2000 -2004

2000 

2000 was a busy year for Millet in Bloom. Firstly, Millet was part of a successful joint bid (along with Edmonton, Beaumont, Stony Plain, and St. Albert) to host the National CIB Convention from September 27 - 30, 2000. Having a coalition of communities join forces to host was unprecedented in Communities in Bloom history. Over 1000 people attended the convention.

Millet in Bloom undertook projects both large and small to continue their beautification efforts. Trees were planted in the park beside the town office and museum, and more work was done on the memorial rose garden.

One of the most significant projects undertaken in 2000 was the Millet School Bell Kiosk. An auction at a nearby farm had unearthed the original school bell from the Millet School, which had been replaced in 1930. Lions Club members purchased the bell for $3000 and it was donated to the Millet and District Museum. A project to create a kiosk and garden space showcasing the bell was approved by Millet Town Council on April 29, 2000.

2000 also marked the year that Millet in Bloom first competed internationally, twinning with the town of Audrey, England for the International Challenge. For the International Challenge, communities from Canada, Britain, USA, Ireland, Japan, Italy, Belgium, and more compete for their gardens and beautification projects to receive international acclaim. Towns that 'twin' pair up for international judging and have their evaluation scores combined. Millet was the only community in Alberta to participate in this 'twinning' program that year. The Legacy Garden beside Highway 2A was created to commemorate this partnership and this leap to the international stage.

That same year, the daisy was chosen for Millet in Bloom's logo. The decision was made through a town-wide contest in which residents were asked to submit the flower they wanted to be chosen. The daisy was chosen for its simplicity and versatility as a design element, as well as its cheerful appearance.

It was not only Millet in Bloom as an organization that was rising through the Communities in Bloom ranks. Bernice Knight began working as the Communities in Bloom liaison for Western Canada; her role involved recruiting other communities and helping them start their own Communities in Bloom organizations. The same year, Carol Sadoroszney stepped into the Role of Millet in Bloom Chairperson, a role she has held since.

2001 

2001 was designated the International Year of Volunteers by the United Nations, and volunteers like those that made up Communities in Bloom continued to be integral parts of the community. When vandals destroyed the plants in the Agriplex sign planter, they were quickly replaced by Millet in Bloom volunteers with donations from Arber Greenhouses. 

It was this commitment to town beautification and community spirit that led Millet to take its first national title, winning the overall national Communities in Bloom title for the 1001-3000 population category for the Museum Project, as well as a special mention for Heritage Conservation. 

AMA's Westworld Magazine published a feature story on Millet, profiling both Millet in Bloom and Bernice Knight herself. Photos of the School Bell Kiosk, as well as the story of Millet in Bloom, were shared with readers across Alberta.

2002

Millet in Bloom once again entered the International Challenge, this time twinning with Waringstown, Northern Ireland. The Irish Garden beside the Millet Fish & Game Association and the Millet Curling Club was built to commemorate this partnership.

[photo of the Irish Garden]

By this time, Millet in Bloom had begun to diversify the ways in which it connected with the general public by providing gardening workshops to community members. One such workshop was a tree maintenance workshop, co-sponsored by Town of Millet Leisure Services, that was held at the Lions Family Hall on March 16th, 2002.

This same year, Bernice Knight was named Millet's Volunteer of the Year for her commitment to Millet in Bloom and Communities in Bloom as a whole.

2003 

2003 marked the 100th anniversary of Millet, which was commemorated from August 1st to August 3rd, 2003. The year also marked Queen Elizabeth's Golden Jubilee. One of the recipients of the Queen's Golden Jubilee medal for outstanding contributions to their communities was Bernice Knight, who received the award in a ceremony held on February 27th.

Millet in Bloom once again competed at the International Level that year, earning international recognition for Pipestone Creek Park.

2004

Millet in Bloom stepped back from competition in 2004 in order to refine their strategies. However, the team was still hard at work. Not only did they have to maintain their existing gardens and green spaces in order to qualify for the 2005 national competition, but they also competed in the Communities in Bloom Networking Category, in which they mentored another community that was planning on entering the competition.

Beautification projects continued to flourish even if the town wasn't being judged. The 'Once Upon a Time' mural on the side of the Millet Public Library was completed by Leduc artist Jeanine Brod and was dedicated by the Millet Visual Arts Committee. At Pipestone Creek Park, the Millet Splash Park opened, providing a great source of fun and physical activity for children and families.

Millet did compete, however, in 2004's Winterlights competition, for which communities displayed their best winter holiday light displays. Millet took home the prize for Best Theme in the 2000-5000 people category.