Sun Rivers is pitting itself against a town, a hamlet and a couple of villages for its debut in the Communities In Bloom competition.

The resort community is in the 1,200-population category for the national competition.

Also in that group are Bittern Lake, Alta., Kinistino Sask., Sainte-Pétronille, Que., Tignish, P.E.I., and Valhalla, Alta.

Communities in Bloom judges Gerry Teahen and Claire Laberge will evaluate Sun Rivers on July 20.

Sun Rivers vice-president for marketing Leslie Brochu said Wednesday this is the community’s first year at the national competition level. Last year, Sun Rivers took the coveted five blooms to win the provincial category.

“It took us three years to get five blooms because we are a community in development. But you have to start somewhere,” she said.

“What will give us the leg up is we are a master-planned community and our core values are all based on really solid community planning principles. We’re highly structured, from environmental to infrastructure planning to societal and community building perspectives.”

While Sun Rivers is now competing nationally in Communities In Bloom, Kamloops is putting its best foot forward for the judges in the international category.

With so much planning going into the community, plus walking trails, gardens and other features, Brochu was sure Sun Rivers will impress the judges, if not win five blooms.

This year’s winners will be announced in Edmonton in October.