Thompson Unlimited (TU) representatives Roxie Binns and Betty Landego presented the organization’s initiatives for 2012 at a Thomson Chamber of Commerce meeting on May 25.

An announcement was made earlier in 2012 that Thompson Unlimited would be taking a step back from the lead role with Communities in Bloom. They will however ride the wave of success that was the 2011 Christmas parade by holding the event once more in late November.

The other two events that Thompson Unlimited will oversee this year will be the third annual Thompson Pride, as well as the second annual Northern Market.

Northern Market will be tentatively taking place on Saturday Sept. 8 at the Thompson Regional Community Centre with a possibility of a Friday evening market, depending on response from Manitoba Growers.

Thomson Pride will be the first on the docket for TU, an even that has grown annually and now entering its third year.

“It’s very exciting, and what we’ve noticed from the first year to last year is how many more people have participated,” said Landego, “you become very proud of your business or residential property, and it’s very exciting to see how things are changing already and we’re looking forward to what’s coming this year.”

Thompson Pride is based on beautifying the community through landscaping and clean up efforts at local businesses and residential property, and honours are given to those who best demonstrate community pride.

The City of Thompson will pick up the reigns on Communities in Bloom this year, which Thompson Pride plays a lead-in role to, and Laura Finley will be organizing this year’s effort for Communities in Bloom.

Coun. Penny Byer was on hand for the meeting and says she’s glad to see that the event hasn’t been dropped with the absence of Thomson Unlimited.

“It’s exciting to have these two events together and to see the community working together to make this a more beautiful place to live,” said Landego.

Judging for the properties will begin at the start of August; eligible properties include, businesses, industries, institutions rental properties and residential properties.

“The Chamber (of Commerce) has donated plaques this year to be awarded to the properties that win in each category,” said Binns, “so we’re really looking forward to that again this year, because last year we had a lot of great properties that were showcased and acknowledged.”

The Northern Market creates an opportunity for Thompson and the region to come together to purchase locally and regionally made crafts and foods.

“We have a lot of really talented people in our community and this is a wonderful opportunity for all of them to showcase what they do, and for the community to benefit from it,” said Binns.

Participants will need to pay $20 for an eight-foot space, and $10 if they need to rent a table, though many will provide their own.

Lastly, Thompson Unlimited will once again put on the Thompson Christmas parade, in hopes that it can become an annual event for years to come.

“It was so amazing last year when you were out there walking in the parade,” said Landego, “the amount of smiling kids that you saw lining the sidewalks with their parents, it was just a fantastic experience.”

The estimate is that there were over 2,000 people that attended the 2011 parade, and Landego and Binns hope to see even more out in 2012.