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Medicine Hat - where bright ideas shine

Bursting with community pride and an unmistakable spirit of belonging, Medicine Hat has the energy and conveniences of a big city but the heart and soul of a small town. Hatters enjoy an enviable quality of life and share a deep respect for the city's rich history and its progressive attitude.

As a welcome member of this safe and healthy community, you’ll enjoy an outdoor-friendly climate, a vibrant arts and culture scene, a diverse mix of local and international businesses, and ample recreation and leisure opportunities in the area’s incomparable coulees and badlands and the city’s array of parks and greenspaces.

Check out the content below or visit Tourism Medicine Hat for inspiration on how to enjoy our beautiful city.

Children playing in splash park
330 days of sunshine

A bright place - symbolically and literally - Medicine Hat is a warm, vibrant, feel-good city oozing with character and dazzling natural splendour, where hot summer nights and chinook-cheered winter days earn it the moniker “oasis of the Prairies.” It’s a place that honours its heritage while nurturing the bright minds of progress, innovation and entrepreneurship

Residents having lunch on an outdoor patio downtown
Exceptional lifestyle

You’ll love the richness and personality of Medicine Hat. Don’t be surprised if you’re welcomed with a friendly hello and a wave from the locals, whether you’ve met before or not. Family and friends here take time to celebrate and connect with one another. It’s the perfect antidote to the hectic hustle and bustle of a big city. And downtown, you’ll enjoy visiting dozens of home-grown businesses - and your neighbours who run them.

A residential home in Medicine Hat
Affordable living

Home prices in Medicine Hat are well below the provincial average, and Hatters enjoy property taxes and utility costs that are among the lowest in the country. The city's neighbourhoods have been built with people’s needs and comfort in mind, offering easy access to schools, shopping, parks and trails. Long commutes simply aren’t part of the program here!

Music festival performers
Parks, recreation and culture

Medicine Hat is known for its abundance of first-class amenities, including modern recreation and cultural centres, destination parks and a trail network with over 115 kilometres of paved and unpaved paths that invite you to explore residential neighbourhoods and more out-of-the-way spots beyond the city boundaries. Come enjoy the vast variety of recreational activities, historical landmarks, culinary experiences and entertainment just out your door.

Map of Southeastern Alberta
Location

Medicine Hat has all your needs covered. But if ever you need a full dose of “big city,” Calgary is only about three hours away by car along the Trans-Canada Highway. The Saskatchewan border is 50 kilometres to the east, and the U.S. border crossing at Wild Horse is just 90 minutes to the south.

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
Healthcare

The Medicine Hat Regional Hospital offers a full complement of acute care, inpatient and outpatient services, including surgical, mental health, pediatrics, 24-hour emergency, obstetrics, geriatrics and community health. Families of children receiving medical care can book accommodations at Medicine Hat's Ronald McDonald House.

Several private and specialty health clinics also serve the region.

Medicine Hat College campus
Learning opportunities

Medicine Hat is home to a growing slate of education institutions. Elementary and secondary options include francophone, charter, French immersion and online schools.

Medicine Hat College serves more than 6,000 students each year, offering a variety of certificate, diploma, degree, university transfer and trades programs. It also has collaborative agreements with University of Calgary and Mount Royal University, allowing for easy transfer of programs and credits earned at any of the three institutions.

aerial view of Medicine Hat

Rural Renewal Stream

Medicine Hat was approved as a designated community for the Government of Alberta Rural Renewal Stream on January 13, 2023 and is in the process of designing a suitable local approach to this program.

Learn more