that would become one of Millet's signature floral displays: a recreation of Burns Creamery Garden across the road from the museum. The Burns Creamery Garden initiative was started to help Millet improve its standings in the Heritage Conservation category. Rocks for the garden were donated by George and Muriel Wilson and plants were donated by Arber Greenhouse. Community members were asked to donate bulbs for the garden in the autumn of 1998, and perennials in the spring of 1999. The cream separator at the centre of the garden was donated by Barry Cook in place of the original fountain, as the location of the new garden had no water access.
That same year, Millet in Bloom focused on expanding its community outreach by starting a news bulletin in the Pipestone Flyer newspaper. The bulletin provided updates and also advertised work bees where community members could get involved.
On Easter Sunday 1998, Bernice and Roger Knight, John, Sandy, and Karen Robinson, Naomi and Stephan McLachlan, LInda, Kevin, Lauren, and Caitlin Stone, Zella Gardiner, and Emy and Joe Buhl put together 70 window boxes and 14 benches. The project was funded by contributions of $500 from the Millet Agricultural Society and $1000 from the Chamber of Commerce, as well as a discount of 50% on wood from The Wetaskiwin Co-Op. Doug Ziebarth painted the benches green.
With 10 volunteers and a $2000 budget, Millet competed in its first national Communities in Bloom, earning Special Recognition for Floral Displays.
1999
For the International Year of the Older Person, Alberta Environmental Protection made spruce trees available which were planted by the MIB, MDHS, Millet Seniors Club, and the Town of Millet. This same year, Millet once again competed nationally, this time earning special recognition for Landscaped Areas.