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Medicine Hat – Starting Wednesday, November 27, a section of trail in Northeast Crescent Heights, commonly referred to as the Goat Path, will be closed until further notice due to an inability to safely perform snow removal.
This narrow section of trail with steep edges has sections with a grade above 25 per cent. After operating to the best of their ability in previous winters, Parks and Recreation staff have identified that performing snow removal on this section of trail has become increasingly difficult. The amount of slope prevents safe, reliable snow removal with existing equipment and methods. Residents are asked to obey posted signage and barricades.
During this closure, residents still have several ways to get between Northeast Crescent Heights and the bottom of Parkview Drive NE, as shown in the attached map:

• Map – Trail closure with detours
  Parks and Recreation staff continue to investigate other potential ways to safely perform snow removal on this section of trail. The City will provide updates if a safe method has been identified which would allow the trail to re-open.
  The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their understanding as staff safety is prioritized during this closure.
  For more information on the 170-plus kilometres of the Medicine Hat’s Heritage Trail Network, including the City’s annual trail snow removal map, visit medicinehat.ca/trails.

November 27, 2024
**Driving Donations for Local Healthcare **
 
The Medicine Hat Health Foundation, in partnership with Big M Fold Lincoln, is back with another fundraising champaign. Driving Donations for Local Healthcare is your chance to win a brand new 2025 Ford Escape AWD.
 
This vehicle is equipped with the FordPass Connect system, remote start, panoramic vista roof, heated seats and steering wheel, adaptive cruise control and much more!
 
The grand prize draw takes place on March 31, 2025, but if you get your tickets before February 28, you’ll be entered in for the early bird prize, a $1,500 Gas King gift card.
 
In supporting the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, you are supporting local healthcare. All money earned goes back into our community and surrounding area’s.
 
Raffle tickets are available through www.mhdhfraffle.com, the Medicine Hat Health Foundation’s website ourhealthfoundation.ca or by calling the office 403-528-8133.
 
For further information, please contact the Medicine Hat Health Foundation:
P: (403) 528-8133 
E: info@ourhealthfoundation.ca

Medicine Hat – Representatives from KPMG LLP (KPMG) presented their analysis of Medicine Hat’s energy business at a special open City Council meeting on Monday, Nov. 25.
Following an intensive five-phase project that evaluated the current state of the City’s energy business, a strategic assessment of trends, regulations, and change drivers, options analysis, and recommendations, the review recommends four strategic actions:

1. Establish a rate review committee to support Council in its role of approving energy distribution and commodity rates
2. Expedite the abandonment or sale of the natural gas production assets
3. Establish an independently-governed Municipally Controlled Corporation (MCC) to own and operate the distribution businesses (both natural gas and electricity) and electricity generation business
4. Develop an MCC dividend policy
   “Council is in an unenviable position of balancing the needs of three potentially competing interests: residents, ratepayers, and the business,” said Ann Mitchell, City Manager. “We’re grateful the review provides an impartial outside analysis that can aid Council in making informed future decisions about our energy business that is in the best interest of the community now and into the future.”
   The City’s energy business is faced with a changing market and regulatory landscape that will significantly impact the level of risk and profitability of its electricity generation and natural gas production business units.
   Rochelle Pancoast, Managing Director of the City’s Energy, Land and Environment division is pleased that KPMG’s recommendations are now available for consideration. “We know public trust waned in 2023 when electricity prices were at record highs. It’s only natural for our residents to desire clarification, verification, and justification when unprecedented circumstances arise. I commend Council in recognizing the need for an impartial outside analysis which allows us all to move forward with more clarity and transparency.”
   “Regardless of the path forward, my team and I are committed to continuing the hard work of generating and delivering the energy needs for our community and remaining nimble to react to a shifting energy landscape,” adds Pancoast. 
   Following the presentation, Council passed a motion to request staff to consider and evaluate the KPMG review and bring recommendations forward to Council by Dec. 9, 2024.
   The full energy business review report and presentation are available on the City’s Shape Your City page at www.medicinehat.ca/EnergyBusiness.

The City of Medicine Hat owns and operates its own electric generation and natural gas production business and remains the only municipally-owned commodity business of its kind in Alberta. The City also owns and operates its own electric and natural gas distribution businesses and is the sole electric retailer within the local electric franchise area.

The launch of the 2025 Canada Summer Jobs (CSJ) program is now open. A summer job plays an important role in a young person’s life – putting money in their pocket for education and living expenses and it also allows them to learn new skills, build confidence and explore their career interests. When young people have the skills and experience they need to join the workforce, they benefit our communities and economy.

Employers from not-for-profit organizations, the public sector and private sector organizations with 50 or fewer full-time employees can apply for funding to hire students next summer. Full-time job placements will become available starting in April 2025.

Glen Motz, Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat–Cardston-Warner stated, “I would encourage not-for-profit organizations and eligible employers in Medicine Hat–Cardston–Warner to apply. Let’s empower our young people by assisting them in developing their skills and gaining valuable workplace experience.”

National priorities include: youth with disabilities or organizations that provide services to persons with disabilities; youth underrepresented in the labour market; youth in rural/remote areas; organizations in housing construction; and sustainable jobs that support the protection of the environment.

In Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner, MP Motz’s local priorities will also focus on: not-for-profit organizations; small businesses; municipal activities; agriculture; and projects supporting local and regional tourism development.

Canada Summer Jobs employer applications are being accepted from today until December 19, 2024. Employers interested in applying for CSJ 2025 funding can submit their applications electronically through the Grants and Contributions Online Services (GCOS) portal.

For more information and to apply, please visit Canada.ca/Canada-summer-jobs or phone 1-800-935-5555.

Medicine Hat – Full motorist and pedestrian access has returned to downtown Medicine Hat upon completion of 2024 construction on the 3 St SE Downtown Utility and Surface Upgrades project. Minor residual work remains in 2025, including top lift paving, landscaping, pavement markings and adjacent furnishings.
With the return of a fully accessible downtown core, normal traffic and parking regulations will soon be returning as well. A refresher on what to expect regarding parking allowances and traffic flow is important for motorists and downtown patrons.
Parking
To allow for affected business owners and their patrons to adjust to this return to normal, free parking within the posted stalls of Towne Square and the Transit terminal will continue until Sunday, December 1.
Other notable parking information to highlight includes the following:

• Parking in an alley is permitted only when actively engaged in the loading or unloading of goods for a period not exceeding 30 minutes and does not obstruct pedestrian or vehicular traffic.
• Parking in a Loading Zone is only permitted when actively engaged in loading or unloading passengers (5 minutes) or merchandise (30 minutes).
• Please take note of posted signage indicating parking time limits, as they may differ between blocks and roadways.
  For more information or further clarification about specific parking regulations, please visit the Bylaw page on the City’s website.

Traffic

• One-way, eastbound traffic returns to 3 Street SE between 4 Avenue SE and South Railway Street SE.
• Please note the posted speed limit downtown is 40 kilometres-per-hour unless otherwise indicated.
• The intersections of 3 Street SE/5 Avenue SE and 3 Street SE/6 Avenue SE will temporarily be controlled with three-way stop signage until the traffic signal system is re-established in the coming weeks.
  This project has made vital upgrades to critical infrastructure in the downtown area, which dated back to the early 1900s. The City’s goal was to ensure a reliable and future-proof utility network for affected residents and business owners.
  The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents and business owners for their cooperation and patience throughout construction.

Medicine Hat – With a postal service strike in effect, the City of Medicine Hat would like to promote its diverse set of options available to ensure continued customer service and business operations.
No invoices will be delivered during the initial week of the postal disruption. However, this will be reassessed as information regarding the length of the strike action becomes available. Customers remain responsible for paying bills throughout any postal disruption.
Please note the following existing options to consider for receiving statements, balance and due date inquiries.
Visit medicinehat.ca/paperless for the following actions and more information on each:

• Utilities – View bills and account balances and sign up for eBilling. First-time registrants will need the access code from their latest statement.
• Taxation – Access account balances. First-time registrants will need the access code from their latest statement.
• Accounts Receivable – Sign up for paperless billing.
  Customers may also call 403-529-8111 for more information on these options, or by email:
• Utilities or Accounts Receivable – customer_accounts@medicinehat.ca
• Taxation – tax@medicinehat.ca
  Other payment options include the following:
• Online through telephone or internet banking
• Sign up for electronic funds transfer
• After-hours drop box for payments made by cheque (located at the west entrance to City Hall)
• In-person at Cashiers, Main Floor, City Hall between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  Accounts Payable suppliers are encouraged to register for direct deposit, and sign up for EFT. Cheques, if required, are issued on Thursdays. Local vendors may pick up cheques at 364 Kipling Street SE, Medicine Hat, upon presentation of photo identification and an authorization letter from the payee. Suppliers are asked to email invoices to accts_pay@medicinehat.ca. For further assistance, please call 403-529-8128.

Written By Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Listen to talks by the authors and buy their books

Medicine Hat Public Library welcomes five local authors to its second annual Local Authors Meet and Greet on Nov. 23.

Each of the five authors – Ben Coxson, Olivia M. Geib, Frank Krulicki, Pam Roberston Rivet and Cody Wheeler – either currently lives or has previously lived in the Medicine Hat area.

Geib writes young adult fantasy novels that cater to those ages 12-18 years old and is the author of “The Daughter of Fire & Fury” and “The Princess of Secrets & Shadows.” She says everyone should come to the meet and greet and is looking forward to speaking with people about how she became an author and the process of writing books.

“I love any opportunity to meet my readers and interact with my community. Especially when I get to talk about my favourite subject—books,” Geib says.

To start the day, the authors will each give a short talk sharing their writing journey. Afterwards people will be able to chat with the authors one-on-one and have the opportunity to purchase their books.

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

Author Biographies

Ben Coxson has been writing since high school and is passionate about adventure, psychology, art, and philosophy. Currently based in Medicine Hat, he works as a registered psychologist, with over a decade of experience helping people in various roles.

Ben's latest work, "The Dance of a Windmill," is free on Coxson’s YouTube channel and Spotify podcast. Hardcover, softcover and ebook versions are available for purchase. He is also working on a fictional trilogy that explores experiences from WW1, WW2, and other significant historical events.

Olivia M. Geib was born and raised in Medicine Hat. Though she faced adversity, it never deterred her from chasing her dreams. If anything, it taught her to dream bigger and dive deeper into each and every project she pursued. To place a little piece of her bleeding heart into every word she wrote.

Olivia is a neurodivergent, bisexual author whose unique ability to describe emotion, create unexpected turns, and explore uncomfortable feelings brings her novels to life. She is a lover of heart-wrenching twists, stomach-dropping adventure, and the belief that everyone, even the hero, can be a little bit bad.

Her debut novel The Daughter of Fire & Fury is available now...but beware in this story - everyone gets burned.

List of works: The Daughter of Fire & Fury; The Princess of Secrets & Shadows 

Frank Krulicki has been a comic book nerd for 35 years. Wanting to be a professional comic book writer, Frank sold his first script to DC Comics at the ripe old age of 16 - and yet it still hasn’t been printed! He landed himself a Bachelor of English degree and amassed a nice pile of rejection letters (you should see his signature collection of the people who said no to him) from various comic book companies. 

That’s when he met a lovely lady, got married, settled down and had kids. He realized he needed a ‘real job’. Now 35 years later, still married and retired (early!), he is excited to bring one of his ideas that has been gestating for years to life - The House of Wonders!

Pam Robertson Rivet is a passionate creative who loves to draw from real life and issues that fascinate people when she writes. 

With more than 20 years as a writer, she has over 250 writing credits; a mix of technical work, creative non-fiction, and the place where she has loads of fun, writing fiction. Pam has seven fiction books both novel and novella sized, where she has seven books you can enjoy, and a new one about a group of witches with a mystery to solve.

Cody Wheeler leads the way at Stacking Cats Publishing Co., bringing plenty of tales to tell and colourful drawings up for show. Join him on a journey to inspire and uplift, with books that will give you and your spirits an energetic lift.

Originally from Bow Island, but now residing in Medicine Hat, he enjoys cycling, watching hockey, and hanging out with his friend Josie the Cat. Cody has a diploma in Advertising and Public Relations, he also has a degree in Visual Communications. 

But writing books is what he enjoys best, with his friends Lumberjack Dan, Five Stacked Cats, Chester the Squirrel, Spot, and all the rest. 

So come along and join the fun, with Wheeler and Stacking Cats Publishing, there is something for everyone!

Medicine Hat – The City of Medicine Hat is pleased to announce it is bringing the MAN VAN to the community on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
The Prostate Cancer Centre’s MAN VAN is Canada’s first mobile men’s health clinic, traveling throughout Alberta educating men on the importance of early prostate cancer awareness and their overall health. The MAN VAN provides on-the-spot Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) blood tests to men as well as mental wellness checks.
The MAN VAN will be at Fire Station 2 on Tuesday, November 19 from 12 to 2 p.m.
This service is available to all men aged 40 to 70. A visit to the MAN VAN often takes less than 15 minutes and there is no appointment necessary. This free service is funded entirely through private donations and corporate sponsorships.

Medicine Hat – The fourth intake of the Housing Infill and Redevelopment Incentive program opened on Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024, at 8 a.m. and will close on Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2024, at 5 p.m. 
The Housing Infill and Redevelopment Incentive Program (HIRIP) aims to provide more multi-family housing options, diversify the housing market, and enhance the value of the City's urban areas.
This incentive targets areas where the City has invested in the necessary infrastructure to support housing development, such as utility connections and road access.
The Housing Infill and Redevelopment Incentive provides financial assistance to developers and property owners to encourage the development and construction on infill properties. Owners of an infill property can apply and may be eligible for an incentive of $15,000 per dwelling unit for new residential development on a single site and $7,500 for the development of a backyard suite. 
From a developer's perspective, infill and redevelopment projects often come with additional costs and challenges, making incentives like HIRIP crucial for urban redevelopment. The program provides financial assistance to developers and property owners to encourage the rapid development and construction of infill and redevelopment properties.
Development incentives provide financial assistance to help spur growth, expansion and innovation in our community. Please note: Applying does not guarantee approval. Funding is subject to the remaining funds available under this Incentive Program at the time of application. 
Learn more and apply here: Medicine Hat Economic Development - Incentives - City of Medicine Hat. 

Grade 3 students in Jennifer Tiffin’s class at Bow Island Elementary recently completed a project on oral storytelling to share the culture and/or traditions of each student’s family. Over a series of school days, time was set aside for three or four students to give their presentations. On Wednesday, October 9, the three students presenting were Lucas, Spencer and Braden.

Rather than have the students present in the classroom, Tiffin moved the class down the hallway to an open area so they could sit in a storytelling circle. Prior to lining up to leave the classroom, Tiffin and the class reviewed listening and presenting skills. “The person who is speaking is giving us a little bit of their heart and we want to be respectful of that,” explained Tiffin. Presenters were reminded to speak clearly, make eye contact, and engage their audience. Suggestions by the students on how to be a good listener included not talking during the presentation, watching the presenter, sitting still, and waiting until the end for questions along with asking good questions.

Tiffin recognized Lucas as being the one student who had asked each presenter thus far a great question. “I love that we are not only listening but are asking questions because that shows me that you are really listening,” Tiffin told her class.

Once the students were sitting in the storytelling circle, with pillows in the middle for the presenter to sit on, Tiffin asked the class to tell her why they had undertaken this project. One student said so they could learn how to listen and speak to an audience. “Listening for me is one of the hardest parts of this but also one of the most important parts because listening is tricky,” stated Tiffin. Additionally, sitting in a circle lets the presenter know the other classmates care about them and want to hear what they have to say.  

Lucas was the first presenter and told the circle that each Christmas Eve his grandpa makes yummy Rice Krispie Squares. His mom and dad invite all the family to their house for a gift exchange, which results in the house being full and boisterous. Answering questions from his audience, Lucas said his favourite part of the day was the gift exchange and then he explained how Rice Krispie Squares are made, opening the box he brought to show the class the treats he was planning to share with them.

Spencer brought a storybook of pictures to use his during his presentation and talked about the tradition of feeding their cows using heavy horses hitched to a large wagon load of hay. This tradition has been in his family since the 1980’s, long before Spencer was born. Since Spencer was old enough, a rope has been tied to the back of the wagon so Spencer, along with any friends who are over, can ride in a toboggan behind the wagon. The cows are only fed this way in the winter, Spencer explained, because they can graze in other seasons. When asked his favourite part, Spencer said it was going into the ditches, where the snow is the deepest, on the toboggan, although if he doesn’t manage to steer it onto the tracks, he often tips over.

Braden was the last presenter of the day and explained his family is Mexican Mennonite. One tradition his family practices is to take an annual visit to his grandparent’s house to help with butchering the cows and chickens then making sausages. Another one is travelling to Mexico each Christmas to spend time with family and friends. Braden brought some sausages his family made with him to class for sharing. When asked how difficult they are to make, Braden said he didn’t know because his grandma makes the sausages each year. His favourite part of these two traditions is the travelling.  

The class had briefly discussed earlier in the year that making connections is one way we can comprehend the world around us. Tiffin explained to her students that this project is about making connections through personal stories, highlighting how Braden and Spencer shared similarities in their stories. Another similarity is having large family get togethers at Christmas or making Rice Krispie Squares with a family member, which most students in the class could identify with. While the project examined what is unique for each student, it also showed each other what they have in common.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Medicine Hat - The City of Medicine Hat has set its November energy commodity rates.

Natural Gas – all customers

The November natural gas default rate is **$1.864 **per gigajoule (GJ), up from the previous month of $0.7624 per GJ.
On Nov. 20, 2023, City Council passed bylaw 4798 that amends the gas utility bylaw in order to provide consumers with a single natural gas rate starting Jan. 1, 2024. The rate is based on the weighted average cost of the City’s natural gas purchases for the month of consumption, plus $0.07/GJ to recover transactional costs and a small rate of return.

Electricity

Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting

On Oct. 16, 2023, City Council passed an amendment to the Electric Utility Bylaw 2244 to establish a single best-of-market electricity rate for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers, not to exceed a maximum of 11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) or go below a minimum rate of seven cents per kWh. The rate is based on a twelve-month, volume weighted forecast as per the ICE-NGX wholesale electricity energy market and will be recalculated on the first business day of January, April, July, and October.
The current best of market rate is $0.04820 per kWh which, under the bylaw, defaults to the minimum $0.07000 per kWh for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers.  
On December 15, 2022, the Government of Alberta passed The Regulated Rate Option Stability Act through Bill 2: Inflation Relief Statutes Amendment Act which placed a temporary price ceiling of $0.13500 per kilowatt hour in January, February and March 2023 for Albertans who purchase power on the Regulated Rate Option (RRO). As of April 1, 2023, the cost difference between the RRO electricity rate from January to March 2023 and the temporary price ceiling will be added to the current default rate to recover costs until December 2024.
The November recovery rate of $0.00972 per kWh will be added to the current default rate of $0.07000 per kWh for a total billable rate of **$0.07972 **per kWh, down from the previous month of $0.08065 per kWh for October. For more details about the recovery rate, visit medicinehat.ca/EnergyPlans.
November 2024 (per kilowatt hour)Rate per kWh Default City of Medicine Hat electricity rate $0.07000 + City of Medicine Hat recovery rate + $0.00972 City of Medicine Hat billed rate $0.07972  

Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting Customers

The November default electricity rate for Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers is $0.07363 per kilowatt hour. The rate is based on the average of the rates for owners whose regulated rate tariffs are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission under section 103(2) of the Electric Utilities Act for that calendar month as posted by the Alberta Utilities Commission on its internet page under Regulated Rate Option Regulation.

November 2024 (Rate per kilowatt hour)

Direct Energy Regulated Services ($0.07448)
ENMAX Energy Corporation ($0.07600)
EPCOR Energy Alberta GP - Edmonton) ($0.07276)
EPCOR Energy Alberta GP - outside Edmonton) ($0.07128)
City of Medicine Hat default rate for LC&I, based on the average ($0.07363)

Going Green Charge

Customers also have a “Going Green” surcharge on their bill. This surcharge is for renewable energy purchased for residential, farm, small and medium commercial customers.
The Going Green surcharge is calculated monthly to recover costs incurred to purchase renewable energy.
The Going Green surcharge for November is $0.0035 per kilowatt hour.

While enrollment with South Alberta High School (SAHS) is in constant fluctuation, the number of students accessing the online school continues to climb. Some choose to take all their high school courses through SAHS while the majority take one or two courses at a time. Sherry Craven has been involved with SAHS since its creation two years ago. Changes this year include bringing on Corey Steeves as principal along with hiring a math/sciences teacher so all marking can be done in-house.

“Our school is tailored to the individual and every student is unique. There was a student last year who realized in the second semester he needed CHEM 30 to get into an education program,” explained Craven. “He didn’t have it, wasn’t registered for it, and couldn’t have completed the course by the registration deadline. He decided to enrol in our school, took CHEM 30 and completed the course in about 90 days. Each student can go through courses as fast or as slow as they want.”

The benefit for this student was his post-secondary education wasn’t delayed by having to wait another year to complete the CHEM 30 course at an in-person school. SAHS is also ideal for students who are involved in extra-curricular activities that consume much of their time.

“Rodeo, dance, ballet or hockey, they are totally invested in that, and they need everything else to fit around what is essentially a full-time job. Instead of having to take all the option classes and attend school with required attendance, they are able to choose what they want to take, and the program is individually tailored to what fits them with interest levels, profile, extracurricular, and future plans/goals,” stated Craven.

For each student who is enrolled, Craven starts a text thread with them as that works better than emails. Each student has access to her phone number and, on initially contacting her, only has to give their name and what class(es) they are enrolled in. As many of the students don’t work on their schoolwork during regular hours, it is expected texts will come in during evenings and weekends.

As Craven explained, “one student is in ballet five days a week, it’s a huge commitment. We have to expect that sometimes students will text at 10:30 p.m. because that’s when they are doing schoolwork and when they have facilitation or logistical questions, such as how to book a test, or accessing different booklets, links, or grades.”

In a regular school, if a student misses a class, they never get that back. With SAHS, all lessons are pre-recorded and have a slide deck with a teacher in the corner of the screen going through the lesson.

“Another type of student we get are those who struggle in a physical school setting and find it difficult sitting in a classroom but will thrive online. One student took several classes and at the end provided a testimonial that said when he’s sitting in a normal class and zones out, he never gets that back. In a class of 30 students, if he doesn’t understand something, he’s not going to ask a question because the teacher doesn’t have time to slow down, and he feels stupid asking. The next day it builds and builds, and he would get frustrated along with having increased anxiety.”

With the online lessons, students can do as much or as little as they want. Additionally, they can listen to lessons more than once and complete extra practice problems depending on their needs. The formative work isn’t as heavily weighted as the tests for online courses, so students must do the work to pass the tests.

Craven was teaching high school social studies at Eagle Butte when she got involved with creating online courses during the pandemic, learning from others how to use the platform and create instructional videos. “After teaching for 20 years, I thought it would be a fresh and exciting thing to try something different. For myself, being on the other side of education now, instead of being concerned about improving a student’s writing or get my planning and prep done, or marking essays, now my train of thought is completely different. Now, I’m trying to think of ways to grow and expand and what other opportunities we can create, what else can we provide that students would want to take to better themselves.”

SAHS is continuously developing courses and Craven’s favourite part about teaching is the creating part, either new lessons or new learning. “I was always reading books on pedagogy along with all the latest trends and styles in teaching and now I still find myself excited about that, but it’s different. It’s finding a niche for what students need and trying to make that work.”

Being a SAHS teacher and course creator is only part of Craven’s job. She is also the Student Experience Designer for the School of Trades as well as secondee for CAREERS The Next Generation. Going into her role with SAHS, Craven was concerned it would be like teaching during the pandemic, where students were disengaged.

“It was painful, and most teachers would agree it wasn’t a good teaching environment. It was forced upon us and a situation nobody wanted to be in,” stated Craven. “This is completely voluntary, the students who choose to take these courses want to be online and they want to do it this way. I would say the biggest thing that has impressed me is how polite and respectful the students are, how considerate they are of my time and how dedicated and driven, and grateful they are. They know exactly what they want, and they are good at asking for what they want and that has been impressive.”

Learn more about South Alberta High School online: southalbertahighschool.com

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Jacalyn Poncelet joined Prairie Rose Public School (PRPS) this year as principal at New Brigden School and knew from her first day she’d made the right decision in taking the position. Originally from Kinistino, Saskatchewan, a small town less than an hour southeast of Prince Albert, Poncelet enjoys the strong connection to community and families in a rural school.

“I went there from K-12 then away for university at the University of Saskatchewan and back to Kinistino where I taught elementary for almost 17 years. The last five years there I was focused on literacy and numeracy intervention, so I love that kind of work and working with elementary and rural education. I was so excited to return back to this.”

Poncelet moved to Alberta six years ago to be closer to her much younger sister, who had children just starting school within PRPS in Redcliff. She worked with the Medicine Hat Public School Division (MHPSD) for six years but last year involved much driving between Medicine Hat and Oyen after her boyfriend took a position at South Central High School with the hockey academy. Now living in Oyen, Poncelet enjoys watching the prairie roll by during her 20-minute commute to New Brigden.

“I love it, every day I come here very grateful I decided to take this opportunity,” stated Poncelet. “At first, I was a bit scared because everyone was saying how long it takes to get into MHPSD and now I was leaving. I knew on day one I made the right choice, it’s like a dream job.”

In addition to being principal, Poncelet teaches grade 4-6 students. There are 11 students in Poncelet’s class, and she receives help from an educational assistant (EA) when teaching math and language arts. The Grade 4-6 EA at New Brigden is also the secretary and bus driver for the school. The K-3 class has 10 students and the teacher in that class has an EA helping four days per week. Along with the custodian, New Brigden has five staff members in total.

“It’s really nice and everyone seems to be working well together, I enjoy the family atmosphere. That was the biggest part I missed when moving from a rural to a city school, that family feel in a classroom, and you can feel it the minute you walk in the door here. Even with the older students and the younger ones, I love seeing that leadership within from the students. They treat each other like brothers, sisters and teammates.”

Currently, there are nine families sending children to New Brigden School and Poncelet met all of them during May and June this year when she came out for a few of the school events. Additionally, there was a pancake breakfast on the first day of school where she was able to interact with the families again.

“The pancake breakfast started at 8:30 a.m. and ended at 10 a.m. We only have one kindergarten student, who left when the parents did and started school the following day. In the classrooms, we went over school rules as a group and a few other things and then went into our classrooms to start. We do buddy activities once a week, reading or other activities the younger students might need some help with from the older ones. We do wellness usually on Fridays, we are doing lots of stuff on growth mindset right now. The family school liaison worker (FSLW) and mental health capacity come in regularly and some of that is together as a group, it depends on what they are focusing on,” explained Poncelet.

This year, Poncelet is intending to immerse herself into the school culture and is looking forward to getting to know the students, families and community better. The first parent council of the year is coming up soon, which will be a new experience for her now that she is in an administrative role, and she is excited to be involved.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

A heart-warming end to Canadian Library Month

​The Medicine Hat community has put its generosity on full display once again. 

You probably know this, but cards are FREE here at Medicine Hat Public Library. That’s thanks to the generous local sponsors who have given to our A Library Card for Every Hatter program. With that typical $5 cost for an adult card covered, library staff in the spring began asking people registering for or renewing their library card if they would like to pay that $5 forward. Our plan was that when we got to $1,000 in pay-it-forward donations, we would get stickers for the cards to show they are free because of the community members who paid it forward. 

We blew past $1,000 before we knew it. Then we had a busy summer around here and then the focus was on opening our Big Marble Go Centre location. So, we finally have those stickers on the cards now. The next 400 cards we give out will be stickered to show it is sponsored by “YOU: the MHPL community.” 

THANK YOU!

There’s actually a silver lining to missing our original dollar figure for the stickers; October is Canadian Library Month and getting the stickers on the cards now fits nicely with the display inside our main entrance where people are sharing why they love the library.     

We need to shoutout the What Matters to Hatters Coalition. The group aims to promote connection in the community and supports many local initiatives. The April theme for its Connecting with Care in Our Community campaign was “Pay It Forward” and encouraged people to do that at MHPL.

THANK YOU!

We didn’t spend all your donations on the current stickers so expect to see more sponsored by "YOU" stickers in the future. 

If you would like to be next sponsor of our A Library Card for Every Hatter program, contact Chris at chrisb@shortgrass.ca or 403-502-8536 for more information.

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

Danika Farion, who teaches a Grade 1 and 2 split class at Schuler School, is in her seventh year of teaching, and chose this career path because she wanted to have an impact on people’s lives. “I feel like teaching really does that,” said Farion. “You can see how the kids develop and how they grow. It’s the most magical thing when they come to me being unsure about letter sounds and, because I get them for two years, the growth I get to see from letter sounds to reading word passages is amazing. The look they get in their eyes when they get it and watching them learn is rewarding.”

Reading time is her students' favourite, when they get to choose two books based on their reading level and then get to ‘shop’ for two books based on their interests. Farion avoids using workbooks for the most part and finds using the whole classroom or different parts of the school, which allow her students to move around while learning, works best. As it is the beginning of the year, she is still assessing where each student is at, what each of the Grade 1 students know and how much the Grade 2 students have retained over the summer.

“I want to ensure when we begin our learning activities that I’m meeting each of them where they are at because if they don’t have the numbers 1 to 20 mastered, I’m not going to move them onward to 50. It ends up being many different programs in here, I could probably have five or six different levels going on in literacy and numeracy. That is what works best for them, where each can do things, they can be successful at and have their own growth. Everybody’s growth looks different,” explained Farion.

When Farion first started at Schuler School straight out of university, she taught several grades and various subjects before moving into the Grade 1 and 2 classroom a few years ago. “I love literacy and teaching students how to read. I’ve done lots of research and professional development in literacy. It’s my favourite thing to teach. Coming out of university, I didn’t think I wanted to teach junior high, and I ended up loving it. Then I was in Grade 5 and 6 along with 3 and 4 and I liked that also,” stated Farion. “This position opened, and I was already getting passionate about literacy with the Grade 5 and 6 students because I was seeing a large gap, and I was curious as to why. That’s what steered me towards the science of reading and creating the sound wall in my classroom along with explicit phonics instruction.”

A new Grade 1 student will be starting in Farion’s class next week and then she will have ten in Grade 1 and seven in Grade 2. Her classroom has tables that sit three students each and she tries to have at least one Grade 2 at each table where they can act in a leadership role.

“We don’t do lots of stuff at the desks, we do stuff all around the room. Tomorrow, we are doing orthographic mapping of our words,” said Farion.

For this exercise, Farion will create different ‘ponds’ around the room with picture cards upside down. Each student will ‘fish’ for words in their designated pond, using the word on the card to map out its sounds, build the word, write it and then use the word in a sentence. Once done, the student brings the word back to its pond and gets to fish for another one.  

“The fishing works well and I use it for reading comprehension as well where there are sentences that have all the graphemes they are learning. They read the sentence, write it, and draw a diagram to show the sentence. Tomorrow for numeracy, I have number cards from 1-50 and another set of 1-100 and we’ll go to the gym. Each student gets their own set, and they lay them out for number recognition. They love going to the gym and it's fun for them. Everything I do is interactive by using white boards or using manipulatives, so I can see where each student is at. I take pictures that go in their portfolios to show their progress,” said Farion.  

Within each portfolio, the students write ‘I can’ statements for their literacy and numeracy curriculum along with photos from field trips and other activities. Farion binds the collection together for each student to take home at the end of the year. “It makes it as easy as possible. It’s nice for report cards as it shows exactly where they are at and for the parents to look at,” explained Farion.

The sound wall in Farion’s classroom is her own creation because there was nothing available she felt would work. “It helps teach all the graphemes. The letters that make the sounds are really important, which is a big change that’s happened in reading instruction,” said Farion. On the wall are all the sounds the students learn, and they can refer to it whenever they are reading, spelling or writing. “It really helps them to remember sounds and to reference them when learning new sounds. It’s a game changer for the students, not only learning this way but also being able to access the wall and make sense while they are progressing” concluded Farion.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Tanya Johnson has been teaching for 25 years, working in specialized education and substitute teaching for much of her career before moving into a Prairie Rose Public Schools colony school eight years ago. After taking the position, Johnson achieved a master’s degree in ESL and Bilingual Education centred on teaching students who are learning more than one language.

All students at the colony school have German as a first language and the class sizes on this colony are about 20 students each year with grades ranging from kindergarten to Grade 8. “I love spending time with the kids and watching the ‘lightbulb’ moments, when they first understand the concept, I have been trying to teach,” stated Johnson, who added another highlight of teaching is to watch the students grow and develop into becoming good citizens.

“Every colony is unique and different. My colony is a Lehrerieut Colony and we do not use technology with our learning. My kids start school when they are six and graduate when they are 15 years old. One student graduated a few days ago whom I’ve taught since the day she started school. It was bittersweet, I was sad to see her go because I have worked with her for so many years, but also happy that she is starting the next phase in her life. Teaching the same students every year, you can develop a close relationship and have a huge impact on their lives.”

Johnson lives in Medicine Hat with an hour commute to get to work each day. “I love my job and where I work. I have an amazing community with a wonderful group of people. On a colony, it is very important for the school and community to work cohesively. We are actively involved doing activities with the people in the community. It’s a unique experience,” explained Johnson. “They value their children and education, and the educators that come to the community to work with them.”

The closeness Johnson develops leads to willing and enthusiastic students in the classroom and she is able to get to a deeper level of teaching from knowing the children so well and teaching them throughout their schooling. Teaching so many grades requires a teacher who is highly organized and knows all the curriculum throughout the grades she teaches.

“I need to adapt and be flexible to fit all the student needs in with each of the grades,” stated Johnson. “It’s important that each student is at their level, so I utilize effective curriculum series to address each level. My students don’t get free time, it doesn’t exist in my classroom. Idle hands lead to mischief, so my kids have a challenging curriculum which meets provincial standards. My students are all second language learners and their ability to memorize is extraordinary. They attend German school before and after English school where they memorize bible verses as well as other cultural teachings. Hard work, education, community, and family are some of the core values on a colony. These are wonderful traits to create a warm learning environment. I would never teach anywhere else.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Three of the six HALO pilots are licensed for both fixed-wing and rotary aircraft, so getting them certified to fly the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy student-built plane isn’t difficult. Thus far, only Captain Ryan Shrives is certified to fly the Vans RV-12 and said, “certification wasn’t complicated, it was more about time management and having people available. It was a few flights to get familiar with the machine and the systems.”

Shrives said the plane, which now has about 300 flight hours on it, was fun to fly and he has taken up CEO of HALO Paul Carolan to give him a feel for how the plane handles, what it can do and visibility.  

“We haven’t used it on a search or a fire yet because in the cases where we were doing that this year, we needed to be able to deploy people and we can’t do that with the plane,” explained Carolan. “The idea is we might not always have to put people on the ground and then this makes way more sense because it can fly longer and is more affordable. We aren’t doing what I would call proactive patrols, but if someone reports something, the idea is between one of the two aircraft, we can confirm if there is a fire and identify the seriousness of the situation.”

This past summer, there were reports in Cypress County of the smell of smoke, but nobody knew where the fire was. This is the type of situation, said Shrives, where the plane could have been used to scout the area. “The reason we have the specific partnership with the plane,” added Carolan, “is because if the situation doesn’t require taking people out and being able to land and put them on the ground, the plane is a great asset to go look from an aerial reconnaissance perspective. It can stay up longer, is more affordable to fly and can cover greater distances. It is a great opportunity to have that under the program as well, plus Prairie Rose is deeply invested in the community and their support to be out there in emergency situations is a great way for them to give back.”

When HALO began working with Cypress County, the South Alberta Fire Academy was already in operation. Thus, there was a natural synergy for HALO to partner with Prairie Rose. Additionally, it allows Fire Academy students the opportunity to witness the EMS and helicopter side of emergency situations.

Cypress County represents nearly 40% of HALO’s annual call volume and they regularly train and work with their fire department. It could be for landing zone operations, medevac situations or the establishment and enhancement of the aerial fire program. HALO can provide aerial recons, where someone in the aircraft is spotting fires to establish the seriousness of the situation, what direction the fire is heading and if there are any obstacles in the way.  

Additionally, HALO can also transport people to begin fighting the fire or provide situational awareness for crews arriving on the ground. “It’s a great use of both programs. If we have the crew available to take the plane and get eyes on to spot something and the helicopter is needed in a medevac, now it’s still here. It’s a great compliment, especially in cases where there is reported activity of fire, but nobody knows where it is, this is a great way to find it.”

The second PRPS student-built plane is due to be completed and moved to the airport in December for ground runs and final inspection. Harry Jaeger, who is an aircraft maintenance engineer, came in to work with the Flight Academy at a point when the first build was stalled. Having worked on about 50 plane-builds, he brought with him the technical know-how to get the project back on track and completed.

Currently, due to the large number of Grade 10 students entering the Flight Academy this year, Jaeger has four groups of students each week that help with the second plane build. “The students enjoy their build time; they are very engaged and love what they are doing here. I’ve taught lots of classes to adults, coming into the student level of Grade 10, 11 and 12, I found this was exactly where I need to be,” stated Jaeger.

As Jaeger also has a pilot’s license and a background in flying experimental aircraft along with having an in-depth knowledge of the student-built Vans RV-12, he is the mentor pilot for the plane. “I’ve flown many other customer’s airplanes to ensure things are good. I’ve set them up and performed calibrations to ensure everything works the way it’s supposed to and it’s safe. That is the end goal, it must be safe.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Each afternoon, from Monday to Thursday at Athletic Park, students from Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) are honing their baseball skills. Students from Seven Persons, Irvine, Schuler and Senator Gershaw are all taking part in the Mavericks School of Baseball this year and learning skills that can be carried over into other sports.

Greg Morrison, Owner/General Manager of the Medicine Hat Mavericks who runs the school said, “our academy program is for Grades 4 to 9, and most are in the Grade 5 to 8 range. It works well with the Mavericks baseball team because the fall is a great time for school kids to be working on baseball and it's our downtime for the summer college team. It’s been a great compliment to the overall program with the Mavericks.”

About 55 students are taking part in the program this year with some who will move into the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) for the winter and then return to the Mavericks School of Baseball in early spring. The school will be outdoors until about mid-October before moving indoors to South Alberta Collegiate for the winter.

“We have a baseball off-season and that’s when we work on multi-sports. We dial down the baseball skills and ramp up other stuff because they are younger kids, it’s a lot of ball to be doing 10 months a year,” explained Morrison. “Everyone needs an off-season; I played pro-baseball and even we had off-seasons. I got my kinesiology degree as I was wrapping up my 12-year baseball career, so that’s where it helps with the programming side for growth and development along with motor learning. It’s one thing to just show up and do baseball and another to undulate the program over the ten months and keep it a good variety.”

Educational Assistant Candice Ristau accompanies Irvine School students to take part in the program twice a week. She taught softball for a couple of years and expressed an interest in helping with the baseball program. “I play catch with the kids and run the pitching machine to help them develop a better throwing technique. Sometimes things fall into your lap, and you are blessed to be a part of it.”

Irvine School students Casey and Liam both wanted to join the Mavericks School of Baseball because they enjoy playing the game. Casey also plays softball on the U11 Thunder black team and says pitching is her favourite position. Liam feels his game has improved in all areas since he started with the program and second base is his favourite position because he likes picking up ground balls.

Ristau said the most valuable part of the program is helping students build confidence, learning to play as a team and communicating with each other. “If you aren’t confident, I feel like you don’t try hard and keep going in something. Casey’s throwing technique was a little off and now she’s getting better, and we are only three weeks in. Just having a knowledgeable coach who can pick out those areas and fine tune everything will help them from getting shoulder injuries in the future or just make them stronger,” stated Ristau. 

The Mavericks baseball team, who are 18- to 24-year-old college baseball players, get back on the field in May and this past spring worked with the students from PRPS. “It was pretty awesome in the spring,” explained Morrison, “we had probably 10 sessions with our Mavericks coaches and players working with the students as part of their school programming. We brought in our catching coach and did a clinic with the players along with mentoring the students. It’s a unique thing, a Canadian liking baseball and there are way more opportunities for Canadian players. To learn the skills, they need to start at about Grade 4, between the ages of 8 to 10. This is my passion, to show these kids early and then their interest grows because they are having success, they know how to throw a baseball hard by Grade 5 or 6. It’s like anything, good teaching and coaching make a difference.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

On Friday, September 27, to honour The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, a group of students from Seven Persons School, accompanied by teacher Tanner Pruden, made the journey to Irvine School to participate in a traditional lacrosse game. Dave and Elizabeth Welton of Nation Lacrosse visited both schools last week to hold workshops on lacrosse skill development and understanding.

During the week, all students at Irvine painted rocks and prior to the game sat in an orderly row along the sidelines with their rock in front of them. “As part of our rock ceremony, we have done some learning that rocks have a special history for Indigenous culture. We understand that they have been here forever, tell a story and have special meaning for Indigenous people,” explained Vice Principal Heather Gust.

Following the rock ceremony, a group of Grade 6 students read out their individually created land acknowledgements. Dave Welton then spoke briefly before the game began. “We don’t play the game; we make a game. It’s part of the Indigenous history passed onto us from the first people of Turtle Island and then that game moved west in various forms of stick ball.” There are four reasons to play lacrosse, continued Welton, because it is a gift from the creator, to celebrate, to resolve disputes as well as being a part of healing.

Despite the blustery day, players from both schools enthusiastically ran onto the field with Welton acting as referee. At times the game was organized chaos with about 40 players on the field, but everyone appeared to be enjoying themselves and engaged fully in the experience.

At the close of the game, Welton congratulated both teams for playing a fantastic game and telling the students he thinks good medicine was made on the field. The winner of the inaugural Truth and Reconciliation lacrosse game was Irvine and Welton expressed the hope that a tradition has begun. Welton’s parting gesture was to gift a lacrosse stick that is over 60 years old to Irvine School.

As Seven Persons was about re-board the bus after the game, Tanner Pruden explained, “they had the option to come out today and about 36 students wanted to join. There was a focus on tribe against tribe and to spread awareness of lacrosse in general.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Substitute bus drivers are needed through Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS) for extracurricular activities and field trips during school days and on weekends as well as to cover morning and afternoon routes. As a Class 2 license and S endorsement is required, PRPS will train at no cost to the driver with a wage being paid as part of the training process. Those applicants who already hold a Class 1 or Class 2 license will still need to obtain an S endorsement to be able to drive with students on board.

“School bus drivers do more than drive kids to and from school. They play an important role in fostering a stronger, more connected community by ensuring safety, building relationships, and contributing to the students’ and their families’ overall well-being,” stated Lois Bedwell, Chair of the PRPS Board of Trustees. “Every morning, after inspecting their buses, bus drivers start their day by greeting each child with a smile and a kind word. As a school bus driver, they may be more than just the person who gets the kids to school. They may also be a mentor, a confidant, and a pillar of the community. Does this sound like the perfect job for you? Please consider becoming a substitute bus driver for Prairie Rose.”

Chief Financial Officer Ryan Boser said PRPS is pleased with how the new transportation system is running so far this year. There have been some learning curves, but he feels PRPS has adapted very quickly, which was aided by making improvements based on feedback from drivers. Improvements were made in many areas, including altering routes, how drivers are compensated, paperwork and driver meetings.

“That part has been really good,” said Boser. “We’ve leaned on our drivers in many instances as they are the ones who have been out there driving. In many cases, for several years, so they know this industry better than we do and the feedback has been valuable. Overall, it’s gone well, and we are continuing to add staffing in the transportation department.”

PRPS is adding a transportation dispatcher/admin assistant, who will start in the next few weeks, and have also sat down to define current roles. Derek Beck is responsible for managing the fleet, which includes 39 new buses and five spare buses, and coordinates all maintenance and servicing. Wade Lanctot is the new Director of Transportation and oversees all driver and parent concerns, route planning, along with day-to-day operations.

“We need subs for our routes, but we are also in need of drivers who are able to pick up additional work through the academy programming, field trips and extra-curricular activities,” explained Boser. Some of the academies, such as hockey, are seasonal, but when they are running, the scheduling for a driver would be consistent from week to week. Substitute drivers would have as much or as little work as they want with a flexible schedule. “PRPS is willing to work with each person on the number of hours they want and the times of day they prefer to work,” said Boser.

Those individuals who are interested in being a substitute driver and already hold a Class 1 or 2 license must still obtain an S endorsement because they will be transporting children. The S Endorsement course is all about safety as well as loading and unloading students properly. Currently, new drivers need to travel to Brooks or Lethbridge for this course with mileage and hotel costs along with a wage being paid. PRPS’s vision is to have their own driving school with route drivers acting as trainers whenever it works for them.

“Kids love getting on the bus in the morning and seeing a close friend, grandpa, dad or uncle drive them to school every day,” stated Trustee Nancy Haraga. “Sometimes it’s even someone who played a huge role in the community and has since retired and is looking for something to fill his/her time in the morning and afternoon. It’s a way to kindle hearts and forge futures for the upcoming farmers and ranchers of our rural communities. The kids sure enjoy seeing new and old faces of their community. It’s a way, to put a face to their name. Don’t throw yourself under the bus, jump in and see what the ride is all about.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Join us to celebrate the start of a new era for MHPL

Medicine Hat Public Library is just days away from opening its new “micro” library at Big Marble Go Centre.

The small, permanent library in the lobby of Medicine Hat’s premier recreation centre will improve convenience for current library patrons and potentially generate new patrons as we expand our services to meet community members where they already are.  

"We want it to be easy and convenient to use the library and we want to attract new users who aren't in the habit of visiting the library. This new location will allow us to achieve both these goals,” says chief librarian Ken Feser.

The library will primarily be a Read at Home collection, stocked with fiction and non-fiction books from our adult, young adult and children’s collections for patrons to “borrow” on an honour-system basis. No checkouts, no late fees, no library card needed. All we ask is that you bring back the books you’ve “borrowed” when you’re done. There will also be Read it Here items like children’s picture books, newspapers and magazines, and passive activities for families.

Community members are welcome to the grand opening celebration on Friday, Oct. 11, at 5 p.m. 

At the grand opening, library staff and members of the MHPL board will be on hand to answer questions about the new venture. Speeches will begin at 5:30 p.m. with cake to follow. There will be activities for children, promo goodies, and books, books and more books. 

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

The City of Medicine Hat has posted the final report on the 2024 community survey conducted by IPSOS in May 2024.
This is the second community survey conducted by IPSOS, the first of which occurred in May of 2022. This biennial community survey targeting Medicine Hat residents aged 18 and older is intended to provide City Council and administration reliable data to better understand community sentiment around a variety of City topics, in turn supporting decision making.
The survey covers a wide range of topics ranging from what residents feel is the most important issue affecting the community, to levels of satisfaction with garbage and recycling services. The results of the survey are benchmarked against other municipalities, and the survey will be repeated every two years to allow the City to track progress over time.
The results of the 2024 survey show that satisfaction with most City services remains very high, though concerns related to affordability, social issues, and governance and leadership have increased since 2022.
“A representative from IPSOS will summarize the report at a regular City Council meeting soon, but securing a date that works for both parties has been challenging,” said Colleen Graham, Director of Communications, Engagement and Marketing. “Ideally, it would be preferable to have an expert from IPSOS provide the public presentation prior to posting the report on our website, but due to a longer than expected timeline, we opted to proceed with releasing the report rather than continue to leave the community waiting.”
The feedback that is captured through the survey is considered representative of the population as it utilizes a scientific methodology. IPSOS uses a randomized telephone survey (65% cellphones and 35% landlines) with an overall sample size of 400. The results are considered accurate to within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.
An online option was also available for those who did not receive a phone call from IPSOS.
To read the full report, visit www.medicinehat.ca.

The City of Medicine Hat has set its October energy commodity rates.

Natural Gas – all customers

The October natural gas default rate is **$0.7624 **per gigajoule (GJ), down from the previous month of $0.8352 per GJ.
On Nov. 20, 2023, City Council passed bylaw 4798 that amends the gas utility bylaw in order to provide consumers with a single natural gas rate starting Jan. 1, 2024. The rate is based on the weighted average cost of the City’s natural gas purchases for the month of consumption, plus $0.07/GJ to recover transactional costs and a small rate of return.

Electricity

Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting

On Oct. 16, 2023, City Council passed an amendment to the Electric Utility Bylaw 2244 to establish a single best-of-market electricity rate for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers, not to exceed a maximum of 11 cents per kilowatt hour (kWh) or go below a minimum rate of seven cents per kWh. The rate is based on a twelve-month, volume weighted forecast as per the ICE-NGX wholesale electricity energy market and will be recalculated on the first business day of January, April, July, and October.
The October best of market rate is $0.04820 per kWh which, under the bylaw, defaults to the minimum $0.07000 per kWh for Residential, Farm, Small and Medium Commercial, Unmetered Services and Rental Lighting customers.  
On December 15, 2022, the Government of Alberta passed The Regulated Rate Option Stability Act through Bill 2: Inflation Relief Statutes Amendment Act which placed a temporary price ceiling of $0.13500 per kilowatt hour in January, February and March 2023 for Albertans who purchase power on the Regulated Rate Option (RRO). As of April 1, 2023, the cost difference between the RRO electricity rate from January to March 2023 and the temporary price ceiling will be added to the current default rate to recover costs until December 2024.
The October recovery rate of $0.01065 per kWh will be added to the current default rate of $0.07000 per kWh for a total billable rate of $0.08065 per kWh, up from the previous month of $0.07952 per kWh for September. For more details about the recovery rate, visit medicinehat.ca/EnergyPlans.
October 2024 (per kilowatt hour)Rate per kWhDefault City of Medicine Hat electricity rate$0.07000+ City of Medicine Hat recovery rate+ $0.01065City of Medicine Hat billed rate$0.08065  

Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting Customers

The October default electricity rate for Large Commercial, Industrial and Street Lighting customers is $0.07062 per kilowatt hour. The rate is based on the average of the rates for owners whose regulated rate tariffs are approved by the Alberta Utilities Commission under section 103(2) of the Electric Utilities Act for that calendar month as posted by the Alberta Utilities Commission on its internet page under Regulated Rate Option Regulation.
October 2024 (per kilowatt hour)Rate per kWhDirect Energy Regulated Services$0.07052ENMAX Energy Corporation$0.06853EPCOR Energy Alberta GP (Edmonton)$0.07249EPCOR Energy Alberta GP (outside Edmonton)$0.07093City of Medicine Hat default rate for LC&I (based on the average)$0.07062

Going Green Charge

Customers also have a “Going Green” surcharge on their bill. This surcharge is for renewable energy purchased for residential, farm, small and medium commercial customers.
The Going Green surcharge is calculated monthly to recover costs incurred to purchase renewable energy.
The Going Green surcharge for October is $0.0035 per kilowatt hour.

Medicine Hat’s favourite fall craft sale is just around the corner! Come down to The Fieldhouse at the MH Exhibition & Stampede from October 18-20, and shop handmade treasures from 90+ Canadian artists, makers, and designers – all under one roof. Find quality goods that will last a lifetime: from curated textiles, jewellery, skincare and candles, to ceramics, wall art, home decor, and gourmet foods. Medicine Hat’s favourite fall shopping event is the place to buy one-of-a-kind items from across Canada, meet with passionate creatives, and feel their work first-hand. (Hot tip: Hit up the concession stand to sip and snack while you shop!) With holidays coming up on the calendar, you can think ahead… or simply treat yourself.

October 18 - 20 | MEDICINE HAT EXHIBITION & STAMPEDE - THE FIELDHOUSE
Tickets from $3.75 at fallintochristmasmedicinehat.com

The Medicine Hat College (MHC) Rattlers are pleased to welcome Chad Watson as the new women’s basketball head coach for the 2024-25 season.

Watson, a former MHC student and Rattlers basketball player (1999-2002), returns to the college with 22 years of coaching experience at the high school, club, and provincial levels and holds an impressive record of team success and program growth. “Medicine Hat College Rattlers Athletics and Recreation are happy to have Chad Watson join the staff as the new head coach for women's basketball,” says Terry Ballard, manager of athletics and recreation. “Chad has a great history of coaching basketball at Medicine Hat High School and in the club system locally.

We look forward to him bringing his experience to our organization.” Watson brings with him a Bachelor of Education/Arts with a major in kinesiology and a Master’s in Educational Leadership. He has taught at Medicine Hat High School since 2007 and served as their athletic director since 2019. He is also the co-founder of Badlands Basketball, the Alberta Schools’ Athletic Association Boys’ Basketball Commissioner, the MHC Mental Health/Wellness Coach for Student-Athletes, and the Alberta Special Olympics Basketball Chair (2026). The women’s basketball team takes to court for the season home opener on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 6 p.m. in the Snake Pit. Visit www.rattlers.ca for the full schedule.

Medicine Hat – The City of Medicine Hat will formally observe the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Monday, September 30.
The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, introduced in 2021, was established in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Call to Action. Its purpose is to honour the survivors of residential schools, along with their families and communities, and to ensure the tragic history of these institutions is never forgotten.
“On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the City of Medicine Hat renews its commitment to walking our shared path towards reconciliation alongside our Indigenous community,” said Mayor Linnsie Clark. “We encourage residents to seek out opportunities to engage, connect, and learn about our shared Indigenous history – not just on this day, but year-round.”
Where possible, flags at all City of Medicine Hat facilities will be lowered to half-mast from sunrise to sunset, and the Saamis Tepee will be lit orange to bring awareness to this important day.
As Medicine Hat continues on its path to Reconciliation, the City reaffirms its commitment to learning from the past, taking meaningful action in the present, and building a future where all voices are heard and valued.
The public is advised of the following impacts to City of Medicine Hat services on September 30:

• City Hall will be closed to the public
• Big Marble Go Centre will be open from 12 to 5 p.m.
• Co-op Place and Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre will be closed to the public
• Medicine Hat Transit service will not be available
• The Waste Management Facility (landfill) will be closed to the public
• There will be no residential waste collection; service will resume on Tuesday, October 1 in Zone 1
  Visit medicinehat.ca/ndtr to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and City initiatives.

Medicine Hat – The City of Medicine Hat will begin an asphalt crack sealing project on select roadways around the city beginning Thursday, September 26. Weather permitting, this project is expected to be completed by the end of October 2024.

• Map – Crack seal locations (PDF)

These roadways have been selected for crack sealing through the City’s pavement management system as well as visual inspection.
The main purpose of a crack sealing treatment is to stop moisture from penetrating the base and subgrade of the road, which prevents the weakening of the roadway structure. Asphalt crack sealing aims to extend the life of roadways, and prevent future larger maintenance projects, which are more costly. This proactive project is a key component of the City's road maintenance strategy.
Traffic accommodation plans will be in place as this project begins. One lane will be kept open for each of these work areas. Motorists are reminded to obey all posted signs and speed limits, and are encouraged to avoid these work areas where possible for the safety of travellers and crews.
The City of Medicine Hat thanks residents for their patience and understanding during this maintenance project which ensures safe and reliable infrastructure for years to come.

Medicine Hat – Art in Motion, a dynamic celebration of Medicine Hat’s vibrant art and culture, will take place downtown on Saturday, September 28 from 12 to 5 p.m.
The event will transform the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre, Towne Square, Riverside Veterans’ Memorial Park, and part of 1 Street SE into a lively hub of creativity, family fun and community engagement.
"Art in Motion is all about bringing our community together to celebrate creativity and culture," said Candace Lundrigan, Cultural Programs Coordinator at the Esplanade. "We are excited to create an interactive experience that inspires everyone to engage with the arts in a fun and meaningful way."
For more information on this event, which includes art demonstrations, hands-on activities, an Art Market showcasing more than 40 local vendors, a variety of performances, live music, and cultural displays, visit the event webpage.
Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan
The City will also be engaging with the public on the Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan. The public’s voice is crucial as the City develops this plan which aims to envision and build a city with artistic expression, rich heritage, and diverse entertainment.
Stop by the main floor lobby of the Esplanade on Saturday from 12 to 3 p.m. to share your feedback. Learn more about this plan on the Shape Your City project page.
Traffic restrictions
To facilitate the event, along with setup and takedown, 1 Street SE from Maple Avenue SE to 4 Avenue SE will be closed from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Motorists are reminded to obey all posted signs and to take extra caution while driving downtown due to an increase in pedestrian traffic.

Medicine Hat College’s (MHC) Early Learning & Child Care (ELCC) program is inviting families with children ages 2-5 to engage with current students for all-weather play this fall. Exploring how outdoor learning benefits child development, students are taking their classroom learnings to Kin Coulee Park to work with young children and families.

The first activity took place on Sept. 12 and focused on building in nature, using loose, open-ended materials to imagine and create. Program coordinator and instructor for the outdoor pedagogy class, Jennifer Usher, says playing outdoors offers cognitive and physical development benefits for children. “We started our class by talking about how outdoor play benefits children's development in a bunch of different ways. Their physical development, their gross motor skills, their fine motor skills, their cognitive development and all the thinking, exploration, and investigating that is happening,” explains Usher. “Communication and social skills are being built too as they share, collaborate and cooperate.”

The students are then given the opportunity to implement their learning and cite real-life examples from their experiences. Second-year student, Amrit Kaur, says she noticed children engaging in a variety of activities, including hopping on steps, balancing items, and creating music. “We brought lots of provocations for them so they're learning a lot and we are interacting with them as well as with their parents,” says Kaur, who has enjoyed seeing both the children and parents learning together. “The children are coming up and trying to engage [with activities] by themselves, and we are also encouraging them to come and join the applications.”

Throughout the semester, students will explore new ways to help children engage with the outdoors while ensuring child safety. Activities planned will take place in all-weather, including sun, rain, and snow. Themes for upcoming sessions include a park exploration, engaging provocations to encourage open-ended play, a “looking closely” walk, and a campfire. Families are encouraged to dress appropriately for the weather. Registration is free for families as a way to give back to the community, says Usher, adding her thanks to the City of Medicine Hat who have allowed the students to utilize Kin Coulee Park. The next offering for the outdoor free play sessions is Oct. 1. Space is limited. Sign up at https://bit.ly/3X7iPnw

Trades training is critical to the growth and success of Southeast Alberta and Medicine Hat College (MHC) is proud to recognize its students, faculty and industry partners as part of Alberta’s Apprenticeship Appreciation Day on Sept. 23. With MHC’s heavy equipment technician lab setting the stage, the college kicked off its own celebration last Friday with a barbeque for trades students, faculty and partners. Regional high school students from Grasslands Public Schools and Medicine Hat Public School Division were also on site for their own introduction to trades courses, part of new collaborative partnerships between secondary and postsecondary education systems.

Rob Stroh, an instructor in the plumbing/gasfitting program, is impressed by how opportunities have grown over his 17 years at the college. Noting the partnership with regional school districts, he believes these programs are a great way to get young people started in the trades. “Today is a great day,” says Stroh, noting the event turnout on Friday with representation from Crescent Heights High School, Medicine Hat High School, Brooks Composite High School, Duchess School and Sunrise School. “I’m really pleased to have these students on campus, they bring a lot of enthusiasm.” Stroh also notes the strength of MHC programs and his colleagues. “We have a really good team.

We have great programs and turn out quality tradespeople. That’s why I’m still here.” MHC offer seven apprenticeship programs within its School of Trades and Technology, including Automotive Service Technician, Carpentry, Electrical, Heavy Equipment Technician, Plumbing/Gasfitting, Steamfitter/Pipefitter and Welding. “There’s lots of opportunity in the trades,” says Luke Wielenga, a second year plumbing student who hopes to start his own company one day. “Plumbing pays well and there’s always work, even when the economy is slow.”

While program availability was what drew him to MHC initially, it was the quality of instructors and campus facilities and benefits that brought Wielenga back to Medicine Hat for year two of his studies. “Today is a day to express gratitude for the trades,” says Dr. Morgan Blair, dean of trades and technology at MHC. “Thank you to our students who shape the future of our region and economy through their perseverance on their chosen path. Thank you to our faculty who guide and mentor our students, sharing their expertise and passion with the next generation. And thank you to our industry partners whose support for MHC apprentices and programs is essential to our collective success.”

On Wednesday, September 18, two steers, donated to the Agricultural Discovery Centre (ADC) at Irvine School by Short Grass Ranches, were sold by live auction at the Medicine Hat Feeding Company. Lexi and Senya, both students at Irvine School and members of the ADC Board, joined auctioneer David Lutz on the platform to speak about the program at the ADC and the care and dedication all the students put into raising the two steers on auction.

All the money from the auction will go back into programming and operation costs of the ADC. The steers were sold by dollar amount rather than weight with the black one being auctioned off first followed by the red one. The black steer weighed in at 1411 lbs and sold for $4,650 to the Southeastern Livestock Feeder Association. The red steer weighed in at 1377 lbs and sold for $4,800 to Buffalo Jump Farms.

Trustee Shauna VanderSpruit was at the Medicine Hat Feeding Company to watch the auction. “This is really exciting for the ADC, especially for the students. They put so much hard work and dedication into the farm at the school. To see the reward they got today in the prices they received for the animals is incredible and makes it all worthwhile.”

The following evening, on Thursday, September 19, the ADC held a Fall Fair where the school held a welcome back BBQ for students and their families. This was followed by student-planned activities, a farmer’s market to sell ADC produce along with a live auction of two lambs, two hogs and 13 chickens.

Coordinator of the ADC, Nichole Neubauer, explained that the ADC will be wrapping up by the end of the month for winter. “We are continuing with the AgPro series and, once everything is winterized at the ADC, students will head to Cypress County Fire and Rescue where they will learn about fire smart farmyards and how to use a fire extinguisher and fight a grass fire safely,” explained Neubauer. The ADC is also partnering with Safety Buzz for a general farm safety course that will include hazard assessments, fall protection, confined spaces, pesticide and chemical safety along with operating a quad, bobcat, and tractor with a front-end loader.

During the summer, the ADC partnered with Medicine Hat College to host two summer camps that were an immersive farm experience for kids from Medicine Hat. “It was an incredible opportunity to utilize the facility during the summer months and to allow kids to learn more about the farm to table concept,” stated Neubauer. “The feedback was phenomenal, many parents said it was the highlight of the summer for both them and their children as it was so authentic, hands-on and different from anything they’d ever done before.”

Nine children attended the first camp, and the second one was full at 15 children. Lots of interest has been expressed to continue offering the camps next summer, which Neubauer hopes to do in order to continue to cultivate meaningful agrifood connections for kids from the city.  

The ADC will also be holding a new fundraiser during the winter months this year. On Saturday, December 14, they are hosting the well-known comedian Dickson Delorme, who goes by the stage name Quick Dick McDick, at the Monarch Theatre. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $50 each, although will need to be bought early as about half are already sold. “It will be a night of comedy and laughs and an opportunity to take life a little less seriously for an evening,” said Neubauer. If interested, you can call 403-580-9654 for more information.  

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Source Medicine Hat Tigers
The Tigers opened the 2024-25 regular season at home against the Edmonton Oil Kings. The Oil Kings played in Lethbridge the previous night, falling 3-1 to the Hurricanes.
 
Markus Ruck brought the crowd of 4,822 to their feet early in the first period. Ruck tipped in Nate Corbet’s shot from the side of the net for his first career goal. The Tigers’ high-powered offense kept pressuring throughout the period and added two more goals late. Matt Paranych made it a two-goal game with his first career goal. Shaeffer Gordon–Carroll settled a bouncing puck and found Paranych at the side of the net where he let a wrister go blocker side. The Tigers struck again 32 seconds later when Liam Ruck intercepted a pass in the slot and found the top corner with a laser.

 The Oil Kings got on the board late in the second period to cut the Tigers’ lead to a pair. Lukas Sawchyn found the back of the net for his first career goal. The Tigers would get that one back though before the end of the period. Gordon-Carroll one-timed a cross-ice feed from Brayden Boehm for his first career goal.
 
The two squads continued to battle hard in the third period but the defences limited the chances. Joe Iginla would give the Oil Kings a bit of life late when we tapped in a cross-crease feed from Gavin Hodnett while on the power play. That would be as close as the Oil Kings would get though as the Tigers secured the 4-2 victory on home ice.
** **
Ethan McCallum got the nod in net for the Tigers and had a great game. He saved 23 of the 25 shots he faced.
 
Special Teams:

• PP: 0/2 – 0%
• PK: 5/6 – 83.3%

 
Stringam Law Three Stars:

1. Shaeffer Gordon-Carroll – Medicine Hat
2. Markus Ruck – Medicine Hat
3. Lukas Sawchyn – Edmonton

 
Supplement King Hardest Working Player – Bryce Pickford
 
The Tigers are back in action on Friday, September 27th when they visit the Red Deer Rebels at the Peavey Mart Centrium. Game time is 7:00 PM and you can listen live on Wild 94.5 FM or watch on watch.chl.ca.

On September 20, 2024, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service (MHPS) Patrol section responded to a report of a domestic dispute involving a 34-year-old male who had a Canada Wide Warrant for his arrest and was reportedly in possession of a firearm. The male had left the residence prior to police arrival and extensive efforts were made to locate him.

During the afternoon of September 21,2024, the MHPS received information that he was at a residence located in the 400 block of 8th Street SE. Officers attended the area and upon arrival found the man outside of the home and in possession of firearms. Officers attempted to gain compliance from the man by using deescalating techniques but were unsuccessful. The man was uncooperative which led to officers deploying less-lethal impact rounds to prevent him from entering a nearby residence. The man subsequently discharged his firearm, causing injuries to himself, and was secured and transported by EMS to hospital for treatment of the injuries.

The Director of Law Enforcement for the Province of Alberta was notified and deemed the incident to be out of scope for investigation by the Alberta Serious Incident Response Team. As a result, the MHPS Criminal Investigation Section continues the investigation.

The 44th annual Terry Fox Run took place in 600 locations across Canada on Sunday, September 15 and the Medicine Hat event was another great success with almost 200 people participating on a bright sunny day. A record amount was raised to support the Terry Fox Foundation's cancer research at $22,000, a 5% increase from 2023 when the previous highest amount was doubled.

The local organizing committee from the Rotary Ignite and Sunrise Rotary clubs plus community members helped to make the event a fun and meaningful one for the people who walked, ran, rode bikes, or sat in strollers. The Cruisers, a band composed of young guys in junior and senior high school, entertained the crowd while the Medicine Hat Public Library was there with a number of giant games and a bubble machine to make it fun for the kids. A display of t-shirts from the past forty years was popular, as was the "I'm Running For" poster, and snacks/water. A testimony from a three-time cancer survivor paid tribute to the research that helped her overcome cancer. A young performer started the Run off by singing the national anthem.

The Terry Fox Run started with the Marathon of Hope in 1980 when twenty-two year old Terry Fox wanted to bring attention to people suffering with cancer by running across Canada. With an artificial leg replacing the one that was amputated because of cancer, Terry ran a marathon a day for 143 days, until his cancer returned and he had to give up his cross-country fundraiser outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario. But before he died, less than a year later, his goal of raising one dollar for every Canadian had been reached. The foundation created in his name has now raised more than $950 million for cancer research.

In addition to the community runs that took place all across the country on September 15, over 10,000 schools will participate with their own Terry Fox runs during this month, and events will take place in thirty other countries. Eight other cities outside of Canada held runs on Sunday, including London, Auckland, and Sapporo. Terry Fox has become a role model, not only in Canada, but internationally.

Next year the Run will take place on Sunday September 14 on the Sunrise Rotary Trail around the Medicine Hat College. Registration will open in early April and themed t-shirts will be available online. For further information please contact Keith Walker at kvwalker@telusplanet.net.

This summary provides a brief overview of City Council meetings and does not reflect all discussion and debate. For full details, download the agenda package or watch the full meeting on the City of Medicine Hat’s YouTube channel.
Under Councillor Announcements:

• City Manager Mitchell and Councillor Robins offered a thank you to Managing Director of Public Services, Brian Stauth, as this is his final City Council meeting as Managing Director before retiring. 
• Councillor Hider advised Council that she, along with Mayor Clark and City Manager Mitchell, recently had the opportunity to visit ROC Modular in Bow Island. She expressed appreciation to the ROC group for the opportunity.
  City Council received the following items into the corporate record:
• Public Services Committee Meeting Minutes of August 26, 2024
• Corporate Services Committee Meeting Minutes of August 22, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Meeting Minutes of September 5, 2024
  City Council received the following items for information:
• 2023 Annual Report - Fleet, Facilities and Asset Management
• Southeastern Alberta Search and Rescue Association (SEASAR) Collaboration Opportunities
• Corporate Services Committee Outstanding Items of August 22, 2024
• Public Services Committee Outstanding Items of August 26, 2024
• Energy, Land and Environment Committee Outstanding Items of September 5, 2024
  Representatives from the Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub presented to City Council. Warren Stark, Board Chair, and Melissa Mullis, Executive Director, spoke to the work being done by their organization and the increase in food security challenges in the community.
  Under Unfinished Business, City Council:
• approved amendments to Bylaw 4805 Council Code of Conduct and directed administration to begin the selection process for an Integrity Commissioner and bring forward a recommended candidate for Council's consideration.
• approved a recommendation to deny a tax cancellation request to 1061108 Alberta Ltd, in relation to two properties on Brier Park Way NE.
  Under New Business, City Council:
• approves the amendments to Policy 8016 - Staff Recruitment and Selection, as presented. The amendments include updated language to reflect the current organizational structure and ensure recruitment practices are current and reflect an evolving workforce.
• rescinded Policy 8031 - Job Description, as the development of job descriptions is better managed through a defined operational process rather than policy.
  Under Committee Business, City Council:
• received a presentation from Marty Robinson, Director of Information Technology, titled Connected Local Government. In response to Council’s motion of July 15, 2024, the presentation provided an options analysis and recommendation for the 2025-2026 budget deliberations for a “single window” concept to promote, facilitate, and streamline the connection of residents with their local government. Following the presentation, City Council defeated a recommendation to engage third-party support to prepare a strategic long term 311- like Program Plan including assessment of operational and organizational impact, options for program setup and delivery, options for voice and digital, and a citizen customer relationship management system. Instead, administration will continue to improve the functionality and usability of the digital foundation set by the Citizen Facing Digital Strategy, that resulted in a redesigned website and citizen portal.
• received a presentation from Lola Barta, Director of Finance on Reserves and Distributable Funds. Following the presentation, City Council gave first and second reading to Bylaw 4827, Medicine Hat Endowment Fund. Amendments to Policy 0168 - Financial Reserve, and Policy 0169 - Distributable Funds Dividend will return to City Council for decision at a later date.
• received a presentation from Rochelle Pancoast, Managing Director of Energy, Land and Environment, on the City of Medicine Hat’s Energy Business Strategy.
• authorized administration to offer for sale the properties municipally described as 990 and 1002 South Railway Street SE for the appraised value of $399,990.00.
• approved a recommendation to implement a capital grant application process which will proceed without an allocated budget and will adhere to eligibility criteria.
• approved amendments to Policy 0107 - Employee Business Expense. The amendments provide additional clarity on expenses incurred by City employees for travel and other business expenses such as memberships and dues, gifts, employee appreciation, and in town meals.
• approved amendments to Policy 0108 - Vehicle Allowance and Mileage to provide additional clarity on the use of personal vehicles to conduct City business.
• gave first reading to Bylaw 4792 to amend Bylaw 2244 the Electric Utility Bylaw.
• gave first reading to Bylaw 4801 to amend Bylaw 2489 the Gas Utility Bylaw.
• gave first reading to Bylaw 4829 the road closure bylaw to close a portion of Bell Street and sell it to Haven of Rest Medicine Hat to consolidate into their existing property at 1720 Bell Street SW for the purpose of an expanded developable site for their building addition.
  City Council approved a motion to delay the following items to the October 7, 2024 City Council meeting:
• Item 12.6. Amended Policy 0107 – Employee Business Expense
• Item 12.7. Amended Policy 0108 – Vehicle Allowance and Mileage Reimbursement Policy
• Item 12.11. Revised Heritage Resources Policy 0144 and Repeal of Bylaw 4114 Heritage Resources Committee
• Item 12.12. City Facility Recognition/Commemoration Policy 0177
  The next City Council meeting is Monday, October 7 at 6:30 pm. in Council Chambers.

Read this article on our website.

The Medicine Hat Health Foundation would like to thank everyone in the community who supported the Wheels of Hope fundraiser. This fundraiser was organized by 2 grade twelve students, Kade Draganiuk and Saran Ramanujam. On August 25, a team of 4 cyclists biked from Medicine Hat to Brooks, a total of 200km in support of the Pediatrics department of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital.
 
Wheels of Hope raised over $2,300 to purchase comfort and distraction items for patients of the Pediatrics department. Kade and Saran are already planning the ride for next year! 

For further information, please contact the Medicine Hat Health Foundation:
P: (403) 528-8133 
E: info@ourhealthfoundation.ca

Medicine Hat, Alberta (September 16, 2024): Community members looking to start or change careers will once again be given the opportunity to meet with employers at Medicine Hat College’s (MHC) annual Career Expo on Oct. 2, 2024. Over 45 ready-to-hire employers from across Western Canada will be present at the event, providing information about their organizations, opportunities available, and how to apply. Some employers may even conduct on-the-spot interviews with candidates who come prepared with their resumes. The event will take place at MHC’s main campus, filling Centennial Hall and the B-wing with employer booths. Attendees may drop-in anytime between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. “Each year, we are excited to see the uptake of employers from several diverse industries at our Career Expo event. It is our pleasure to provide a venue to connect them with community members, as well as MHC students and alumni who are searching for employment,” says MHC student career services assistant, Shelly Drefs. Featured industries will include healthcare, business, trades, community services, security, financial, manufacturing, and environmental sectors. Also in attendance will be local employment supports agencies, as well as educational services. Employers who plan to, but have not yet registered, still have time with early bird pricing until Sept. 20 and regular pricing until the date of the event. Learn more at www.mhc.ab.ca

Medicine Hat, Alberta (September 13, 2024): Medicine Hat College (MHC), Miywasin Friendship Centre and the Firekeepers Women’s Society, are hosting their third annual community event in support of National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on Sept. 30. The outdoor event will be held at the Medicine Hat campus between 2-4 p.m. and will include a walk* for reconciliation, story sharing led by Indigenous Elders, a blanket ceremony, honour song, and round dance. Nicki Eastly, student services specialist for MHC’s Indigenous engagement and student supports, says National Day for Truth and Reconciliation is a day to bring awareness and acknowledge the pain and trauma caused by residential schools. “Our people and communities are still experiencing the impacts of residential schools and this event honours the survivors and the children that did not come home,” says Eastly. “National Day for Truth and Reconciliation emphasizes opportunities for change. It is a reminder of how far we have come and the work that still needs to be done.” Eastly, along with other mental health professionals from the community, will be present at the event to offer support to event attendees. The public event will be held outside the campus’ main entrance and participants are encouraged to dress for the weather, bring a lawn chair, and wear an orange shirt in solidarity with Orange Shirt Day, recognized on the same day. Medicine Hat College is located at 299 College Drive SE. Watch for more details at www.mhc.ab.ca. *The full walk is 1.5km in length, but a shorter, alternate route will be available. 

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Responding to community needs and enhancing the library experience for visitors

Construction is underway on a new washroom at Medicine Hat Public Library that will improve convenience and comfort for patrons, particularly those with young children.

Workers began building an accessible family washroom in the Kinsmen Children’s Library on Monday, Sept. 16.  

We know a new washroom doesn’t sound like the most exciting project, however it’s one that’s been a long time coming for the library. We are delighted and know this addition will be met with enthusiasm from library families who want to be able to keep their children close by.

“The new washroom is much more convenient for families and provides a private space where parents can change their little ones away from the sometimes drafty front door,” says Carol Ann Cross-Roen, head of youth services. It also removes any awkwardness of having little boys in the ladies’ room or little girls in the men's room, she adds.

From a safety perspective, Cross-Roen says, “we’ve seen more than one young runner make it nearly out the front door. Having a dedicated space within the children's library is much safer and makes things a bit easier for parents, especially for a parent trying to manage more than one child. 

“Aside from all that, we know that parents working on potty training their children will find it much better to have a washroom nearby to help reduce accidents,” she says.

The new washroom will be located on the south wall of the children’s library, beside the Co-op Community Developmental Play Space. Two rows of shelving have been removed to make room for the construction and washroom, so holiday books, board books, language books and book bundles have been temporarily re-located in the children’s library.

The project is a partnership between the library and the City of Medicine Hat. The city has led the project management and the library is paying the cost of the construction.

The work is scheduled to be completed and the washroom open by the end of this year.

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

MHC Pride Week celebrates inclusion
A rainbow of activity will colour Medicine Hat College (MHC) campuses from September 16-20 in honour of Pride Week, promoting an environment of inclusivity, equality and learning in support of the LGBTQ2S+ community. Lily Schaerer, president of the Students’ Association at MHC, says there are a variety of events planned for everyone on campus to take part in, beginning with the raising of the Pride flag at noon on Monday outside of the main entrance. “We are incredibly excited to celebrate Pride Week with many fun events at MHC. This is an important opportunity to showcase our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for everyone on campus. Pride Week is about more than just celebration – it’s about fostering understanding, promoting equality, and standing together as a community in support of all members of our college,” says Schaerer. Other activities throughout the week include:  Show your Pride Selfie Station / Message of Pride Heart Wall Tuesday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Pride Information Hub with resources, games and snacks Wednesday, Sept. 18. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.  Pride Button Making Activity Thursday, Sept. 19, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Pride ‘Gaymes’ Friday, Sept. 20, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. MHC’s Brooks Campus also plans to host a number of Pride events, kicking off their celebrations with a flag raising Monday at noon. A selfie station and Pride Heart Wall will be on display Tuesday, followed by popcorn and Pride crafts on Wednesday. Beyond Pride Week, college leaders remain committed to promoting diversity and inclusion on campus yearround. “We are fortunate to have an active Students’ Association that encourages our learners to come together in unity,” says Kevin Shufflebotham, president and CEO. “It’s what we strive for at MHC – creating a safe environment where we can learn from each other, fostering a sense of belonging, and growing as a community.” For more information on the Pride Week activities being hosted by SAMHC, visit www.facebook.com/studentsassociationmhc/

Back to School with Best of Last
The first art exhibition of the year is now on at One on One Gallery, located in the Cultural Centre at Medicine Hat College (MHC). The show, Best of Last, highlights work of selected art and design students from the previous year’s classes and provides a comprehensive overview of the applied degree program, which includes painting, drawing, graphic design, sculpture courses and more over three years. Jessica Plattner, art and design program coordinator, says the annual Best of Last show has become a highly anticipated event for both new and returning students. “We install the show in time for New Student Orientation in September, so incoming students can see some of the exciting projects awaiting them. For current students, it’s a little badge of honour to be selected. As an instructor, it is so hard to choose just a few pieces from all the great work that is done by our students.” Best of Last is open to the public during gallery hours. There will also be a reception held on Thursday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend. Learn more about the One on One Gallery at www.mhc.ab.ca

Centre for Innovation receives $750K NSERC Mobilize Grant to advance agricultural research
The Centre for Innovation (C4i) at Medicine Hat College (MHC) is growing its capacity for agricultural research and education in Southeast Alberta, thanks to $750,000 in grant funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC). “C4i will be developing an Agriculture Applied Research Program that aims to tackle pressing challenges and opportunities by emphasizing technology, science, and business innovation within the agricultural sector,” explains Dr. Morgan Blair, dean for the School of Business and Continuing Studies and the School of Trades and Technology. “With a focus on applied soil research, we will enhance production and optimize resource utilization, while also considering labor shortages and climate change impacts.” This funding represents the largest ever NSERC grant received by MHC and will provide $150,000 annually over the next five years. Key objectives include facilitating, designing, and securing funding for time-sensitive applied research projects, strengthening partnerships with stakeholders, increasing faculty and student involvement in applied research, and providing training for students aligned with partner innovation priorities. The partners involved are stakeholders from the agriculture sector in the South Alberta region, ensuring that the research efforts are closely aligned with the needs and priorities of the local ag community. MHC Vice-President and Provost, Dr. Nancy Brown, adds that this applied research program is also in alignment with the college’s strategic goals, which are committed to supporting regional vitality. “By fostering collaboration, increasing participation, and providing training opportunities, the program aims to advance applied research priorities within the college and the broader agricultural community. Medicine Hat College and its Centre for Innovation are grateful for NSERC’s support of this initiative that will address major innovation needs in the agricultural sector, explore solutions to enhance productivity, optimize resource utilization, and mitigate challenges posed by labor shortages and climate change impacts.” Next steps will include identifying industry experts to lead the applied research program and members of the community to provide critical insight into pressing agricultural challenges here at home and beyond. For more information about research and innovation at MHC, please visit C4i | MHC.

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

A combination of Read at Home & Read it Here items to start with in September

Medicine Hat Public Library is embarking on a new project that will bring more library services out into the community. 

Continuing our efforts to meet Medicine Hat residents and visitors where they’re at and expand our services, the library will establish a small, permanent presence at Big Marble Go Centre (BMGC).

"The library is very excited about this partnership with the Big Marble Go Centre and the City of Medicine Hat,” says Ken Feser, chief librarian. 

“We know that our downtown location doesn't work for everyone and we want to offer more convenient ways to access our collections and services. This is a great opportunity for us to experiment and find ways to deliver library services in ways that fit community needs and that are sustainable within our existing budget. We are starting small and we will adjust the service over time as we learn what people want."

To be located in the lobby of BMGC, the library will primarily be a Read at Home collection to start with. It will feature fiction and non-fiction books from our adult, young adult and children’s collections for patrons to “borrow” on an honour-system, grab-and-go basis. There will be no checkouts, so users don’t need to have a library card, and there will be no due dates or overdue fines to worry about. All we ask is that you bring the books you’ve “borrowed” back when you’re done. 

The library at BMGC will also have a selection of Read it Here items like children’s picture books, newspapers and magazines. There will also be activities for children available to take home or help them and their parents pass the time while their siblings are in the pool or on the ice. 

Staff will begin placing shelving and stock the collections at BMGC in late September. A grand opening celebration will take place in October, which is Canadian Library Month. A date for the celebration will be announced in the coming weeks.

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

Building your own home is an exciting and unique opportunity to craft the exact plans you want, and watch them be brought to life for you and your family to enjoy. But, since many different hands will touch your home – from multiple trades, including contractors – throughout its construction, it makes sense to set up a series of new home construction inspections to protect your investment and keep you safe.

By instituting multi-phase property inspections, you’re ensuring that any issues are found early so that they don’t end up causing greater problems down the road. Working with your home inspector, you can set up intervals that best meet the needs of your home’s construction plan. 

Key Inspection Points in Your New Build

Here are three intervals that often present the best opportunities to find and fix common construction problems as soon as possible via multi-phase property inspections:

Foundation Inspection: Laying the Groundwork for a Solid Home

Prior to the slab being poured, an inspector can evaluate the surface preparation for the home as well as assess sewer and drain lines.

Pre-Drywall Inspection: Unveiling Hidden Issues

This is completed prior to the installation of the home’s insulation and drywall, but before the walls are closed in. This is a prime time for an inspector to get a look at the plumbing pipes, electrical wiring, duct installation and roof structural frame.

Final Punch-Out Inspection: The Finishing Touches

This is the typical home inspection most buyers arrange prior to closing. An inspector will evaluate the home’s plumbing, electrical and mechanical systems, roof, doors and windows. This final inspection is especially effective when the first two have been carried out since, at this late stage, an inspector can only base evaluations on what they can see. 

By arranging multi-phase property inspections with your home inspector as part of your new construction plan, you’ll be rest assured that your new home will be as sound as possible when you and your family are ready to move in.

Don’t Let Construction Pitfalls Ruin Your Dream Home

There are multiple trades involved in the construction process, including contractors. Like any profession, workers can range from highly professional to completely unreliable. And, in many cases, you won’t know the difference until an experienced home inspector scrutinizes your new house.

Have questions about common problems that can arise for new builds or details on any of our inspection services? Answers are just a call or email away.

To book your new home inspection, contact Steve Fraser at 403 878 7580.

The Terry Fox Run takes place in Medicine Hat on Sunday, September 15 at 10:30am on the Sunrise Rotary Trail around the Medicine Hat College campus. Registration opens at 9:30, run/walk at 10:30.

The theme of this year's event is No Matter What. No matter the distance. No matter the obstacles. No matter the journey. No matter the odds. No matter what...Canadian hero Terry Fox created a legacy of hope, resiliency, and determination that continues to inspire millions worldwide.

"The Terry Fox Run is a fundraising event for cancer research that encourages our community to come together to help raise vital funds for a disease that has likely impacted every single one of us in some way," says Keith Walker, chair of the local organizing committee and Past President of the Sunrise Rotary club. "Terry Fox is a personal hero of mine, his tenacity and resolve has inspired me and countless others."

Terry Fox was a Canadian athlete who, in 1980, embarked on a cross-Canada run to raise money for cancer research. He was forced to abandon his run after 143 days, when the cancer that had taken his leg spread to his lungs; sadly he passed away a year later. However, his legacy lives on, and the Terry Fox Run is an important part of that legacy.

"The Medicine Hat event is one of six hundred runs held across Canada on September 15, open to participants of all ages and abilities," describes Walker. "The two and a half kilometre paved and fully accessible Sunrise Rotary Trail loops around the college; bikes, rollerblades, wheelchairs. strollers, even dogs on leash - all are welcome."

Participants are encouraged to fundraise with all funds going toward vital cancer research. Registration is online at run.terryfox.ca or on site the day of the event. No Matter What themed t-shirts are available online at terryfox.org made famous by Canadian celebrities like Ryan Reynolds, Jann Arden, and Michael Buble.

"We are proud to host the run and be part of Terry's legacy; we know that Hatters will help us raise both awareness and funds for this important cause," adds Walker.

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Teens are making friends and connections, and finding a community at MHPL

For Cole Payeur, The Honeycomb House has become like a second home. 

"I come here every chance I get. It’s a really nice place to be," he says.

Cole has been coming to the space at Medicine Hat Public Library since it launched in 2023. In fact, the 15-year-old was part of the small groups testing it out before it was opened to all teens last September. 

One year later, Cole is as enthusiastic as ever about The Honeycomb House, which is dedicated and exclusive to teens.

"It means a lot to me because it’s a place I can be myself in, and it’s a place where I can make new friends, a place I can hang out with people that are my age range that actually want to conversate with me," Cole explains. "It’s not like making friends at school. It’s everyone is always being friends with everyone else."

Cole says he likes to play on the gaming systems in the space and that he’s almost always talking to someone. 

He says he was reluctant to attend at first. Now he says The Honeycomb House is a good community to be a part of and he’s become a more social person, something he’s noticed in other teens who come to the space as well. 

The library’s youth advocate, Ev Robertson, spends a lot of time in The Honeycomb House in a supervisory and support role for the teens. They say it’s been cool to witness the journeys and growth of teens over the past year. 

"I’ve seen kids come out of their shells which is basically magic to me," they say.

Robertson says through talking, playing and mutual creative outlets like drawing they are able to build trust with the teens.

That can be a starting point to discussing more serious topics like mental health and addiction.

"We can build that trust up and start that disclosure piece so they feel comfortable to tell me and then we can help them access other resources and supports to help them in their lives," Robertson says.

An open and welcoming place for teens to connect with each other and take a break from the stress of growing up was part of the early vision for The Honeycomb House. 

And we want as many teens as possible to be a part of it.

"If you’re struggling at school or struggling at home or want some more friends, come here," Cole says. "It’s a good place not just to make friends but just to hang out. And you’re always welcome, no matter what."

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary and @mhplteens

Everything old is new again.
 
Back in 1904, future British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously stated, “For a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”
 
More than 80 years later, US President Ronald Reagannoted that, “Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.”
 
Now here we are 40 years later, facing the exact same challenges these leaders sought to tackle. Our economy is more heavily regulated and taxed than it has been in decades. Small business owners can’t get ahead, and working class people are falling behind.
 
Rather than tackle these problems head on, our governments have chosen to double down on failed economic policies while ignoring the effects.
 
Our federal government, for example, likes to toss around Gross Domestic Product statistics, to take credit for economic growth. Driven by massive borrowing, Trudeau’s administration used the public purse to drive GDP growth to a paltry 0.5 per cent last quarter. 
 
The problem is that, for you and your family, this statistic is taken out of context. A larger economy means nothing when your share is shrinking. The fact is Canada’s GDP per capita has fallen for five consecutive quarters, and job growth is not keeping pace with record immigration levels.
 
As federal Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre has accurately noted, “Canadians are getting poorer.”
 
There is a tendency among conservative Albertans to sneer at the federal government while ignoring our own failures. The truth is we have the exact same issue.
 
Danielle Smith’s government recently boasted about a rising fiscal surplus in the recent quarterly update, noting Alberta has the country’s highest GDP growth at 3.3 per cent.
 
Once again, this is a meaningless statistic for you and your family. Record population growth of 4.4 per cent means GDP per capita is falling rapidly. Albertans are getting poorer. 
 
The fact is GDP per capita in Alberta peaked in 2018, before the UCP was elected. According to current projections, Alberta will not reach those levels again in the foreseeable future, if ever.
 
It is also worth noting that inflation in Alberta remains above the national average, as it has this entire calendar year. Unemployment in Alberta also remains above the national average, forecast at 7 per cent in 2024. Job creation is not even close to keeping pace with immigration. In the first quarter of 2024, Alberta’s population was up over 200,000 from a year ago, the highest annual growth rate since 1981.
The fiscal update also noted that,“The rising unemployment rate also appears to be discouraging some segments of the population from looking for work. As such, the labour force participation rate has been lower-than-expected this year.”
The headwinds we face today are almost entirely the result of failed government policy. But you wouldn’t get that from the Smith government’s Orwellian press release, which described, “Cautious optimism for a strong future.”
 
Both the Trudeau and Smith governments seem unwilling to accept that their high tax and high spending plans, heavy on corporate welfare, are failing real families.
 
They seem to truly believe GDP growth is the only measure that matters. That’s entirely what you would expect from governments that have wandered away from free market economics into the realm of central planning.
 
They remain solely focused on statistics like GDP, rather than GDP per capita, because they honestly believe the economy belongs to them, not to you.
 
If it seems like they have no regard for the affordability crisis you face, for the high levels of taxes you pay, or the runaway expenditure of taxpayer dollars, there’s a reason. They don’t. You are, at best, an afterthought. And when your situation runs counter to their narrative, you are an inconvenience.
 
Unfortunately, this won’t change… not until we remind them just whose economy it really is.

It has been just over a year since we launched the Sun City Sentinel and it has been challenging to say the least. Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Tik Tok seem to be the platforms of choice to get information out and get instant feedback. In this age of hyper competitive "media", it is always challenging to launch a new venture to compete for eyeballs when it comes to what today we call "news".

In Medicine Hat we have our legacy media and journalism outlets and online so-called media outlets who think they are journalists, but it all comes down to competing for views. Views, reposts and likes draw attention. Attention draws eyeballs and eyeballs are what advertisers pay for.

The other issue we wanted to address has been the decline of reporting local news. Full time reporters need to be paid. That pay is covered by either selling subscriptions or ad revenue. Unfortunately, we can all get much of that news for free and most of what is in our local news is republished from international, national or regional outlets and not very local.

The experiment the Sentinel wanted to try was this...rather than journalists inserting their opinion and narratives into issues and goings on in our community, it was to have those, that have a story to tell, tell it in their own way without having an avalanche of opinion, or abuse, hurled at them online.

The desire to express opinion and be heard in a world where 24/7 news seems to drown out any real conversation on the issues is a problem. It's disappointing that, rather than trying to understand why we see things differently from another, whose opinion is of no less value than our own, we send hate mail and make comments through online platforms that most wouldn't have the backbone to say to someone's face. Sometimes we need to agree to disagree and not to take it personally.

The Sentinel has been a target of some of this "criticism" and that may be a good thing. We are competing for those eyeballs. Competition can be seen as a threat to those with established footholds. When people feel threatened they defend their positions, sometimes too vigorously.

The way in which we defend our positions and opinions matter. It is easy to call someone stupid or ignorant when we disagree, rather than realizing someone's opinion is their own and we don't have to agree with it. Maybe we could try to truly listen and understand why they think the way they do.

Either way, the Sentinel wishes to thank all those that have advertised, contributed, subscribed and read the pieces published on our site. We look forward to further robust dialogue on the issues, both good and bad, that impact our community.

The Medicine Hat mayor and council squabble has resulted in peak bad judgment as evidenced by a knee jerk reaction to once again invest millions of tax payer dollars and thousands of paid staff hours into a tax subsidized, financially uncertain solar farm. Not only does city ownership remove any property tax support that a private owner would have provided, but it also ties future taxpayer hands by removing our option to purchase more flexible Power Purchase Agreements on the open market.

More significant, when this project requires more capital and valuable employee time to cover its construction, operation and overruns it will misdirect Medicine Hat’s and council’s priorities and resources away from serving all Medicine Hat families and businesses by not focusing on providing affordable, efficient, and effective city services.

This is evidenced by the fact Medicine Hat city council refuses to help Hatters by eliminating the temporary Municipal Consent Access Fee. At a time our families, businesses and economic core are struggling with a slow economy, affordability and only 15 housing starts year to date—city council can’t make a decision on saving your neighbour $150 a year by eliminating the MCAF until a 3rd party energy review is complete, studied and gathers dust. BUT city council can invest millions in a project of significant size but uncertain benefit. Knee jerk and the wrong priorities!

I also ask MP Glen Motz and Official Opposition leader Poilievre to immediately provide some clarity that a year from now their Zero carbon tax changes would indeed make this type of purchase truly redundant.

I ask our mayor and council to back away from this large uncertain commitment, eliminate the MCAF for all Medicine Hatters (I remind you Redcliff and Cypress County do not charge their citizens this tax), concentrate on spending less so you can tax less and start to work together for the benefit of all Medicine Hatters. 

Drew Barnes

Medicine Hat, AB – The City of Medicine Hat is inviting residents to ‘Municipal Mingle’ at Towne Square on Thursday, September 12 from 4 to 7 p.m.

Municipal Mingle is a public engagement event that is designed to foster a collaborative environment between City staff and community members. The open house format allows for informal interaction where attendees can engage in discussions that interest them the most. It's an opportunity to ask questions directly to those involved in the forefront of the city's development and services.

Residents of all ages are encouraged to attend and connect, engage, and share their feedback on a range of local initiatives. The goal of the event is to receive insights, gather feedback, and encourage community participation in new and ongoing projects that shape the future of Medicine Hat.

The departments and projects currently involved in Municipal Mingle include the following:

Airport – Promotion of local scheduled air service
Communications, Engagement and Marketing – Ways to engage with the City
Community Development; Community Supports team – Community Well-Being Plan update
Economic Development – Learn about the Rural Renewal Program, business retention program, incentive information, and business attraction plans
**Environmental Strategy and Compliance with Strategy and Analysis **– Clean Energy Improvement Program (CEIP)
Environment, Land and Gas Production; Land and Real Estate team – Information on single family residential lots and multi-family lots
Environment Utilities – Update on Food Waste Pilot Program and Water & Sewer Capital Projects
Executive Leadership – Ask Me About Local Government
Finance; Financial Control & Reporting team – 2025/26 Budget
Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services – Public education, demonstrations and view Fire Truck
Medicine Hat Police Service; Bylaw Enforcement team - view side-by-side vehicle and information for residents
Municipal Works; Engineering team – MioVision Traffic Camera Display
Municipal Works; Operations team – Snow and ice control program, Name the Fleet campaign, equipment show and tell: snow plow and sander
Planning and Development Services – Update on the Land Use Bylaw Refresh
For more on this event, including prize giveaways, visit the event page on Shape Your City.

August 26, 2024
 
Dear Members,
 
Today we launched the third topic in our Acute Care Concerns advocacy series. I held a news conference this morning with Section of Internal Medicine President Dr. Troy Pederson to comment on the current situation and solutions that are needed. As I wrote this letter, I heard that Edmonton Zone internal medicine had been completely overrun with no capacity for new patients. This is happening as we are heading into the Labor Day weekend with respiratory virus season just around the corner. The need is urgent.
 
General internal medicine (GIM) physicians have a unique role – in both hospital and community settings – caring for the most complex patients with overlapping, multiple health issues of all kinds. In many ways, they are the last line of defense for complex inpatient care.
 
Our internal medicine colleagues are working at an unsustainable rate and are constantly being asked to do more, with less. They’ve told me they can’t keep up much longer. I do believe that if GIM goes down, acute care will collapse. This may strike some as hyperbole, but as so many other services have been disrupted and impacted, safe and timely hospital care for Albertans is truly at risk. We will face hospitals full of patients with no one to manage and coordinate their multiple, complex medical needs. This is not only inefficient and wasteful, it is unsafe. Internal medicine patients – so often the elderly, frail and vulnerable – deserve better.
 
Why are things so bad right now? The skill set and omnipresence of internal medicine is a strength: They can handle a broad range of shifting needs. That flexibility, though, is also a liability in these times. When there are gaps in the acute care team, our GIM colleagues end up doing many things to patch the care together. They are doing this because they can, not because they should. For example (and this is just one of many), admission administration and other record keeping and management tasks that were once performed by non-physician team members now fall on already overworked GIM physicians.
 
Additional pressure builds as we are lose more hospital-based subspecialist physicians. These subspecialists are understandably responding to the untenable pressures on acute care and withdrawing from aspects of hospital service, and particularly from after-hours care. They are not to blame for the crisis in internal medicine. Every colleague needs to do what’s best in order to stay well and functioning. For GIM physicians, though, there really is no one to whom patients can be passed if they step back to try and stay well themselves. We need to fix this.

Like so many parts of health care, it’s not a case of: Pay more, get more work. Internal medicine colleagues in general could not do work more than they are already doing. But we can make their work go further. We can build up the teams that support them and their patients. We can get better organized and catalog, understand and manage a full staff of health care teams so that they too are working most effectively. It’s inexcusable in this day and age to not know from day-to-day what support staff will be in hospital, what teams will be in place to help physicians provide care and to be asked to do the work of other professions simply because the government has not invested proactively and appropriately.
 
A word about teams and how much we need them. We see it in family and rural medicine. I see it every day in the ER and around my hospitals. Teams keep us going when we would otherwise fall down. I will leave you with Dr. Pederson’s thoughts on this topic.
 
"The output of the system is still really good one patient at a time, but I think we could deliver a system that is equally effective, more efficient, and creates a culture where physicians and non-physicians can start to work as teams again and value each other. That is what I feel is eroding. I love my hospital, but I just find more unhappy people than I ever have before that I work with. We are that canary in the coal mine and we are doing something wrong and we need to get back to this health care team that feels supported and feels like they are doing important work."
 
Well said.
 
Finally, we continue to press for action on the AMA’s Acute Care Stabilization Proposal but we’ve still not seen a response from government. Our proposal will not solve all the problems in the system but it will go a long way to address many of the issues we are facing, including after-hours availability and aligning patient care with payment models and incentives that will help stabilize acute care so that Alberta can once again be competitive in terms of physician retention and recruitment
 
Regards,

Paul Parks
President, Alberta Medical Association

Medicine Hat, AB – Today, the City of Medicine Hat applied to the Alberta Utilities Commission to obtain ownership of the 325-megawatt (MW) Saamis Solar Park project within Medicine Hat’s municipal boundary.  
The solar power plant and accompanying substation were approved, with conditions, by the Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) on July 18, 2024 under the ownership of Saamis Solar Park Ltd, part of the Irish-headquartered DP Energy Group. The current AUC approval enables construction to begin in 2025 and to be in service by 2027. 
“Engagement with the City of Medicine Hat has been extremely positive since the project’s inception back in 2016 and it’s rewarding to see that this project now has the potential to contribute to the City’s energy transition, whilst providing low-cost renewable energy to its residents,” says Damian Bettles, Head of Development for DP Energy in Canada. 
Through negotiating a purchase and sale agreement, multiple conditions and internal processes must be satisfied before the City can consider developing the solar field, not the least of which is provincial approval, along with Council approval and financing.  
Rochelle Pancoast, Managing Director of Energy, Land and Environment with the City of Medicine Hat, clarifies that the City is not immediately building a solar array. “Any decision on investing in new generation assets is subject to Council approval. Today, we are taking steps to acquire the opportunity, and all the associated approvals and engineering that have taken place thus far.” 
The proposed Saamis Solar Park lies on 1,600 acres in the City’s north and is considered a productive use of vacant contaminated lands from the former Westco Fertilizer plant and property not yet ready for longer term urban/residential development. Medicine Hat is suited for solar electricity generation given its abundant solar resource. 
If approved, the City intends to construct the project in phases to accommodate affordability, manage grid congestion, consider stakeholder needs, and acquire learnings before proceeding to the next phase. The project will diversify the City’s current 299 MW gas-fired electric generation portfolio by adding large-scale renewable energy into the mix. 
“We are facing challenges of energy transition and emission-reduction targets. Staff are hard at work each day modelling solutions that could be viable in complying with clean energy regulations while meeting the needs of our community and continuing to deliver the advantage of our electric utility,” adds Pancoast. “We can no longer ‘wait and see’ and must actively plan for the future. In this case, solar energy is a commercially viable option that is forecast to benefit our bottom line.”  
Pancoast also describes how City officials expect the Saamis Solar Park to contribute to the local economy in the form of construction jobs and being able to satisfy a growing customer interest in green energy.  
“Amongst the many benefits of gaining control of this project is that electricity generated from the solar field will flow to the City’s distribution grid, rather than bypassing to the Alberta grid as originally planned, bolstering our local energy supply. Having green power to offer can help attract and retain carbon-intensive industry and other investment, as well as reduce our own carbon compliance costs.”  
Green energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydro, produce little to no greenhouse gases, helping to reduce overall carbon emissions from the City’s electricity generation portfolio. For reference, every 25 MW of solar electricity has potential to offset 21,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually compared to gas-fired generation, saving the City $1.5 million in carbon compliance costs at today’s levy. That amount grows to $2.4 million per year once carbon levies reach $125/tonne in 2027. 
The City of Medicine Hat first awarded a development permit (permitted use) for the project to DP Energy in 2019.  

Medicine Hat, AB – The swim lake at Echo Dale Regional Park will close for the season after what is forecasted to be a beautiful, sunny Labour Day long weekend.
After the swim lake closes at 7 p.m. on Monday, September 2, that will spell the end of the 2024 season. Staff will begin draining the swim lake on Tuesday, September 3. Please note, the boat lake will remain open.
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents and park patrons who visited Echo Dale Regional Park during a hot, sunny 2024 season.
Are you new to Medicine Hat or haven’t checked out Echo Dale before? The park provides a wide range of activities, amenities and scenic views free of charge, and in close proximity to the City.
Visit the Echo Dale Regional Park page our website to see all you can still look forward to this fall, and when the swim lake re-opens in May 2025.

Medicine Hat, AB – The City will be replacing storm sewer infrastructure at the intersection of Maple Avenue SE and 4 Street SE beginning Tuesday, September 3.
This two-phased project is part of the City’s commitment to a proactive approach to infrastructure replacement in an effort to ensure reliable service for affected residents.
Phase 1 of construction will begin on the northbound lanes of the intersection. The southbound lanes of Maple Avenue SE will accommodate two-way traffic between 3 Street and 5 Street SE during this closure.
Once the first phase is complete, the final phase of construction will begin on the southbound lanes of the intersection. The northbound lanes of Maple Avenue SE will accommodate two-way traffic between 5 Street and 3 Street SE during this closure.
Weather permitting, this storm sewer infrastructure replacement project is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Traffic delays may occur throughout this project. Motorists are asked to please obey all posted signage and detours. Active work areas will be defined with signage and barriers.
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience as these necessary upgrades are completed in a timely manner.

Medicine Hat, AB - The Honourable Justice R.E. Nation has released her decision on the judicial review initiated by Mayor Clark.

In short, Justice Nation upheld the fact that Clark did breach the code of conduct but the sanctions were not commensurate with the breach.

Regarding the sanctions she ruled that, "when I review the sanctions, they are on the face very severe. They appear disproportionate with the conduct. Sanctions that are aimed at limiting contact or assuring respectful communication with Mitchell are rationally connected with the breach of the Code. Thus, a letter of reprimand, the request for an apology, and a limit on how communication is done with Mitchell, or a requirement that Mitchell have some control over in person meetings are reasonable and appear connected with the concern. Having said that, the suspension of Clark’s presiding duties under section 154 of the MGA, that she no longer be the official spokesperson for Council, that she no longer can attend meetings of the administration committee or that her salary is reduced by 50% (with no limit in time, effectively a financial penalty of over $50,000) are hard to justify. There is no indication the issue was her inability to deal with other staff, or with governance issues. After the intervention of a Councillor at the August meeting, Clark continued to chair the meeting appropriately, to call for a vote on the question calmly and competently. There was no suggestion she was unable to chair the meeting or represent the City. Clark was elected Mayor of the City, these latter sanctions in essence strip her of a significant portion of her role as Mayor."

As far as remedy to the issue, Justice Nation states, "Generally, the remedy when a decision is impugned in judicial review is to send the matter back to the administrative body to reconsider the decision with directions. However, declining to remit a matter back may be appropriate in certain circumstances. Elements such as the efficient use of public resources may influence a court’s discretion in remitting a matter." She further states, "Remitting the matter back in this case would mean sending the issue of sanctions for the conduct back to Council, whose members appear to have no sense of proportionality in crafting sanctions and have imposed sanctions that have no rational connection with the breach of the Code. As a result, I will strike out sanction 2,3,5 and 6 as disproportionate and unreasonable. Sanction 1 is upheld as it is reasonable."

Clark will not be reimbursed for legal costs of the action but will receive backpay for the time her remuneration was reduced by council.

To read the complete decision you can find it here.

*The following article is a letter sent to Sun City Sentinel by Councillor Dumanowski and has been published verbatim.

-

While the mayor’s legal counsel portrayed the defense in the judicial review as simple and straightforward, it is evident that there was a deeper layer of truth understood by city council that was not fully disclosed to the public. The judicial review process was deliberately focused on the events of August 21, 2023, however, in reality, the entire proceedings leading up to the review obscured critical facts that remained concealed from the general public, but were clearly understood by the rest of council. 

After taking some time to reflect on the judicial review proceedings and the subsequent comments by the mayor, I find it necessary to speak out. I find it deeply troubling that many of the points being communicated portray senior city hall administration and the councillors as the root cause of the complaint. The suggestion by the mayor that council had the ability to prevent the judicial review and its associated costs to the citizens of Medicine Hat is utterly absurd. What the public may not know is that numerous efforts were made to avoid the need for a judicial review. These included one-on-one discussions, group conversations, and even bringing in the highly experienced and respected George Cuff to facilitate a resolution before resorting to a public legal dispute. We even reached out to Municipal Affairs to assist, which is now public knowledge. At no point during these mediation attempts was there any indication of agreement or respect for constructive dialogue from the mayor. It is highly concerning that instead there seemed to be a desire to engage in public political conflict (in the form of a judicial review) rather than seeking resolution behind the scenes. I want to emphasize that there were eight councillors who shared a unanimous and unified position in levelling a the code of conduct violation against the mayor. This should clearly illustrate the challenges we had been striving to address over the past several months. I personally reached out to the mayor prior to the events of August 21, cautioning her that she was dangerously close to isolating herself at City Hall. While each elected official has the right to represent their constituents as they see fit, it is perplexing to me to understand how one could think that working in isolation could benefit the public. The councillors have been steadfast in ensuring that the welfare of our public and senior administration is and remains our top priority.

The highly contentious and disputed topic of accountability surrounding the recent reorganization appears to be at the heart of the events of August 21. There has been a subtle attempt to portray this as a failure on the part of our City Manager, but nothing could be further from the truth. Having spent nearly 23 years around the council table and having participated in multiple administrative reorganizations at City Hall during my tenure, I can unequivocally affirm that the process used for last year's reorganization was consistent with previous organizational reviews/changes. It is important for the public to understand that a reorganization is not something that can be magically implemented in a single council meeting, with everything seemingly falling into place immediately afterward. As in past practices, the city manager approached council with suggested changes well in advance, operating on the premise and in good faith that when the final decision eventually came before an open council meeting, it would receive the necessary support and pass. This is how it’s done - period. A reorganization cannot happen overnight, like flipping a light switch. There are weeks, if not months, of background discussions, shifts/adjustments, departmental and broader organizational changes that must take place well before a final decision is made around the council table. The same approach was followed in this instance. In my view, the root cause of the regrettable discord that took place on August 21 stems from the fact that, as part of the reorganization, the position of the public relations employee (who worked closely with the mayor) was eliminated. It was felt that this position, among others, had little direct impact on the broad citizenry. Therefore, in our ongoing efforts to save the taxpayer money, difficult decisions had to be made regarding a variety of positions. None of these cuts were meant to be personal in nature. Council’s intent was simply to streamline operations to save money for other projects and service improvements within the organization. I believe that the elimination of the public relations advisor may have acted as the tipping point for disagreement with the city manager, as this individual largely served as the mayor’s personal assistant (managing her emails, calendar, and assisting with social media content, etc). However, up until this term, no sitting mayor in the city's history had ever had a personal assistant of that nature (other than the executive assistant who sits immediately outside the mayor’s office and one who works for the benefit of all of council). It was when this position was cut, that a challenge with the reorganization issue began, with claims that it was not being conducted democratically or in a transparent fashion. Having served many years in public office, I have been on the receiving end of many decisions that were deeply challenging and in some instances where the outcome was even personally troubling. Such is the nature of democratic governance. There have even been times when I fully committed to a position only to find it at odds with my colleagues, yet I had to move forward for the greater good and the will of the majority of council and the public. 

The public interrogation of a senior bureaucrat during the meeting on August 21 was profoundly distressing for me to witness. Simplistically speaking, while there may have been grounds for a healthy procedural debate, the fact is, that council was thoroughly informed of the changes that were taking place, well in advance—weeks, if not months, before that open meeting. In my view, this public spectacle was an attempt to humiliate the City Manager, the individual responsible for making difficult decisions on behalf of the majority of city council, such as the elimination of the public relations role among others. However, these decisions were undertaken in the interest of streamlining operational decisions that would achieve financial savings strongly desired by the rest of the council.

The subsequent and highly contested sanctions imposed on the mayor following a challenge under the code of conduct were implemented without any desire for public attention or fanfare. In all my years around the council table, it was difficult for me to imagine that such measures and interventions initially even proved necessary. However, after a thorough third-party (independent) review and confirmation of the code of conduct violation, consistent with the Municipal Government Act (MGA), I was obligated to let the facts speak for themselves. This was not a personal vendetta, as has been shamefully suggested, but rather the outcome of one person's words and actions beyond my control. What I find most troubling about this entire situation is that a simple and contrite public apology could have entirely mitigated and prevented this public discord, and the necessity for a judicial review in the first place. While I understand that it is human nature to challenge that which one believes needs to be challenged, entering public office requires looking beyond one’s own singular perspective. Instead, it requires one to consider the broader public interest at every corner. To that end, I find myself with no other choice but to remain hopeful that the final year of this term can be salvaged, and that the fractured relationship between the mayor, the councillors, and senior administration can be repaired. Regardless of the outcome of the judicial review, there will be no clear winners or losers. Fundamentally speaking, if we are to move forward and work effectively on behalf of the citizens, personal differences must be set aside so that we can focus on the more important task of governing effectively. The public deserves absolutely nothing less. 

Medicine Hat, AB - Mayor Clark spoke to the media on Thursday regarding the judicial review process and her feelings on the issue at this point.

The Sentinel reached out to multiple councillors that have watched her interview or read her comments to respond to Clark’s position and statements.

Clark’s comments, such as “it was up to council to put in different sanctions or to remove the sanctions before it got to judicial review,” and “I hope that there’s a lot of lessons learned in this process,” have upset more than a few councillors.

Her comments are seen as untruthful and misleading the public as to what has actually gone on, and Clark’s actual actions, or lack of actions are the reason the City is in this position.

Councillor Andy McGrogan told the Sentinel, “I just watched the interview, and she has really turned this around. She initiated the judicial review, the City of Medicine Hat was reacting to it. We are wasting taxpayer’s dollars because she won’t apologize and show the least bit of humility by admitting that she could have been more tactful and respectful in her approach both leading up to, and during the August 21 meeting. If she wants the sanctions lifted it’s been clear to her from the start what she needs to do. The only ones suffering are the residents who want us focusing on City business.”

Councillor Hider, who has grown extremely frustrated by this issue and the actions of Clark, stated, “The Mayor has made no effort to make any sort of change, or work with council to bring this to a close and move forward. Clark’s statements are, “misleading the community” and “she is not telling the truth.”

Councillor Shila Sharps, who initiated the complaint, "found it disturbing to hear comments suggesting that the Council was out to get Clark and the other disgusting comments made by her Counsel. It is disheartening to see that despite efforts made to accommodate her and make things right, she failed to take responsibility for her actions and offer a simple apology. It is truly unbelievable that she could not find it within herself to utter those two words, "I'm sorry.""

When asked about Clark's honesty and not misleading the public, Sharps states, "she often uses the term "transparency" as a weapon, yet if she truly embodied transparency, she would have disclosed that this Council has made multiple attempts at mediation, all of which she rejected. She would have shared that individual Council members have tried to engage in dialogue with her, only to be met with refusal. Perhaps she would have admitted that she was the one who banned a particular media group from the Council floor and allowed administration to take the blame. True transparency involves addressing issues within your own domain, not deflecting the spotlight onto others."

When Sharps was asked about Clark's comments about doing her job, Sharps states that "when I saw Clark's statement claiming she has been consistently doing her job, since her sanctions I was taken aback. It is no secret that Mayor Clark has been absent from City Hall for quite some time." Sharps goes on to state that Clark "shows continued disrespect to council and presenters and is habitually late; even when we were privileged enough to have George Cuff present, she casually strolled in 10 minutes late. Even as recent as our last Agenda Review meeting, I was under the impression she was on holidays, however she informed the Clerk's office and our admin assistant that she would be attending. We waited till after 11 and as there was not sight of her and I asked the MD to proceed and she never did show up."

Clearly councillors feel Clark is unwilling and unable to accept any responsibility for her actions and words and has refused to mediate or negotiate unless council removes sanctions. Decision on the judicial review is expected at the end of September.

**Medicine Hat, AB – **The railway tracks and bridge at the bottom of Dunmore Road hill will be under construction starting Saturday, August 24. The project is part of the City’s on-going bridge maintenance program required to maintain the service life and reliability of the structure.
The construction project, located at the south side of the intersection of Dunmore Road SE and Spencer Street SE, will be broken down into two separate weekend closures to reduce motorist impact during the work week.
The first closure involves the removal of the railway tracks, which will be performed the weekend of August 24 to 25.
The second closure, set for the weekend of September 7 to 8, will accommodate the overlay of the bridge deck over Seven Persons Creek, along with minor concrete works.
These two closures will require a closure of Dunmore Road hill and implementation of a detour each weekend. Northbound traffic looking to access Kingsway Avenue SE and Allowance Avenue SE will detour down College Drive, College Avenue, and back down Kipling/Spencer Street.
Medicine Hat Transit route 30 will be affected and follow this weekend detour. Riders on this route are asked to allow extra time for their weekend commutes as the service may lead to missed connections.
Dunmore Road hill will reopen by 6 a.m. on Monday, August 26 for the first closure. It will again reopen by 6 a.m. on Monday, September 9 for the second closure and project completion.
Traffic delays are expected throughout this project. Motorists are asked to please obey all posted signage and detours. Active work areas will be defined with signage and barriers.
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience as these necessary upgrades are completed in a timely manner.

**Medicine Hat – **The City of Medicine Hat will conduct a road rehabilitation pilot project in the NE Crescent Heights neighbourhood beginning Tuesday, August 20.
This pilot project utilizes a method of pavement preservation called micro-surfacing, which is designed to seal, protect and prolong the life of existing asphalt. Micro-surfacing has proven to be an effective road rehabilitation process for crack repair, rut filling and/or surfacing the entire roadway. This pilot project is a key component of the City's transportation infrastructure renewal strategy.
The pilot project area will be broken down into three stages, each spanning three blocks – 20 Street NE, 7 Avenue NE and 17 Street NE. Please view the attached map for reference:

• Work zone map (PDF)
  Each stage will take approximately one day to complete. Crews will begin on the 20 Street NE, then shift to 7 Avenue NE before finishing on 17 Street NE. Weather permitting, this pilot project is expected to be completed and all roads re-opened by Monday, August 26.
  Traffic accommodation plans, including detours, will be in place as construction begins. Traffic detours may change as crews shift between project stages. Motorists are reminded to obey all posted signs, speed limits and detours for the safety of travellers and crews.
  An annual review of the pilot program locations will be completed to determine if the program was a success and if micro-surfacing will continue to be utilized as a maintenance option in Medicine Hat. Indicators of success will include a level, uniform, and well-bonded surface that lasts the average service life. The pilot program tender includes a two-year warranty.
  The City of Medicine Hat thanks residents for their patience and understanding during this rehabilitation project which ensures safe and reliable infrastructure for years to come.

**Medicine Hat, AB – **The pedestrian trail along South Boundary Road SE will be temporarily closed between South Ridge Drive SE and Vista Drive SE starting Wednesday, August 14 to accommodate underground power line replacement.
During this project, crews will replace the existing South Boundary feeder cables along this section of South Boundary Road SE. This feeder cable supports the residential, commercial, and industrial customers in the South Ridge, Vista and Hamptons neighbourhoods. This project will improve the electrical system’s reliability, redundancy and the quality of service to affected residents and commercial properties in this area. No customers are expected to experience a service disruption from this replacement work.
This project may also require minor isolated traffic restrictions to accommodate work as it progresses. Please obey all posted signage and drive with caution in the area.
Weather permitting, the project is expected to be completed – and the trail reopened – by Wednesday, September 4.
Please note, South Boundary trail west of South Ridge Drive and east of Vista Drive is unaffected and will remain open during this project.
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding as these necessary upgrades are completed.

Some people call it the original extreme sport, others call it the Indy 500 of horse racing. No saddle. No safety equipment. Just raw speed and skill as bareback riders zoom around dirt tracks, swapping horses on the fly. Hatters, prepare for a heart-pumping thrill ride—Indian Relay Racing comes to the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds on August 24th and 25th. Here’s everything you need to know.

Newish to Canada, Rich in Tradition

This team sport has roots in Native American culture, dating back hundreds of years. However, the modern adaptation is relatively new in Canada, having made its debut in 2017 at the North American Indigenous Games and the Calgary Stampede.

Meet The Team

An Indian Relay Racing team consists of three horses, one rider, two holders, and a mugger. Each member plays a crucial role:

1. The Rider: Travels bareback around the track, exchanging horses after each lap.
2. Holder: Positions and calms the horses for the rider’s quick transitions.
3. Mugger: Catches the rider's horse at the end of every lap, making sure it doesn’t run wild.

The Race

The rider must complete a set number of laps, switching to a fresh horse after each one. This means the rider must dismount and then leap onto the next animal, making a seamless transition without losing momentum. The rapid-fire speed requires extreme accuracy, agility, and trust among the team members.

What Medicine Hat Can Expect

The fast-paced, unpredictable nature of Indian Relay Racing will keep spectators’ eyes glued to the track. Hatters will witness the phenomenal skill and athleticism displayed by both riders and horses. As one attendee of a Calgary Stampede race phrased it on Reddit, “Worth the price of admission alone. Most badass athletes at the Stampede.”

More Than Just a Sport

Indian Relay Racing is a celebration of Canada’s Indigenous heritage. Traditional dancing, drumming, and an artisan market will be part of the event at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds. You’ll be able to immerse yourself in culture and history while enjoying the adrenaline rush of one of the most exciting sports around.

Why You Shouldn’t Miss It

If you’ve never seen anything like this before, prepare to become an instant fan. Indian Relay Racing combines the thrill of chuckwagon races with the rich traditions of Indigenous culture. It’s a sport that honors the past and delivers breathtaking excitement to the present.

The Indian Relay Races gallop into the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede grounds on Saturday, August 24th at 6pm and Sunday, August 25th at 1pm. Tickets are just $25 and can be purchased here.

Last week, Canadians learned that under the current Liberal government, not only did Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada allow ISIS Terrorist Ahmed Fouad Mostafa Eldidi to enter Canada, but he was also granted Canadian citizenship.

How does this happen in Canada? The Trudeau Liberals must be held accountable, but the Minister refuses to admit responsibility.

The Conservatives were successful in calling an emergency meeting of the Public Safety and National Security (SECU) committee where we will attempt to compel Public Safety Minister LeBlanc and Immigration Minister Miller to answer our questions. MP Motz, who has been a long-standing member of the committee, is travelling to Ottawa to attend the meeting in person.

Glen Motz, Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner stated, “Canadians must be able to trust their government to protect our national security by not allowing those who would be a risk to Canada to enter our country. The Liberal coverups need to stop, but unfortunately, I believe there are more to come. These Liberals will stop at nothing to avoid accountability.”

To watch the proceedings of the SECU Committee meeting beginning Tuesday, August 13 at 8:00 am MDT, visit: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/View/Calendar/20240813/-1

Albertans are a capable people. The loony left social activists would deprive free men and women of their God given rights, all in the name of public safety.

Life is unsafe and always will be. These social activists are actually envious of Albertans because we cope with the world around us and get on with our lives. Envy not money is the root of evil and those who cannot cope, envy those of us who can.

We live in the Strong and Free Province of Alberta and are afforded peace of mind by coping with what is placed in front of us. Freedom is a physical thing as in being free of shackles, Liberty is a political philosophical variable depending on who is talking and what Freedoms they wish to restrict.

It occurs to me that Liberalism can be defined as fearful. Those of us who can cope with circumstances tend to be conservative. The pious man fears God while the political loser fears the state that they had hoped would protect them, only to find they identified the wrong enemy.

A free man must not be told how to think, either by the government or by social activists. He may certainly be shown the right way, but he must not accept being forced into it.

Jeff Cooper

Fortis Et Liber

Ian Parkinson

As a retired Edmonton police officer I know there is nothing as scary as responding to a person with gun complaint, and especially one where the reporter indicates a shot’s been fired.

And, it’s for that reason police are supposed to be specially trained and have special policies in place so they know how to respond and deal with these types of incidents, and especially so any involved officers and the public’s safety comes first. 

So, let’s see what we know now.

An ASIRT release advises that on Saturday, 27 July 2024 Medicine Hat police received a call from a civilian who indicated a gun was discharged by the occupant of a suite at an apartment building in the 200 block of 8 Street SW. 

The actual building, depicted above is an eight suite apartment complex, and where the door was locked when the writer popped by, looking in the front window you can see there are stairs leading up to the upper level that has four suites, two facing to the rear and two facing the front, and there are stairs leading downstairs to four more suites similarly located. 

If standing on the upstairs landing one would be above and have a direct view of anyone standing outside the front glass door and entranceway. And, I would suggest, if you had a firearm, and were not seen, you would have the element of surprise and an advantage against any proposed targets standing out front.  

The ASIRT release indicates that where officers attending were able to remove several occupants from the building, that while standing by the front entrance of the building a gun was discharged from within the suite, which injured several of the attending officers. Police then immediately returned fire and retreated from the building.

It will be interesting to learn if the weapon was in fact fired from someone standing on the landing inside the front entrance or from within a suite as suggested. 

The release continues that Tactical members arrived and later removed an injured man, since identified as thirty-year old Cole Scory from within the apartment building, and a firearm since confirmed to be a shotgun. Scory has since been charged with 12 different charges including four counts of attempted murder respecting four different MHPS members.

So, where we may assume these are the MHPS members injured, who are these members? Are their injuries serious? And, how are they doing? The MHPS webpage suggests that “Given the ongoing nature of both the ASIRT and MHPS investigations no additional details will be provided”. 

Why not, what’s the big secret? And, why would the release of such information affect any investigation? I suggest it wouldn’t.

I also suggest Hatters have a right to know. These are members of OUR police service. 

Attending the Courthouse, I requested and received a copy of a Replacement Information dated 30 July 2024, which details the twelve charges laid against Mr. Scory. I note this is public information.   

So, the MHPS officers presumed injured and named as the alleged victims of attempted murder are Cst. Juan Quintas-Betancur, Cst. Eric Marshall, Cst. Mackenzie Kipta and Cst. Beverly Kennedy. 

I am now imploring MHPS Chief Murphy to provide a proper media release to advise Hatters and the many others who care and worry about these officer’s, to let us know how they are doing and what’s really happening, and do so while appreciating he cannot release information respecting anything that would affect or jeopardize any court proceedings. 

The issues about why these officers were standing out front of this building together when they knew a person inside was dangerous and not long before a weapon was fired, how containment was or was not done, who was supervising or in charge, or not, were MHPS policies and procedures followed and many other concerns about this incident will be addressed at a later date. 

In the interim, I believe the well being, care and recovery of all officers and persons involved is this community’s first priority!

And remember you heard it here first!

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Have your voice heard when it comes to programs, teen books, The Honeycomb House and more

Medicine Hat Public Library wouldn’t be what it is now without the efforts of the teenagers of today and the past 30 years. The library’s TIC TAC (Teens Initiating Change Together And Committed) committee has played an integral role in helping us make this somewhere teens – all teens – want to be. 

We’re now accepting applications to join the next group of teens that will help us shape the future of teen services at the library.

One of the accomplishments of the inaugural TIC TAC committee was establishing the young adult book collection here; a few years later the Youthopia space was created. Our teen services have grown exponentially since then, culminating last year in a new home in the library for teens. 

“We now have The Honeycomb House and the TIC TAC committees of the last couple of years helped greatly to create that space, giving us input on what they wanted to see in a new teen space at the library,” explains Stephanie Kuhn, youth and community librarian. 

You are eligible to be a TIC TAC committee member if you are 13-19 years old and in grades 7-12; a library member; and are able to spend about seven hours a month between the TIC TAC meeting and after-hours teen events during the school year.

Some of the benefits to being a member are learning leadership skills, enhancing job and/or post-secondary applications, making a better community for your peers and free swag.

Interested? You can fill out an application online or get one at the library Information Desk. 

The deadline to apply is Sept. 12 at the TIC TAC Open House from 6-7:30 p.m. at the library.

Keep up with everything teen-related at MHPL on Instagram and TikTok at @mhplteens.

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

If you see smoke billowing from the Medicine Hat Lodge parking lot, don't worry—there's no need to call the fire department. Instead, call your friends and bring your appetite. Medicine Hat RIBFEST returns from August 9th to 11th. With the smoky aroma of barbeque wafting through the air and the lively sounds of local bands, the scene is set for an unforgettable and satisfying summer night. Whether you’re a rib connoisseur or a first-timer, here’s what you need to know about Medicine Hat RIBFEST.

The Inaugural RIBFEST

The first time grill masters brought their rib trucks to Medicine Hat was in September 2017. The gigantic displays were set up in the mall parking lot and served as a fundraiser for Big Brothers Big Sisters. The event included a free stage for community members to perform. My five-minute stand-up comedy routine was poorly received, as everyone was too busy eating ribs.

What To Expect

1. The Ribs: These are the stars of the show, brought to you by the Western Canada RIBFEST Tour. Four different rib trucks will be set up and offer a range of flavours and styles. Each contender has won multiple awards at meat-related events around North America.
2. More Meat: If ribs aren’t your thing, don’t worry, there are plenty of other finger-licking items to choose from. Expect pulled pork, chicken, sausage, cornbread, beans, and much more on the menu.
3. Price: Admission is free. A full rack of ribs will cost around $33, while a half rack is closer to $19. The ballpark price for a pulled pork sandwich is $14. However, various meat combos will be available, ranging from $23 to $161. Vendors typically accept all types of payment via debit and cash.
4. Entertainment: Several local artists will take the RIBFEST Stage throughout the event. Also appearing is the world’s best Bon Jovi Tribute: Bed of Roses. Mark your calendar for August 10th at 7:30 p.m. The BIG RIB Competition is slated for 3pm on Sunday.

The Rib Trucks

1. Billy’s BBQ: In 30 years of traveling across Canada and the United States, they’ve racked up more than 250 awards. Look out for fall-off-the-bone original, tangy, or hot ribs.
2. Blazin’ BBQ: They’ve been in the rib game since 2002 and have 500+ wins under their belt. Also on their menu is Mac & Cheese and Eleven Spice Chicken which could put the Colonel to shame.   
3. Bone Daddy BBQ: See if your tastebuds can detect their secret ingredient – papaya extract. They also cut and cure their own wood, which has garnered them hundreds of wins across North America.
4. Buckeye BBQ: Their BBQ sauce pays tribute to their Midwest heritage. Home of St. Louis-style ribs, they have a unique blend of spice, an unmistakable sweet with the just right amount of heat.

The Entertainment

1. Friday, August 9th: 5:30pm – Monster & Cake | 7:15pm – Logan Straub Music
2. Saturday, August 10th: 5pm – Presley Battle | 6:15 – Full Circle | 7:30pm – Bed of Roses
3. Sunday, August 11th: 12pm – Trent Roset | 4pm – Christie Kurpjuweit | 5pm – Rob Hudec

More Than Just A Meal

Stuffing your face and unbuckling your belt is just one aspect of Medicine Hat RIBFEST: it’s a celebration of summer, uniting the community, and the shared love of great food. You could meet someone new who shares your affinity for meat, or just support your fellow Hatter by listening to live music and getting a snack from one of the local food trucks. Make sure you bring the kids for the family fun zone and create some lasting memories.

Final Thoughts

Let someone else do the cooking that weekend. Medicine Hat RIBFEST takes over the Medicine Hat Lodge / Copper Coulee Casino parking lot from August 9th to the 11th. The event goes rain or shine because rain won’t keep the BBQ away. Check out the Medicine Hat RIBFEST Facebook page. You can also win a half rack of ribs by listening to John & Steve on Jack 102.1.

Medicine Hat, AB - Medicine Hat College’s (MHC) Extended Learning department is launching a Front Desk Fundamentals Program this fall in collaboration with the Medicine Hat Accommodation Association (MHAA) and the Government of Alberta (GOA). This 8-week program is designed by MHC’s Extended Learning department, which aims to enhance the skills of front desk employees in member hotels. "The Medicine Hat Accommodation Association is very excited to offer this new custom program to our front desk staff," says Elisha Ammann, Executive Director of MHAA. "Collaborating with Medicine Hat College to enhance the skills of our team members is a great way to show staff how valuable they are to our operations and have them improve their skill set to reach their future goals.” This program will be delivered in two cohorts of 16 students each, running from September to October 2024 and January to February 2025. It includes classic lectures, “pop-up” classes within the community, and on-the-job training where they will increase key competencies like adaptability, digital skills, collaboration, problem solving and more. "Medicine Hat College’s Extended Learning department is thrilled to partner with MHAA and the Government of Alberta to launch the Front Desk Fundamentals program," says Joalee Zanidean, Regional Training Strategist for Extended Learning at MHC. "This initiative exemplifies our commitment to providing industry-relevant education that meets regional workforce needs." 

**Medicine Hat – **The City of Medicine Hat has begun accepting applications for its Community Vibrancy Grant. The application window is open from Monday, July 29 through to Thursday, August 29, 2024 at 3 p.m.
The City of Medicine Hat values community activities and events. They bolster community spirit, emphasize opportunities that contribute to quality of life, and enhance a sense of belonging to a community that is welcoming, safe, resilient and full of opportunity.
The 2025 Community Vibrancy Grant application intake has two funding streams – Community Project and Activities, and Annual Festivals and Special Events.
The Community Project and Activities stream has $25,000 in available funds for 2025. The Annual Festivals and Special Events stream, for larger-scale events, has two-year funding available. There is $19,000 available for 2025. Due to multi-year funding, the amount of available funds may differ from year to year.
Applicants are encouraged to fully read the City’s grant funding guidelines and criteria to ensure their project and application meets the program objectives and eligibility criteria.
Examples of previous Community Vibrancy Grant recipients include the following:

• Brain Injury Awareness Month
• Reconnecting to Play at the Medicine Hat Public Library
• Learn to weave in Medicine Hat
• Addictions Don’t Discriminate
  For more information on the Community Vibrancy Grant program and the application process, visit medicinehat.ca/grants. Interested applicants can also email bonyar@medicinehat.ca.

Medicine Hat, AB - Christian Doll, son of Mike & Josie Doll of Medicine Hat, has passed away due to injuries sustained last week in an accident.
The family posted online that, "we are heartbroken to share with you that our son brother and grandson, Christian Doll, passed away. Our family is devastated."
In light of the tragic loss, the family chose to make the decision for Christian to donate his organs to help other families. They stated, "we know what we were going through as a family, losing Christian, and we now, very unfortunately, understand what other families are going through when faced with losing their child, brother, sister, mom or dad. There was no answer for our precious boy but he could be the answer and game changer for as many as 8 people. We gave the organ placement team 24 hours to match recipients. Overnight, all organs were matched with recipients. We didn’t know before but Christian’s blood type is O+, he was basically a universal donor. We hope, someday, to meet some of the kids and people that Christian saved through his ultimate donation."
The Go Fund Me page set up for Christian and his family to help him recover from his injuries raised just under $80,000.
The family is not sure when they will celebrate Christian's life stating, "our family doesn’t have any answers on a Celebration of Life for Christian yet. While it’s impossible to put something together that captures everything that Christian was, we want to take our time to ensure we create a memorial that represents Christian as best as we can."
"We thank everyone amongst our family, friends and community that have supported our family in so many ways over the last week. We are grateful for that."

**In the early afternoon hours of Saturday, July 27, 2024, members of the Medicine Hat Police Service responded to the 200 block of 8th Street SW for a weapons complaint. **
**As a result, a 30-year-old male as well as members of the Medicine Hat Police Service sustained injuries. The male was ultimately arrested and transported to the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital for treatment. Several police officers were also treated at the Hospital for their injuries. **
The Alberta Serious Incident Response Team has been assigned to investigate the events and as such no additional information will be provided.

Like all of us, politicians often face circumstances out of their control. 

The harsh truth is that your mayor, or your MLA for that matter, has no more control over floods, fires, or wars than you do. 

In such chaotic circumstances, the role of politicians is to help manage developments by putting the concerns of local families and communities first. 

As voters we rightly expect preparation, but we certainly don’t expect politicians to personally control every aspect of every crisis. When life throws you a knuckleball, sometimes legging out a single is the best-case scenario. By and large, citizens are fair-minded in such circumstances.

What voters can’t condone, however, is political cronyism.

We’ve all heard it before: Elected officials who abuse their power to feather their own nests, officials who rig contracts to benefit friends, and prid pro quo appointments to purchase political favours. Such tactics are immoral and underhanded.

They are also often devastating to the credibility of politicians. 

Voters have zero tolerance for such behavior. No leniency is given, because such corruption is 100 per cent controlled and orchestrated. Even politicians who aren’t directly involved are often guilty of looking the other way, or even worse guilty of forgiving such actions in the name of partisanship.

Much has been made of the many scandals of Prime Minister Trudeau’s government, from the SNC Lavalin illegal donations, to sole source contracts, to the WE Charity controversy.

For my money, one of the worst and least reported incidents involved Trudeau’s government attempting to appoint the sister-in-law of a Cabinet minister as Ethics Commissioner. She eventually stepped down in the face of rampant controversy.

Meanwhile, in Alberta, Danielle Smith’s government is racking up a similar record.

Most recently, it was revealed that the Premier, several Cabinet Ministers, and Premier’s Office staffers accepted thousands of dollars worth of NHL playoff tickets from a government contractor. This occurred after the government changed its ethics rules, removing monetary limits on gifts to MLAs, designed to curtail corruption and cronyism.

The Smith government also recently appointed disgraced former Premier Alison Redford, who was forced out of office due to cronyism, as a director of a crown corporation. Redford, you may remember, once booked fake passengers on her taxpayer-funded plane so that she could fly family members to a number of tourist destinations on the public dime. The Smith government will now pay Redford a $10,000 annual retainer and $300 compensation for each meeting she attends until at least Jan. 30, 2027.

Smith’s government has also taken several pages from the Trudeau government’s playbook.

Earlier this year they appointed an Ethics Commissioner who once sought a UCP nomination. As an “independent” Officer of the Legislature, the Ethics Commissioner has many duties, including (for example) investigating a Premier and Ministers accepting thousands of dollars worth of hockey tickets from a government contractor.

In addition, the government awarded several highly publicized sole-source contracts to party insiders. The most egregious involved a $72,500, three-month contract to Smith’s former leadership campaign manager for social media work.

The excuses given for the Smith government’s cronyism ring as hollow as Trudeau’s.

Competition and free markets are supposed to be at the heart of conservative ideology. I have to ask, is there no one capable of serving as Ethics Commissioner who doesn’t have direct ties to the UCP? Is the Premier’s former campaign manager the only person capable of delivering social media resources for the Premier? Is a disgraced former Premier somehow the best choice for drawing international investment?

Nonsense. 

At the end of the day, such cases of blatant cronyism are 100 per cent orchestrated. 

Whether it’s Trudeau or Smith, partisanship is no excuse for looking the other way, and voters have no reason to grant either government any leniency.

Corruption is NOT the price of doing business. There is NO excuse for blatant cronyism.

When I first heard the term silent disco, I pictured my awkward junior high dances where girls and boys were too scared to talk to each other. That idea was way off-target. So what is a silent disco? Imagine a hundred people dancing and having a good time, but there’s no music blasting from gigantic loudspeakers. Instead, everyone is wearing a pair of wireless, glowing headphones, each person immersed in their own musical world. Here’s what you need to know and why you should be at the rooftop silent disco.

How It Works

1.    Wireless Headphones: Everyone who walks through the door gets a pair of wireless headphones. There’s a tiny switch that allows you to alternate between three channels.

2.    Multiple Channels: Each channel corresponds to one of three DJs playing different genres of music.

3.    Color Coordination: Each DJ is assigned a color (green, red, or blue), and whoever you’re listening to, the headphones light up in that color. This way you can see who else is dancing to the same beat.

4.    (Mostly) Silent Atmosphere: Without loudspeakers, the Esplanade rooftop is no louder than a cafeteria at lunchtime. That’s if you take off the headphones. There won’t be any middle-of-the-night noise complaints for this party.

The Music Variety

Don’t like the song that’s playing? Just change the channel. The silent disco has three DJs playing different genres of music and will compete for your attention. I was fortunate enough to be the green DJ at the 2023 event and put together a MuchMusic Dance Party playlist, all the hits from the early 90s to the early 2000s. There was even a spontaneous line dance when someone requested Cadillac Ranch by Bruce Springsteen. The other DJs focused on newer hits and techno.

The Spectacular Venue

The Esplanade rooftop offers a unique and stunning atmosphere where you can dance the night away under the stars. In this open-air setting a few stories above the downtown, you can enjoy fantastic views of 1st Street SE, the South Saskatchewan River, and the surrounding area. The twinkling above, low light below, and glowing headphones combine for an experience you can find at any run-of-the-mill nightclub.

The Ease Of Conversation

Unlike a typical night on the dancefloor, there’s no need to shout over the music, simply take off your headphones. The unique advantage of a silent disco is the ability to have regular conversations between songs. Plus, you won’t leave with the echoes of the amplifiers ringing in your head thanks to the headphone's volume control. Just a heads-up: If you remove your headset, you'll be treated to the amusing and curious sight of dozens of people gyrating to a calm summer breeze.

Don’t Wait Or You’ll Be Sorry

Medicine Hat is often called a “last-minute city”, don’t be that person. Headphones are limited. The 2023 Silent Disco on the Esplanade rooftop was a sellout and I expect nothing less this year. For an unforgettable experience, make a silent disco part of your summer plans. It happens on August 24th from 9:30 PM to 1 AM. Tickets are $30 and you can get yours at tixx.ca

Medicine Hat, AB – The intersection of 3 Street SE and 5 Avenue SE will re-open to motorists on Thursday, July 25 by 5 p.m. The 3 Street SE Downtown Utility and Surface Upgrades project remains on schedule as it nears the next stage in downtown Medicine Hat.
Traffic on the 400 block of 3 Street SE (between 4 and 5 Avenue SE) will return to one-way traffic once the intersection has re-opened.
Three of five stages in Phase 1 of the 3 Street SE Downtown Utility and Surface Upgrades project are now complete. The fourth stage – between South Railways Street SE and 6 Avenue SE – is currently under construction.
Stage 5 begins the week of July 29. An update on the exact start date for this closure will be provided once available. Crews will close off the intersection of 3 Street SE and 6 Avenue SE, as well as a portion of the 500 block of 3 Street SE. The majority of the 500 block will remain open and will transition to two-way traffic throughout this stage. The work zone will be fenced off and detours will be in effect. Motorists are asked to obey all posted signage.
Downtown businesses remain open during this project. Residents can find a list of downtown parking options while accessing these businesses at: medicinehat.ca/downtownparking
The purpose of the 3 Street SE Downtown Utility and Surface Upgrades project has been to upgrade water and sewer systems which are over 100 years old. This will increase the reliability and quality of our utility infrastructure in the downtown core. The project also includes replacement and enhancement of sidewalks and curbs, and the addition of new street furniture, planters, trees and signage.
View more on this project at: medicinehat.ca/threestreetdowntown
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding during these necessary upgrades.

After nearly twenty five years in business, Brenda and Ken Montgomery decided it was time to officially retire. Established in 2000, Power Loney Paralegal was created as our own business where we could offer cost effective legal services that were allowed by law. We also wanted to provide special hands on personalized service and eliminate all unnecessary bureaucracy.
For many years services included representation for most summary conviction criminal offences such as common assault, theft and fraud under $5,000.00, cause a disturbance and impaired driving. This had Ken, a retired Edmonton Police Service detective visiting almost every provincial courthouse in Alberta, and including his police service, appearing before well over 100 provincial court judges, and doing so for almost fifty years. Ken also had involvement with the provincial courts in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and BC.    
Where Ken has also been granted the right of audience before the old Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta, it is also believed he is the only non-lawyer court agent to appear before the Court of Appeal in Calgary.  
Services have always included representation in small claims court (which is now up to $100,000.000), Brenda managed the office and also handled the administration paperwork, including estate and uncontested divorce files. Brenda was very proud of not only offering cost effective and efficient services, but finalizing court applications in record times. Many clients have been amazed.
With our file manager Wanda Doyle, recently retiring after eleven years service, the office will officially close at the end of July, with wrap up and move out taking place in August. There may also be a few files that will carry on into the fall, due to proceedings already before the Courts. 
When Power Loney closes its doors it will have generated over 5400 files. Ken and Brenda are proud of the business they have built and believe they have made a positive difference in the lives of many Hatters and others they have been involved with. Many former clients have also become valued friends. We will retain many memories of the unique and unusual files we have handled, and we are grateful for all of the interesting people we have met and assisted over the years.
And remember, you heard it here first.

It’s been a tough time for our community, hasn’t it? Lately, I’ve noticed more and more of our beloved local businesses are either struggling to stay open or putting up "For Sale" signs. It got me thinking, why are so many business owners choosing to close their doors, and why is it becoming so hard to find new entrepreneurs willing to take over?

Financial Realities: Employee vs. Owner

Some business owners have realized they can actually earn more as employees than as owners. Beyond just the salary, there are benefits, more stable income, and other perks that business owners don’t necessarily have. In today’s world, business owners are much more focused on 'what’s important'—making sure they can pay their bills, feed their families, and plan for the future. The cost of running a physical business is so high, with expenses like power alone making it tough to stay afloat. This is especially true in the food industry, where rising costs of living and food make it very hard for cafes and restaurants to stay open. Plus, with people and families cutting back on dining out, because they simply can't afford it, our local restaurants/cafes are feeling the pinch more and more. The economic instability has made many prioritize their quality of life, as well as their families' well-being, leading to the realization that maybe now isn't the best time to run a business. As a result, our small businesses face unprecedented risks during this economic downturn.

The Loss of Local Charm

The closure of our local mom-and-pop shops, and small businesses is so much more than just a loss of services—it’s a HUGE loss of the unique charm and character that makes Medicine Hat so special. These family-run businesses are the heart of our community, offering a personal touch and a sense of belonging that big chains simply can't replicate. When they struggle or close, we lose a piece of what makes our city unique. every business owner just wants to build and create something that's close to their heart and give it back to their community (or even the world!)

A Young Entrepreneur's Perspective

As a young female entrepreneur, it’s especially unsettling to see so many businesses I've supported for years facing such challenges. The thought of losing these beloved establishments is a stark reminder of the fragile nature of entrepreneurship right now. These businesses inspire the younger generation to dream big, work hard, and build something of their own. Without them, we risk losing that entrepreneurial spirit that fuels innovation and community growth. Local businesses are a reason I am who I am, becoming 'regulars' at coffee shops, connecting and knowing the staff, supporting someone's dream... As a business owner myself, I put so much energy into what I've built, what I create, and the people I can share it with. I'm like this because I've been inspired by so many incredible small business owners who do the same!

Supporting Our Local Businesses

It’s more important than ever to rally around our local businesses and show them the love and support they need to survive and thrive. Whether it’s shopping locally, spreading the word about their services, or offering a helping hand, every little bit counts.

Here are some amazing businesses you can support:

1. Inspire Cafe - Great little cafe in a beautiful historic location and lovely ladies that work there!
2. Copper Leaf - Amazing lattes, baked goods and family-oriented staff!
3. Chaotic Xotics - Family friendly reptile shop with an incredible owner! Great for educational fun!
4. Pastabillities - Fresh homemade pasta! Owner is a very kind older gentleman!
5. Moose & Squirrel - Outdoor patio with great vegetarian options! Love supporting the art community!
6. DYL Fashions - Great pre-owned women's clothing and often supporting our Women's shelter!
7. Cafe Verve - Great baked goods and amazing staff!
8. Sunday Diner Homestore - Beautiful, newly renovated store with amazing quality products! (Closing sales!)
9. The Yard - Outdoor patio, amazing atmosphere, family-friendly! Great food & drinks!

**Some of these businesses have already set their dates for closure, but if you have the opportunity, I would highly suggest stopping in before it's too late. Show the owners and the staff that you appreciate all of the hard work they have poured into their dreams and our community! Please remember to check their social media for hours of operation!

The Power of Community

In these challenging times, remember that every purchase, every kind word, every social media share, and ANY show of support makes a difference. Together, we can help our local businesses weather the storm and continue to be the vibrant heart of Medicine Hat — they are the soul of our city, and their success is our success.

**Medicine Hat, AB ** – The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Parade is taking place downtown on Thursday, July 25 at 9 a.m.
Several road closures will be in place to accommodate the increase in pedestrian traffic and parade floats.
Beginning at 7:30 a.m. there will be no on-street parking in the staging area at the following locations:

• 800 – 900 block of Second Street SE
• 800 block of Third Street SE
• Allowance Avenue SE
• Woodman Avenue SE
  Major roadways, including Finlay Bridge, Maple Avenue Bridge and Maple Avenue between First Street SE and Third Street SE will be closed beginning at 8:30 a.m. for the duration of the parade. The following roads will also be closed for the parade route:
• River Road SE – Fourth Avenue SE to the YMCA
• First Street SE – Maple Avenue SE to Third Avenue SE
• Second Street SE – South Railway Street SE to Third Avenue SE
• South Railway Street SE – Second Street SE to Fourth Street SE
• Fourth Avenue SE – First Street SE to Fourth Street SE
• Sixth Avenue SE – Finlay Bridge to Fourth Street SE
  Medicine Hat Transit will continue to operate fully during the parade with some minor route adjustments. Buses will be allowed on the parade route until 8:50 a.m.
• Route 20 – Flats: a limited route will run until the parade begins. This route will resume following the end of the parade.
• Route 10 – NECH and Route 11 – NWCH: both routes will end at Fire Hall 1 at the bottom of Altawana Drive instead of the downtown terminal. A shuttle will be available for riders who need transportation to make their way to downtown, rather than walking across Maple Avenue Bridge.
  Motorists are reminded to obey all posted signs and to take extra caution while driving downtown due to the increase in pedestrian traffic.

**Medicine Hat, AB – **The City of Medicine Hat has begun work in Leinweber Park this week to enhance the city’s urban forest canopy.
Crews have begun removing dead trees in Leinweber Park on Tuesday, July 23. Most of the dead trees being removed have reached the end of their life cycle. Several are because of the stress brought on by multi-year drought conditions.
The City will continue this work in Leinweber Park until all dead trees have been removed in the park. This process is anticipated to be completed in 2024. Several disc golf holes located near tree removals may be temporarily affected. All other park amenities will be unaffected and remain open. Residents are asked to obey all signage and stay clear of the work zone as crews move around Leinweber Park.
Crews will continue removing dead trees throughout the summer in various locations including the Gershaw Interchange (Highways 1 and 3).
Once tree removal has been complete, focus will shift to tree replacement. This process will introduce resilient and bio-diverse species into green spaces around Medicine Hat. The areas receiving tree replacement will be chosen based on the location, best chance of survivability, and to maintain diversity of tree species.
The City’s tree canopy is a valuable asset which will be conserved and expanded through departmental and municipal policies and plans. The City is committed to maintaining the existing urban forests and is committed to taking steps to expand canopy cover in all viable public spaces. This includes the implementation of post-planting care to ensure survival.
The City of Medicine Hat appreciates the patience and understanding of its residents, and for helping us keep our community safe and green.

Christian Doll, a vibrant 15-year-old boy, has recently experienced a tragic accident that has left him in the Foothills ICU in Calgary, fighting bravely against a devastating brain injury, with the support of dedicated medical professionals.

Currently he is in a coma and unable to breathe on his own or open his eyes as he has suffered a deep brain injury. This devastating accident has not only impacted him physically but has also placed an immense emotional and financial strain on his family, who are currently by his bedside.

Christian is the son of Mike and Josie Doll who are well known in our community. His road to recovery will be long and challenging. Friends of Christian and his family, are humbly asking for your help to ease the financial burden on them so they can focus entirely on his recovery.

Your generous donation, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference. Funds raised will go directly to covering medical bills not covered by AHS, his rehabilitation costs and essential living expenses for the family during this critical period.

In addition to your donations, the family has become aware that some of his teammates and our hockey family have placed hockey sticks on their porch and would be deeply touched if you could place a hockey stick on your porch as a sign of support and solidarity for Christian.

The Doll family has stated that once expenses are covered, any left over funds will be donated to the Foothills Hospital Foundation and Ronald McDonald House.

The family is blown away by the support they are receiving as they don't know how long this journey will be. The whole process has been overwhelming for them and they appreciate each and every one of you who have shown support, donated or put a stick out for Christian.

As the Doll family deals with this crisis, they are asking for privacy to focus all of their attention on supporting Christian.

To donate please find the link to their campaign below:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/cosupport-christian-doll-family-on-their-road-to-recovery

Photo - Board Chair Jeff Neumann thanks those in attendance for the ongoing support of BBBS.

Medicine Hat, AB – Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Medicine Hat and District is thrilled to celebrate 50 years of mentoring and community service. As part of our golden anniversary, we are excited to launch the "50 Donations for $50K Campaign", a landmark campaign designed to expand our reach in the community and in Southern Alberta.
2024 marks a pivotal year as BBBS not only commemorates five decades of transformative work but also aims to pave the way for future initiatives. In an extraordinary display of community and philanthropy, the "50 Donations for $50K Campaign", seeks to enlist 50 donors who will contribute $1,000 each, enhancing our programs and support systems for the youth. All donations (up to $50K) will be matched by the Yuill Family Foundation.
The impact of your donation will therefore be doubled, directly benefiting young people throughout Medicine Hat and surrounding districts. By joining the "50 Donations for $50K Campaign", donors will not only celebrate this milestone anniversary but also ignite continuous change in the lives of countless youths.
**Campaign webpage: **50 Donations for $50K
Campaign dates: Running now until December 31, 2024
We invite friends, families, colleagues, and community leaders to join us in this special anniversary year by becoming a part of the “50 Donations for $50K Campaign". Together, we can make a significant, lasting impact in the lives of young people across our community.
For more information on how you can participate or to make a donation, please contact Holly Stadnicki, Executive Director, at holly.stadnicki@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca. Join us in celebrating 50 years of mentoring and help us look forward to another 50 years of growth and success.
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About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat and District:
** **For the past 50 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Medicine Hat and District has been a leader in one-to-one youth service mentoring, providing guidance, and nurturing life-changing relationships that inspire and empower our young people. In 2023, we served 1,344 youth and this year will expand our services in Brooks, Alberta schools.
Media and Contact:
** **Holly Stadnicki, Executive Director
** **Big Brothers Big Sisters Medicine Hat
Phone: (403) 527-6640”
Email: holly.stadnicki@bigbrothersbigsisters.ca

Medicine Hat, AB – The Family, Fun and Flight Airshow takes place Monday, July 22 from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Medicine Hat Regional Airport. The event has been made possible with Community Vibrancy Grant funding from the City of Medicine Hat.  
To safely facilitate an increase in pedestrian traffic for the event, traffic accommodations will be in place that restrict access to motorists at the airport. Event parking is available on site.

• Airport traffic map (pdf)
  There will be no left-turn access onto Airport Drive for motorists travelling westbound on Gershaw Drive SW/Crowsnest Highway. Please view the attached detour map to gain access from the eastbound lanes of the highway.
• Detour map (pdf)
  Motorists are reminded to obey all posted signage and to take extra caution while driving near the event area due to the increase in pedestrian traffic.
  For travelers with a WestJet flight booked the day of the event, please allow for additional time to travel to and from the airport. Access to parking adjacent the Terminal, plus drop-off and pick-up locations, is not impacted for WestJet travelers. On-site signage and marshallers will help direct travelers.
  Event inquiries can be directed to the event organizers, Medicine Hat Family, Fun and Flight at: medicinehatfff@gmail.com.

**Medicine Hat, AB – **Altawana Drive will re-open to motorists on Saturday, July 20 by 7 a.m., as work shifts to Phase 2 of the 7 Street NW and Altawana Drive Deep Utility Replacement project.
The second phase of this project will continue after the weekend. Phase 2, which runs from Altawana Drive to Tweed Avenue NW, is set to begin Monday, July 22. Motorists in the area are asked to drive with caution and obey posted signage.
The 7 Street NW and Altawana Drive Deep Utility Replacement project is an extensive three-phase project that renews the infrastructure along 7 Street NW to ensure reliable water delivery and sanitary sewer service for years to come.
The project replaces aging cast iron water mains and clay sanitary mains with new PVC pipe. It also includes the installation of a steel casing underneath the existing stone retaining wall along Altawana Drive. The project zone stretches along 7 Street NW from Altawana Drive, up to and including McCutcheon Drive NW. Excavation has been over seven metres deep in places to access and replace infrastructure.
The City of Medicine Hat also used the Altawana Drive hill closure as an opportunity to maximize efficiency on other upgrades. With Altawana Drive traffic redirected to avoid the work area at the top of the hill, crews milled and repaved the hill while the road was closed, reducing the need for further disruption in the future.
View more on this project at: medicinehat.ca/7andaltawana
The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding during these necessary upgrades.

Nestled in the southeastern corner of Alberta, Medicine Hat is a charming city that offers a delightful mix of natural beauty, rich history, and vibrant culture. Known as the "Sunniest City in Canada," Medicine Hat boasts over 2,500 hours of sunshine annually, making it a perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and sun-seekers alike. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or art aficionado, Medicine Hat has something to enchant every visitor. Here’s a guide to making the most of your time as a tourist in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

Medicine Hat’s history is deeply rooted in Indigenous culture, the fur trade, and the railway industry. Begin your exploration at the Saamis Tepee, the world’s tallest tepee. Located on the Trans-Canada Highway, this impressive structure stands as a tribute to the rich cultural heritage of the Plains Indigenous peoples. The Saamis Tepee overlooks the Seven Persons Coulee, where you can find interpretive panels that tell the story of the area’s history and archaeology.

Next, head to the Medalta in the Historic Clay District. This National Historic Site is part of a 150-acre area that was once the heart of Medicine Hat’s clay industry. The Medalta Potteries factory has been transformed into a museum and contemporary arts facility. Here, you can learn about the city’s industrial past, view stunning ceramic exhibits, and even participate in pottery workshops.

Medicine Hat boasts a thriving arts scene that is sure to captivate any visitor. The Esplanade Arts & Heritage Centre is a cultural cornerstone of the city. This modern facility houses an art gallery, museum, and theatre. The art gallery features rotating exhibits showcasing both local and international artists, while the museum offers fascinating insights into the region’s history. Catch a live performance at the Esplanade Theatre, which hosts a variety of shows, from musical acts to theatrical productions.

For a more intimate arts experience, visit the Downtown Medicine Hat area. Stroll through the historic streets and explore the local boutiques, galleries, and cafes. Don’t miss the Hive Artists’ Hub, a cooperative space where you can meet local artists and see their work in progress.

With its abundance of sunshine and natural beauty, Medicine Hat is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. The Echo Dale Regional Park is a must-visit destination for a day of family fun. Located just a short drive from the city center, this park features a man-made lake perfect for swimming, fishing, and paddle boating. There are also picnic areas, hiking trails, and a historic farm site to explore.

For a scenic hike or bike ride, head to the South Saskatchewan River Valley. The extensive trail system along the river offers picturesque views and opportunities for wildlife spotting. The Police Point Park is another excellent spot for nature lovers. This natural reserve has walking trails, interpretive programs, and a nature center where you can learn about the local flora and fauna.

No visit to Medicine Hat is complete without indulging in the local culinary scene. Start your day with a delicious breakfast at Inspire Café, a cozy spot known for its freshly brewed coffee and homemade pastries. For lunch, head to Thai Orchid Room to savor authentic Thai cuisine in a warm and inviting atmosphere.

In the evening, treat yourself to a fine dining experience at Redwood Steakhouse & Bar, where you can enjoy premium Alberta beef and a selection of local wines. If you’re a craft beer enthusiast, make sure to visit Medicine Hat Brewing Company. This local brewery offers a range of handcrafted beers and a welcoming taproom where you can relax and unwind.

Medicine Hat, Alberta, is a hidden gem that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. From exploring historic sites and embracing the arts to enjoying outdoor adventures and savoring local flavors, there’s no shortage of things to see and do in this sunny city. So pack your bags, put on your sunglasses, and get ready to discover the charm and warmth of Medicine Hat.

The base is looking for something better

The conservative movement is restless.

In politics, summer is supposed to be the time of barbecues and glad-handing. But away from the carefully orchestrated events hosted by the most partisan insiders, the base is asking questions.

Why are we paying so much for power and heat? Why are we having so many grid alerts threatening electricity brownouts? And when exactly did I sign up to support Net Zero decarbonization schemes?

Where’s the income tax cut we were promised? If the government has such a large surplus, why is it looking to raid the Heritage Fund? Why does the government have endless money for foreign corporations, but not for Albertans? 

Then the frustration kicks in. 

Why support a party that continually wanders away from conservative values, week after week, year after year, leader after leader? When am I going to get the smaller government that I voted for? Who is really running this party anyway?

Folks come to me with these questions, as I am a former MLA with more than decade served in the Legislature. But I don’t have any good answers to give them.

The folks I know best – the grassroots, Alberta-first conservatives - are not getting what they voted for, not even close. For them, the UCP has been a massive disappointment.

Created out of a merger of the Wildrose and the PC parties, the UCP was supposed to banish the corruption of the Redford Toryland era once and for all. It was supposed to put party members back in control of a runaway freight train. It was supposed to be an era of free market optimism, featuring an economy that grows from the ground up, giving every Albertan a chance to compete and prosper. 

Those were the terms of the merger, spelled out in the unity agreement. But that agreement, it turns out, wasn’t worth the paper it was written on. As for the small-c fiscal conservative vision it outlined, no one has seen it in years. Is it any wonder folks are once again searching for something better?

From my perspective, if we’re talking about the need for an alternative, we can take some inspiration from history. I’m certainly not referring to the Frankenstein’s monster that the UCP has become. Rather, I’m talking about the lesser-known merger between the Wildrose and Alberta Alliance parties back in 2008.

This merger was the first domino to fall in the creation of a viable and truly conservative alternative in Alberta. Within four years the Wildrose Alliance shook the out of touch PC establishment to its core by becoming Alberta’s Official Opposition. And, by 2015, this movement helped to successfully end the deeply corrupted 44-year PC dynasty.

Unfortunately, the public image of Wildrose shifted to become a party of dysfunctional power scrabbling, best illustrated by Danielle Smith’s betrayal and floor crossing. But this should not overshadow the selfless efforts of thousands of grassroots conservatives who worked so diligently to create and build the Wildrose Alliance. Their quiet and consistent commitment to grassroots democratic principles, and willingness to put Alberta first, inspire me still.

The goal of the Wildrose Alliance movement was always two-fold: first to end the reign of a government that had completely lost its way; and second to replace it with something better. The first goal was achieved, but the second remains an unrealized dream.

But that dream doesn’t have to remain forever out of reach. 

There is no law of politics that requires constant public subservience to a self-serving class of government insiders and foreign-directed overlords. Our families and communities have always deserved better. 

I’m certainly not willing to give up the fight. That’s why I am calling on all grassroots, Alberta-first conservatives to support a new effort.

Over the past year I have been quietly building a team dedicated to bringing back true grassroots conservatism. We will be advancing this effort on two fronts. First, we will create a foundation to advance grassroots causes that have been ignored, and even vilified by the current UCP government.

Secondly, we will work towards the creation of an association to unite all grassroots conservatives, free from the current administration’s swamp of insiders, foreign backed lobbyists, and other associated carpetbaggers. 

Our vision remains as it has always been: An Alberta, strong and free, where hard work and dedication bring new hope and new opportunity. An Alberta, where success comes from what you do and not whom you know. An Alberta where the little guy begins every day with a fresh start and a fair chance to get ahead.

Albertans are looking for something better. By working together, I believe we can give it to them. Join us.

**Medicine Hat, AB – **The City of Medicine Hat will be extending the hours of operation of two spray parks starting Friday, July 12. This adjustment is due to the successful conservation efforts within Phase 1 of the Parks and Recreation Water Conservation Measures.
Saamis Rotary Spray Park and Ross Glen Spray Park will now operate from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. These hours align with Strathcona Island Park and Kiwanis Central Park’s hours of operation. Previously, the Saamis and Ross Glen facilities began operating at 1 p.m.
Staff will conduct another review on water conservation efforts at spray parks at the end July. This review will dictate the potential for additional adjustments to spray park hours of operation for August.

INVESTMENT & RECREATIONAL PROPERTIES BENEFIT FROM ANNUAL MAINTENANCE INSPECTIONS TOO

Scheduling an annual property maintenance inspection for all of the properties you own – including vacation homes, cottages, and rental properties that have regular tenants or shorter-term rentals through Airbnb or Vrbo – is a great preventative measure that can save you a lot of money before major issues arise.

By identifying any problems early, they can often be remedied before spiraling out of control. Your investment and recreational properties are valuable investments, and failure to properly maintain them can cause extreme damage and downgrade their value.

A lot can happen to a property’s exterior over the course of a year, particularly when it comes to extreme winter weather conditions such as wind, freezing rain, ice, and snow.

Equally as important is ensuring the mechanical systems within each property are running as intended.

Having a professional home inspector keeping track of your properties on an annual basis will also offer you added peace of mind that your investments are being well monitored and maintained. It’s especially difficult to keep an eye on a property and identify issues when you’re not living there.

Property maintenance inspections examine these key components:

• Basement walls and drains
• Gutters and drain spouts
• Heating and cooling systems (including filters)
• Plumbing and faucets
• Electrical systems
• Roofing
• Windows and doors
• Fireplaces and chimneys
• Smoke detectors and other safety equipment

Following a thorough property maintenance inspection, our inspectors always provide you with three complete action lists: 1) Required Items; 2) Deferred Items; & 3) Future Maintenance Items.

As indicated by their names, Required Items are issues that demand your immediate attention, Deferred Items are problems that need to be addressed in the near future and Future Maintenance Items are noteworthy points that aren’t urgent, but should be monitored during future assessments.

If you have any questions about home inspections, we welcome you to contact Steve Fraser at 403.878.7580 or steve.fraser@abuyerschoice.com

If you're looking for a summer activity in Medicine Hat, a group of locals have arranged for a non-profit entertainment show called bee bearding as an initiative to create community awareness and engagement for bee enthusiasts. Bee bearding is the practice of wearing thousands of bees on the face and body.

Local beekeeper and expert bee bearder, Russel Solon, will be spearheading the agricultural activity. Food will be provided at the venue. The group is also open for individuals who are interested in participating with bee bearding.

The show is set to commence on July 28, 2024 (1pm) at 11414 Josephburg Trail Cypress County. Balloons will be placed near the venue to set as landmarks for directions.

**Medicine Hat, AB **- Days before the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede opens, Medicine Hat College (MHC) is kicking off the week with a free community breakfast on July 22.
Open to all members of the public, the event will feature live music, a pancake breakfast, and activities for kids. “We are excited to once again welcome the Medicine Hat Stampede to our city and the community to our campus with our annual pancake breakfast,” says Kevin Shufflebotham, MHC President and CEO. “We love the vibrant energy that Stampede brings to our community and are proud to be a part of the celebrations leading up to the event.”
Taking place at MHC’s main entrance between 8-10 a.m., this will be the third year the college is hosting its pancake breakfast, thanks to a sponsorship from TD Insurance. Parking is free on campus.
The Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede takes place from July 24-27. For more information regarding news and events at MHC, visit www.mhc.ab.ca. 

Glen Motz, Member of Parliament for Medicine Hat–Cardston-Warner, is inviting constituents to a Community BBQ on Sunday, July 21st from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at Kin Coulee Park Band Shelter in Medicine Hat.

MP Motz said, “Summer gives us a great opportunity to be outside and connect with our communities. On July 21st, bring your family, friends and neighbours to Kin Coulee Park to enjoy a great time of visiting and a summer BBQ. I look forward to seeing you there.”

No need to RSVP.

Written by Chris Brown, Head of Marketing & Community Engagement

Medicine Hat Public Library is putting an out-of-this-world spin on our adult summer reading program.

Instead of our One Book One Summer program where everyone reads the same book after a public vote, in 2024 we’re challenging you to read multiple books within multiple themes. Which books are we challenging you to read? Well, that’s up to each of you. 

That’s right, introducing MHPL’s BYOB (book, not beer), Club. 

“Every two weeks starting July 4 we’re giving you a new theme,” says Miranda Leduc, adult and community librarian. “Every second Thursday we’ll meet for the Bring Your Own Book Club where we’ll talk about the different books we’ve all read.” 

The first theme is Into The Water and runs until July 18. The first BYO Book Club meeting takes place on that day at 6:30 p.m.

“You can read any book that has anything to do with water. That includes books based around water, in water and near water – beaches, oceans, rivers and more,” Leduc explains.

The themes and dates for the rest of the summer are:

• Into The Woods, July 18-Aug. 1; meeting 6:30 p.m. Aug. 1
• Into The Mountains, Aug. 1-15; meeting 6:30 p.m. Aug. 15
• Into the Stars, Aug. 15-29; meeting 6:30 p.m. Aug. 29

That all sound pretty good, right? We haven’t even gotten to the best part yet. For every book you read in each theme you can submit a ballot for a grand prize draw at the end of summer. You can pick up and submit ballots at the library information desk or enter online.

To get you started we’ve created lists of book suggestions for each of the four themes.

Into The Water: Adult Summer Reading Program

Into The Woods: Adult Summer Reading Program

Into The Mountains: Adult Summer Reading Program

Into The Stars: Adult Summer Reading Program

Happy reading!

Follow us on social media: @mhpubliclibrary

Medicine Hat, AB – Upgrades are coming to Turner Park that will increase the park’s accessibility and functionality while maintaining its beauty. The Turner Park Landscape and Irrigation Upgrade project is set to begin Monday, July 15. Turner Park will be closed during construction. This project is expected to continue into the fall.

• Area Map (PDF)
  This project will add a trail system to the park, install a shade sail near the playground, upgrade irrigation systems and establish alternative landscaping options. The new landscaping options will minimize the effort needed for weekly maintenance, and include areas intended to promote natural growth. This will enhance these green spaces while reducing water consumption. View the attached site plan for more information on these upgrades.
• Project Site Plan (PDF)
  Supplemental watering will occur during construction to maintain the health of the existing trees in the area. Establishment of the newly planted areas will take time; the full benefits of these upgrades will not be seen until 2025.
  Residents in the area are asked to please adhere to all barriers, construction fencing and signage in place during this project.
  Families looking for other playgrounds to use during this project can access several nearby, including Taylor Place Park, Taylor Boulevard Park, Redwood Park and Medicine Hat Christian School.
  The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding as these upgrades are completed.

General surgery needs attention and intervention from government! Today we launch the second issue in our advocacy campaign Acute Care Concerns. An issue paper is available. Earlier today I held a news conference with Section of General Surgery President Dr. Lloyd Mack. You can view the video of the presentation with media Q&A on our website.
 
Many members of the public may not realize the integral role that general surgeons play in our acute care system. Part of our campaign is simply highlighting their role and expertise.
 
Another key message is to explain why we are so concerned about impaired access to their services.
 
Sadly, patients are used to long wait times in emergency departments, but they expect that if they need emergency surgery once they are “in” it will be provided on the spot. We are highlighting the very worrisome fact that we can’t always meet those expectations anymore. As I said in the news conference this morning, if you show up in an emergency department in the middle of the night and require emergency surgery, there is an increasing chance that you may end up back in an ambulance to travel to another hospital to be readmitted and assessed, and to ultimately get your procedure. For the patient, this obviously means delay, often leading to complications, increased morbidity and sometimes even preventable death. It’s also further demand on already overstretched EMS services, prolonging waits for the surgical patient while shifting this precious resource away from the communities where they are needed for others.
 
Diversions like these are increasingly common, to the point where there are now formalized policies to mitigate their effects. It is a new phenomenon that has been years in the making but is our problem to solve now. We need government to share the sense of urgency and invest in making short- and long-term fixes. The AMA’s Acute Care Stabilization Proposal will help restore the Alberta advantage in terms of physician retention and recruitment. The biggest issue behind these diversions, though, is the availability of Tier 1 and support staff teams who help care for the surgical patient before, during and after their procedures. In order to retrain and recruit these critical Tier 1 supports we must ensure that we are competitive within a global market, and that the government is adequately budgeting to ensure our critical health care services remain uninterrupted.
 
We will have a lot more to say on this topic. Stay tuned.
 
Regards,

Paul Parks
President, Alberta Medical Association

For the second year the Sunrise Rotary and Rotary Ignite clubs are organizing the Terry Fox Run in Medicine Hat at the Medicine Hat College. Over six hundred Runs will take place across the country and in more than thirty other countries on Sunday September 15, with funds raised going to the Terry Fox Foundation for cancer research.

The Marathon of Hope took place in 1980 when Terry Fox hoped to run across Canada, from St. John's to Victoria, to bring awareness about cancer and the need for research funds to help find a cure. His leg had been amputated because of cancer so he ran a marathon a day on one leg. He had to give up his run in Thunder Bay when the cancer returned but before he died a year later, at age twenty-two, his dream of raising one dollar for every Canadian had been accomplished.

Runs have been held every year in communities across the nation and over ten thousand schools participate. Last year the local organizing committee had a goal of raising $7000 and were delighted when the community came together and tripled that amount. That was more than double the highest raised in the previous forty-three years of the event in the city. This year the goal set by the Terry Fox Foundation is $10,000, with hopes to exceed that again.

The Run takes place along the Sunrise Rotary Trail at the college, starting at 10:30am. As per Terry's wishes, this is not a competitive run (although serious runners are encouraged to keep their own times) and everyone is welcome. The Trail is flat so walkers, runners, joggers, bikers, skateboarders, wheelchairs, and dogs are all welcome. Groups are encourage to make it more fun by forming teams and challenging each other for fundraising.

Music, kids activities, healthy snacks will be provided. The Run will go rain or shine but the committee is hoping it will be bright, sunny, and warm, as it was last year.

To register, donate, or support a participant just Google "Terry Fox Run" and search for Medicine Hat as the run site; or go to run.terryfox.ca.

For further information contact the chair of the organizing committee, Keith Walker: kvwalker@telusplanet.net

Medicine Hat – The City of Medicine Hat has received nearly $2.7 million in federal funding through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program’s (ICIP) Public Transit Infrastructure Stream, which supports two City and Medicine Hat Transit (MHT) projects.
The projects will provide transit bus replacements and a transit scheduling system to MHT. The Government of Canada’s contribution of $2,669,586 accounts for approximately 33 per cent of a total eligible cost of $8,156,000. The City of Medicine Hat will provide the remaining $5,486,414.
“As communities in Alberta continue to grow, it is vital to have active and rural public transportation infrastructure that meets their evolving needs,” said the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities. “Our government’s investment will encourage Albertans to be active and healthy and contribute to a cleaner environment, creating more resilient and stronger communities for everyone.”
Transit Bus Replacements
The majority of ICIP funding has been allocated to the Transit Bus Replacements project, which has an overall cost of $8,060,000; $2,631,186 from the Government of Canada and $5,428,814 from the City of Medicine Hat.
The purpose of the project is to replace aging transit assets in a timely, yet fiscally responsible manner so that residents can continue to receive a steady, reliable level of service. The City of Medicine Hat will replace 12 transit assets; two para-transit buses and ten additional buses.
“The City would like to recognize the Government of Canada for their thoughtfulness and foresight in creating this funding stream,” said Cory Earle, Manager of Fleet Services with the City of Medicine Hat. “Replacing transit assets is a necessary, yet costly undertaking for municipalities. With this funding, the City can maintain the quality and longevity of our transit fleet in a cost-effective manner.”
The para-transit buses are tentatively scheduled to arrive in late 2024 or early 2025. The other ten buses are anticipated to be replaced at a rate of two per year from 2025 to 2029, though these timelines are subject to change.
Transit Scheduling System
The remaining $38,400 in federal funding will go towards the Transit Scheduling System project. The City of Medicine Hat will provide $57,600 of the $96,000 project cost.
This project includes the one-time purchase of four years of consulting and scheduling services, along with related data reporting tools. It will utilize the Computer-Aided Dispatch / Automatic Vehicle Location (CAD/AVL) system which connects transit vehicles to scheduling and dispatching software. The software collects vital data used by dispatchers for the purpose of improving the quality and efficiency of the City’s existing public transit.
“Medicine Hat Transit evaluates service levels regularly to ensure they are applying their resources most effectively to provide safe, reliable and inclusive options within the budget of all Medicine Hat residents,” said Gordon Dykstra, Manager of Transit Services with the City of Medicine Hat. “With this software and consulting service made possible with funding from the Government of Canada, residents can be sure the quality, reliability and value of this service will be maintained for years to come.”
The City anticipates the software will be operational and in use in advance of the annual September shift schedule change.

With it comes a chance to disconnect from the hustle and bustle, and take some time to recharge. It’s also time for campfires and deep thoughts. And for the politically inclined, it’s a chance to take a long hard look at the issues facing our families, our communities, our economy, and the province we love.

With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of five things to think about this summer. 

#1 Alberta’s direction

Is Alberta headed in the right direction? 

To politicians and the most ardent partisans this is a loaded question. The reason is clear, governments rise and fall based on how voters answer it. For them, this question is directly linked to their influence, their livelihoods, and their self-worth. As such, the question becomes indistinguishable from “is the government doing a good job?” 

However, the question isn’t for politicians to answer, nor is it about government priorities. The question is for Albertans to answer, and it is about the real life outcomes of government policies.

So, the question is to you: Is your family better off than it was five years ago? Is your community prospering? Is your Main Street vibrant? Can your kids find work in the community where they were raised? Will the next generation be better off than previous generations? 

Each and every one of us has a political bias of some sort, which can make it difficult to come to an honest answer, free from knee-jerk praise or blame. It’s a question I hope people will spend the summer thinking about. 

If the answer is no, change is required.

#2 Nenshi ain’t nothin’

I recently came across a social media post by a pro-government partisan arguing that Naheed Nenshi’s victory in the NDP leadership race was a good thing for the UCP. 

Apparently, government insiders are salivating at the thought of the next election. I can’t decide if this was a weak attempt at spin, or if this was an individual suffering from a severe case of Dome Disease. The truth is that Nenshi arrives on the scene with many advantages. 

He has strong grassroots connections in many neighbourhoods of swing city Calgary. That has helped him to accomplish something that only a handful of politicians in Alberta’s history have done: successfully unite Alberta’s chronically fractured left. The fact is, at this time Nenshi is much more popular within the NDP than Premier Smith is within the UCP. 

Secondly, Nenshi is politically savvy. He appears to be embracing an opportunity to recast the NDP’s stodgy old union fat cat image. He wants to formally separate his party from the federal NDP, a wise move that removes the threat of a tried-and-true conservative attack. Meanwhile, Premier Smith and the UCP appear unwilling to address the NDP’s best opportunity. The fact is these are difficult economic times. Yes Alberta’s GDP has grown, but it has not kept pace with population growth and inflation. Our unemployment rate remains higher than the national average, in stark contrast to a decade ago. Working families are falling further and further behind. Socialist parties thrive in times like these, and Nenshi will be quick to cast the Conservatives as a corrupt old party of bankers and lobbyists, working to make the wealthy richer. 

Finally, as things stand now the UCP is very much a government stuck in the doldrums of a second term, with no unifying long-term plan. After six years in power the party can no longer credibly blame the NDP for the challenges it faces, and has a growing list of broken promises under its belt. Resentment is real and it accumulates quickly. Time is on Nenshi’s side.

My advice is that the UCP needs to change course, and make changes designed to help the little guy get ahead. This includes eliminating the small business tax, cutting income tax rates, and scrapping corporate welfare programs that give global mega companies an unfair advantage over homegrown Alberta businesses. 

Pretending the economy is great is a recipe for a Nenshi victory. Instead the UCP needs to embrace the debate and draw a distinction between a small government conservative plan and a big government NDP plan.

#3 Where’s the Fair Deal?

With the arrival of yet another Canada Day, it seems a good time to take stock of Alberta’s place in Confederation. 

As a former MLA and member of the government’s Fair Deal Panel, I had hoped that we would be making better progress on this front. The fact is the government of Alberta hasn’t actually done much to win a Fair Deal or push back against federal overreach.

The government talks about an Alberta pension plan, but it has become quite apparent they have no intention to proceed. They talk about provincial policing, but aren’t putting any money or resources into it. Despite Albertans voting overwhelmingly against the federal equalization program, Alberta refuses to move ahead with collecting its own income taxes. In fact, the only tangible action taken by the government was passage of the Alberta Sovereignty Act. But you have to ask, if this legislation is such a game-changer, why has it never been invoked, and why are Ottawa’s attacks only increasing? 

Politicians like to politick, and for too long ours have been happy to play gotcha games rather than take real action to make real progress. With ever-rising carbon taxes choking off prosperity, and a defacto production cap on Alberta oil incoming, this is no time for waffling.

#4 Grassroots ignored

In November, the UCP will host its annual convention, complete with a policy debate, the election of board members, and a leadership review for the Premier. 

Already, activists on all sides are out selling memberships and trying to stack the vote in one form or another. That’s politics.

Naturally, much of the media focus will be on the leadership review. Given former Premier Jason Kenney’s rather ham-fisted attempts to rig conventions, it will be interesting to see if his former supporters adopt a similar strategy.

For my part, the most interesting (read nerdy) portion of the conventions is the policy debate. 

Members are routinely told that the UCP is a grassroots, member-driven party and that the government is listening. The reality is slightly murkier. Often, policy proposals the government doesn’t want to discuss are prevented from reaching the convention. When they do, various tactics are used to prevent divisive debates from reaching the floor. Getting a policy approved that doesn’t enjoy government’s outright support is a major achievement. So, when the government ignores or rags the puck on such policies, the optics are less than optimal.

Members adopted 27 major policy changes at last year’s convention. Of them, six indirectly involved the protecting individual rights and the government’s handling of pandemics. Since then, the government has made zero legislative changes to reflect these policies. In fact, the only change made to date has been for the government to make the illegal actions taken by Premier Kenney legal in the case of a future pandemic. This is unacceptable.

On parental rights and related gender ideology issues, UCP members passed four policies. To date the government has announced some potential regulatory changes that have not been enacted, and no legal changes. Most notably, the call for “a comprehensive Bill of Parental Rights” has been ignored.

Some other policies that were outright ignored were the elimination of DEI offices in post secondary institutions, improving access to fertilizer for farmers, and dividing the Ministry of Justice into two departments of Attorney General and Solicitor General.

Ignoring the wishes of members was common practice under the Kenney administration, and led to fractures in the party’s base. If this trend continues one would expect to see similar results.

#5 Governments defeat themselves

There is an old adage in Parliamentary democracies: Governments defeat themselves. This certainly was true of Alberta’s 44-year PC Dynasty, which collapsed under the weight of its own corruption, with the unbridled self-interest of Toryland party insiders exposed for the entire world to see.

It was this spectacular collapse, along with NDP mismanagement, that made the creation of the UCP possible seven years ago.

In retrospect, the true purpose of the UCP’s creation was to banish the taint of PC corruption and make electoral victory possible. From that perspective, it worked. Since then, the UCP government has won two general elections under two leaders. In both cases, voters were promised servant leadership that would listen to the people, and put Albertans’ concerns ahead of lobbyists and corporate interests. 

But are we getting what we were promised?

The Wildrose-PC merger was approved by the membership of both parties, based on a unity agreement that included 14 founding principles. Of these principles, several are notably absent from the party’s website today, including a commitment to “grassroots democracy, including measures to empower Albertans to hold governments accountable during and between elections.”

In the past year, the government’s recall and citizen initiative system have proven unworkable in the real world, with thresholds designed to protect the status quo rather than guarantee accountability to voters. It gives the government a smoke screen of legitimacy without truly offering real change.

In a world with real democratic accountability, would this government have handed a crony appointment to disgraced former Premier Alison Redford? In case you missed it, the former Queen of the Toryland Sky Palace now finds herself overseeing Invest Alberta, the one stop shop for UCP-approved corporate welfare.

In a world with real democratic accountability, would the government appoint a former candidate as Alberta’s ethics commissioner? Would it continue to award sole-source contracts to former staffers, party insiders, and even the current Premier’s former campaign manager?

The UCP may have been created to banish the stench of past corruption, but seven years later that funky smell is coming back.

Medicine Hat, AB – The Medicine Hat Health Foundation (MHHF) is proud to announce the launch of the public phase of its largest fundraising campaign to date. The goal is to raise $1.2 million by the end of 2024 to replace a fleet of 38 outdated cardiac monitors in the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital (MHRH). In addition, funds will also be used to purchase three new GlideScopes, an MRI-safe ventilator, a new LifePak portable defibrillator, and other vital medical equipment.
The campaign will run until early 2025 and is set to include a variety of events and activities to engage the community and encourage donations. This began on June 8, with the hosting of the second annual Community Cares Gala and online auction, making history as the first event of its kind held in an active Alberta hospital. Ongoing donation and support opportunities include a biweekly 50/50 raffle, a charity golf tournament, and local business partnerships.
"We are excited to launch this cardiac campaign," said Heather Bach, Executive Director of the Medicine Hat Health Foundation. "It’s our largest campaign to date, aimed at replacing all the cardiac monitors in the hospital. Almost every area of the hospital is going to be touched by this campaign. It’s not going to happen overnight, but we’re very optimistic that we’ll be able to achieve this soon. Every little bit helps get us to that goal."
Individuals and organizations can contribute to the campaign in several ways, including online one-time or monthly recurring donations through the MHHF website, setting up a legacy giving plan, purchasing 50/50 tickets, or hosting their own fundraising events on behalf of MHHF.
For more information about the campaign or to make a donation, please visit our website or contact Heather Bach at (403) 528-8133 or info@ourhealthfoundation.ca.
About the Medicine Hat Health Foundation:
The Medicine Hat Health Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of healthcare in Medicine Hat by raising funds to support the needs of the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. Through the generosity of our community, we strive to improve patient care and ensure that the hospital has the necessary equipment and resources.
Contact
Heather Bach, Executive Director
Medicine Hat Health Foundation
(403) 528-8133
info@ourhealthfoundation.ca
www.ourhealthfoundation.ca

Medicine Hat – Two sections of the trail system in Southridge Community Park are scheduled to undergo rehabilitation work starting in July.
Rehabilitation on a section of trail in the north end of the park will enhance its structural integrity. Work on this section will begin Tuesday, July 2 and is anticipated to be completed in mid-July. This will require a brief washroom closure until nearby work is complete and residents can access the facility safely. See the attached map for details on the extent of this trail closure.

• Closure map – north section (PDF)
  A section of trail in the south end of Southridge Community Park will undergo rehabilitation to improve water drainage in the park. This work is anticipated to begin in mid-July and be completed in August. The start date and timeline are subject to change, depending on completion of the work on the north section of trail. See the attached map for details on the extent of this trail closure.
• Closure map – south section (PDF)
  Southridge Community Park will remain open to the public during both stages of work, however several sections of trail within the park will be temporarily closed. Visitors are asked to please adhere to all construction and trail closure signage in place.
  This rehabilitation work will help maintain the City's high standard of the 170-plus kilometres of the Heritage Trail Network to ensure it continues to provide residents of all ages with reliable opportunities for walking, cycling, jogging, scootering, inline skating, skateboarding, and more.
  The City of Medicine Hat would like to thank residents for their patience and understanding as these necessary improvements are completed.

Story by Amelia Schofield | Photo by Leah Hennel
Alberta Health Services recognizes May as Health Philanthropy Month. Throughout the month, we’re celebrating our philanthropic partners who raise funds for healthcare across the province.
The Faces of Foundations profile series introduces you to leaders in healthcare philanthropy across Alberta. This week, we’re pleased to profile Heather Bach, executive director of the Medicine Hat Health Foundation.
Why did you become involved with the Medicine Hat Health Foundation?
After several years in retail management, which was a 24/7 365-day-a-year job, and having a growing family, I knew it was time for a change. To be honest, I began with the foundation through a position that was posted in our local newspaper, and I was the lucky candidate. I started in a major gifts role with the foundation and it was a huge career change. It was probably the scariest thing I’ve ever done in my life — to change after 16 years of being in my comfort zone — but I’m sure glad I did. Why is health philanthropy important to you?
It’s an honour to be a part of healthcare philanthropy, in my eyes. I have always had a fascination and interest in healthcare, but I didn’t think I was equipped emotionally to work as a healthcare professional. I have to admit that after high school I wanted to land in a healthcare field, that was sort of my dream, I just didn’t know where, or what or how. It’s not where I ended up and that’s OK. Now I have the best of both worlds. I get to support healthcare professionals through philanthropy and see all their great work, but I get to do it from an outside perspective. What does being a leader in healthcare philanthropy mean to you?
Being in healthcare philanthropy, I get to be on the positive side of healthcare and make an impact to our healthcare heroes. I also get to make a difference for my whole community because at the end of the day, everyone accesses healthcare at some stage in their life, so this is my way of being able to make a significant impact to those around me. I know the work of the foundation will affect them at some point and it’s an honour to be a part of that.
What recent foundation accomplishments make you most proud?
I’m proud that over the past number of years, our foundation has done nothing but grow, get stronger and make larger impacts in healthcare. We’re a growing team and have gotten to a level where we’re able to add capacity, so I’m proud of how far we’ve come as an organization, how we’ve gotten stronger and brought more impact to the community.
What initiatives are coming up for the foundation?
We’re currently campaigning to replace all the cardiac monitors in the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital to the tune of $1.2 million, so that’s what we’ve been quietly working on behind the scenes. We’re almost halfway there already and will go public with our campaign in the next couple of months.
What is the best way for Albertans to support the foundation?
We always encourage Albertans to donate to their local health foundation, but I think the other thing they can do is thank a healthcare hero. They do amazing work, and we want them to know we appreciate them. There are so many ways to show gratitude — a thank you card, a pat on the back, simply saying thank you — that can be so meaningful to the healthcare professionals in our communities.
For more information on the Medicine Hat Health Foundation, visit ourhealthfoundation.ca.

Medicine Hat, AB - Those with aspirations to travel, earn extra credits and gain a new perspective, may find an open door with the study abroad program at Medicine Hat College (MHC). With opportunities to spend their summers in South Korea, India, and Japan, twelve students are about to discover this for themselves. Mason Pocsik, a first-year university transfer: science student, will be travelling outside of North America for the first time as he explores South Korea. Studying on a full scholarship, he will attend Dankook University for a four-week program. “Travelling has always been a pretty big interest in my life and learning about other cultures has also interested me a lot; learning all the different traditions they have that I don't really get to see much here in Canada,” says Pocsik. During his time abroad, he is taking courses in intercultural communication and social media on a global context to help immerse him in the culture. “What really interested me in these courses is for one of the group projects, we actually get to go and make a short YouTube video talking to vendors and locals about what life is like in South Korea,” says Pocsik. “That was a big interest for me because I really want to learn about their culture and I thought that was a really great way to do that.” Learning to work with those from other cultures is an asset to Pocsik, as he continues his studies and approaches career opportunities. “Since I’m trying to go into the sciences, I could end up working with people all around the world. This could allow me to meet other students and professors who I could then work with in a future career,” says Pocsik. “It’ll give me a better understanding of how to work with people of different cultures, who have different ideas, and overall just have a completely different upbringing than myself.” Second-year bachelor of education student, Jaxson Jangula, echoes this sentiment as he prepares to travel to India in June. Receiving the Shastri Alberta Students to India (SASI) grant from the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) has made taking part in the two-month internship program in Jaipur attainable. “I expect to gain a broader global perspective about the world,” says Jangula, who looks forward to understanding a new culture, while also getting to know himself better in the process. “In the past when I’ve travelled, I feel like I've come back knowing myself a little bit better, and I definitely expect more of that as well.” By getting out of his comfort zone, Jangula hopes to motivate others to take the opportunity to do the same. “As a teacher, I want to inspire my students to dream big and try new things. I can't think of a better way to do that than by traveling, going to a foreign culture, and embracing it,” says Jangula. He also believes the ability to make connections with his students and peers will become easier with the experience. While some are taking the opportunity to amplify their college experience, others will learn about their own heritage. Zachary Fischer is a first-year art and design student who will be studying at Osaka Gakuin University in Japan. “I was born in Japan and moved when I was two or three years old,” says Fischer. “I don't really know that much about Japan, so I’m excited to take that opportunity to learn more.” Enjoying Japanese cuisine, learning some of the language, and meeting new people, are all experiences he looks forward to having during his two-week study abroad experience. As an artist who enjoys painting, drawing, sculpting, and digital design, Fischer expects the experience will help shape his work as he completes his program. “I think it will maybe give me inspiration for new projects and definitely give me a new perspective on life.” To learn more about the study abroad program at MHC, visit www.mhc.ab.ca.

Daina Dixson, who has spent all her school years from K to 12 at Foremost School, is the 2024 valedictorian. “I remember the moment I found out I was smart, it was in my Grade 1 science class. It was a Grade 1 and 2 combined class, and my teacher went up to the front of the room and said only one person got 100% on this paper and that was Daina. That was a really cool moment in my life, and I always look back on that and it always pushes me to do better.”

Even though she expected to be valedictorian, the moment she was told was surreal for Daina, who had been thinking about it since she was in elementary when she found out what a valedictorian is. Once she found out, she texted her entire family, who were all really excited and she loved all the text messages she received in response. “It was a really big goal of mine and I finally got it.”

Outside of academics, a passion of Daina’s is barrel racing, and she currently competes in the Alberta High School Rodeo circuit. She plans to continue barrel racing throughout the summer with the Chinook Rodeo Association along with entering as a competitor in several barrel racing jackpots.

Even though she’s been riding a horse since she was about four years old, Daina didn’t start barrel racing until a few years ago and was pleased with her performance over the past year. “Each arena is a bit different, my fastest time is probably in Magrath, that’s where I got this buckle, and it was 14.4 seconds. Before, I am nervous but during my run, I usually try to focus on my breathing and what I’m doing. As soon as I cross the finish line, all this adrenaline hits me, it’s a really cool feeling.”

Daina has several horses but her main horse she’s had for just over a year. “I think, personally, it’s a really special bond because you have to trust one another. I know it looks easy but there is quite a bit that goes into it. You have to find your spot and correct because you want to be perfect and tight around the barrels without knocking them over. There is a good quote everyone always says, ‘smooth is fast’, so the smoother you are, the better you are. I think becoming smooth is having a good bond with your horse.”

She has an older brother who graduated two years ago along with many other family members who also graduated from Foremost School. Walking through the hallways of the school, one can view class photos of each graduating class. In the graduating class of 1972, Daina’s paternal grandmother can be found with those of her parents in classes from the early 1990’s.

Foremost School graduation is on June 21st this year and Daina explained the grad is very personal where each student creates a slide show, “We do fun things like class history and in the future where we see each other going and it’s mostly a funny conversation two people have. The entire village comes and fills up the gym here and we get to wear our fancy dresses and suits.”

Each graduating class is also given a ceiling tile to paint, and this year Daina has taken on the project as she enjoys painting. Her scene is of the Sweet Grass Hills with a cowboy riding off into the sunset and the 2024 grad theme ‘onto the next adventure’ written in text.

This September, she will attend Lethbridge College to pursue an agronomy diploma along with an agriculture business diploma, which will take three years to complete. Her future goal is to take over the family farm one day. Lethbridge is about an hour and a half from her home, which she feels will be manageable as she makes the transition to living away from the Foremost area for the first time. While in Lethbridge, Daina plans to live in residence and to continue to rodeo during her free time.

“It’s bittersweet. I’ve been in this small town my whole life. You know everybody and what they are doing, but I’m really excited to go to college,” concluded Daina.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Burdett School kicked off their new softball program in May with a school-wide softball game where three cross-graded teams played against each other. “Everybody had a partner and when they played a game, the older kids weren’t the one catching or hitting the ball, they had a little person they assisted,” explained Vice Principal Amber Pinchin.

For six weeks this spring, each Friday afternoon has been dedicated to softball with the school split into three divisions by grade. Two softball sessions occur each Friday, with two divisions getting to participate each week. 

“For every kid in the school, I sent home a survey/sign-up sheet and gave them an option to either play, which was our preference, but for those who were not interested I set up a score keeping session. My husband, Chris, is a certified umpire in the States and he’s volunteering to come out and we have some kids learning to be umpires,” said Pinchin. 

Helping each Friday is Diedrich Knelsen, a parent who has three children attending Burdett School. Involved with the local Mennonite league, which has lots of youth on the teams, he thought it was a good idea to bring softball to the school.

“I started in Grassy Lake, and I posted I was playing with kids. I saw so many kids coming who liked the game, so we decided to start it in school too. Our oldest boy plays in that league along with others in the school,” said Knelsen. “It’s going well at the school. It’s a little harder to organize with so many kids compared to just 12 or 13. It seems like everybody likes it and they are having fun. At first, I wasn’t sure how we were going to do it, but the plan in place makes it easier when you have 30 or 40 kids around and you want to keep everybody busy.”

The hour the students have for baseball is split into 15-minute rotations with all participating in warmup, stretches and some throwing practice for the initial 15-minutes. “For the next 15 minutes, two teams play against each other, and the third team is working on a skill. Richard Pomreinke (teacher at the school) is often the one who runs the skill station because softball is one of his personal passions. Mr. Knelsen is in charge of running the game and other teachers are outside as assisting supervisors and actively involved,” stated Pinchin.

After 15 minutes, one of the groups rotate to skills, which means each group gets to play for 30 minutes. At the end of the hour, the division on the field goes back to class and the other division scheduled for that Friday comes outside. “We’ve tried to coordinate it so that our junior high students, as they get into finals and Grade 9 farewell, they will be having their weeks off baseball,” said Pinchin. “We’ve made a point of not scheduling field trips and other events on Fridays as well.”

Abram Hamm is in Grade 7 and batting is his favourite part because he gets to hit the ball and run. Baseball has made Fridays a day to look forward to and each week Abram hopes the weather will cooperate. When asked what it’s like playing softball, Abram said the game makes him feel alive.

Grade 7 student Isaak Neufeld also said batting was the best part of the game because when he gets a far hit, which he’s managed a few times this season, it makes him feel successful.

Carrying on with the theme, Grade 4 student Herman Knelsen also likes batting the most. “I get to hit it hard, and it’s gone almost to the green and I went straight to first base. My friend hit it and I went to third base then someone else hit it and I made it home. It makes me feel happy and I’m a fast runner. I wanted to play all of them – umpire, scorekeeping and playing – because they are all fun.”

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Teacher Jaime Didychuk at Warren Peers School started a new foods option class this year for Grade 9 students. The school had to get creative with options they could deliver as, due to scheduling issues, they were no longer able to take students to Oyen.

“I have a background in smoked meat. My family (husband and children) are a competition smoked meat team and we compete all over,” explained Didychuk. “We are cooking things I know how to do, such as smoking meat, with the help of my husband, and baking breads. We had a food truck challenge where the kids created different kinds of hotdogs and we got all fancy with them. We offered them to the rest of our school so they could come over and custom order their hotdog. The kids got a taste of what it was like to prepare food on the fly and figure out how much it cost.”

The class has five students and once a week they have access to use the Acadia Valley Community Hall to cook food that is meaningful to the community, such as traditional foods. Didychuk’s goal for this year is to make things students are able to make at home for their families. “You don’t have to go crazy; you can have lots of fun with a hotdog.”

The class began in January and wrapped up at the end of May. The students have progressed since the first class and Didychuk is now able to put a recipe down and let them follow it. “They are becoming very comfortable in the kitchen from when they started. Some of them were struggling with how to wash the dishes, just no experience, and now they are feeling comfortable on how to use the knives, how to cut, and be brave in the kitchen,” stated Didychuk.

Part of the learning for the students is to experiment and think outside the box. Cooking doesn’t have to be fancy and can be more fun if the focus is on good food that is easy to prepare. The class cooked the meal for the Grade 9 farewell, which included smoking meat along with making the salad, a dessert, and a drink.

“The cooking option is a good opportunity for us to feel more comfortable in the kitchen and not be afraid to cook for others,” said student Peyton Benson.

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer

Lois Bedwell, Board Chair for Prairie Rose Public Schools (PRPS), is in her second and final term as a trustee. She worked as a librarian at South Central High School for 17 years and wanted something to do after retiring. There were two open positions for trustees at that time, so she was able to join the board immediately.

“Meeting the people and working with the staff at division office, they are an awesome group,” are what Bedwell enjoys most about being a trustee. “It’s an outfit that you want to be associated with because they do such a good job. I have grandkids in school here now and I’ve always had an interest in education and lifelong learning. It also keeps me up to date, if you don’t stay current you get left behind with technology.”

Bedwell grew up in Oyen and attended Oyen Public School, where two of her seven grandchildren now attend school, for her elementary years. Apart from a couple of years in Calgary and just over a decade in Nanaimo, Bedwell has lived in Oyen her whole life.

Over the past eight years, there have been numerous changes within PRPS, many which have been positive. “We were going down in attendance and now we are going back up. Our enrollment is increasing mainly because of the academies and it’s making kids glad to be back in school and wanting to be in school, especially after COVID.”

The pandemic altered how board meetings were held, which carried over after it ended. Now, every second meeting is usually virtual along with most of the shorter ones, which Bedwell said is an improvement over a conference call or having to drive the two hours from Oyen to Dunmore each time.

While being a trustee doesn’t feel like work to Bedwell, it keeps her busy. There are five public schools – Oyen Public School, South Central High School, Warren Peers School, New Brigden School and Jenner School – along with four colony schools in her area. She tries to attend all parent council meetings along with events – graduations, Christmas, Exhibitions of Learning, etc. – at each of the schools.

Heading into her seventh decade, Bedwell feels the time is right for her to step down. "My one regret is I wish I had become a public-school trustee earlier; it has been incredibly rewarding. Trusteeship meant to me being partners with parents in ensuring that children, our greatest natural resource, are provided with the best possible educational opportunities to become the future citizens the community wishes them to be."

By Samantha Johnson, Prairie Rose Public Schools Content Writer