Front yard stars

Lethbridge’s front yards got a fresh spotlight this year!

The Helen Schuler Nature Centre launched the inaugural Best Front Forward campaign in March 2025. The community-driven effort inspired residents to turn their outdoor spaces into places that support biodiversity, reflect personal values and bring neighbours together.

The campaign offered more than 30 simple, impactful ideas for enhancing front yards, including:

• planting pollinator-friendly species
• installing public art
• creating welcoming seating areas
• replacing turf with drought-tolerant ground covers

Residents who completed at least 15 initiatives earned a GOLD STAR for their front yard - a visible nod to their creativity and commitment. And Lethbridge showed up: more than 80 GOLD STARS were awarded in the program’s first year.

The initial success was a welcome surprise for program creator, Paige Rosner.

“We created the campaign to inspire people to make their yards more ecologically productive and to connect with their neighbourhoods,” says Paige, who is also Environmental Education Program Coordinator at the Helen Schuler Nature Centre. “What we didn’t anticipate was just how many heartwarming stories would bloom along the way.”

Nicole Rollo's property has 34 trees, a mix of colourful perennials and even a community pollinator garden tucked in the park behind her home. She shares how her involvement in the program is rooted in family history.

“My great-grandmother grew and sold roses during the Dirty Thirties in Saskatchewan,” she says. “Gardening is in my blood; it’s an act of optimism. It’s a quiet commitment to nurturing beauty, life and our community.”

Paige had a blast delivering the stars. She heard several stories of how front yards brought together friends and neighbours.

“One lady had lived in her home since the 1970s,” explains Paige. “She shared how her front yard became a gathering place after her children grew up and moved away. She began hosting annual summer events that brought neighbours together and rekindled a sense of community on her block.”

Another GOLD STAR recipient turned their pandemic-era front yard seating area into a permanent fixture, a place where friends, neighbours and even birds gather.

These stories inspired the Nature Centre to launch Front Yard Tours this summer, allowing the public to explore these living showcases of creativity and care. They also commissioned five handcrafted little libraries, gifted to select GOLD STAR homes to further promote sharing and connection.

As the 2025 season wraps, Paige is already looking ahead to next year’s relaunch.

“We were blown away by the creativity, heart and community spirit generated by this first year. It brought me so much personal joy to see neighbours connect through enhancing their front yards. I can’t wait to do it all again in March 2026!”

To learn more or prepare your yard for next year’s campaign, visit the Best Front Forward website.

For Public Inquiries:
Call or chat with 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.