Neat to Know: June 5, 2025
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Your weekly roundup of City news, updates, and other important information.
Animal Pound Services update
We’re set to assume operations of the Animal Pound Services (APS) facility on an interim basis starting this Sunday, June 8.
After announcing that intention last month, we’ve provided an update with all the details on what you can expect from this transition period.
Click the link to read our news release and visit the APS webpage for more information on:
- APS staff hires
- Hours of operation
- Contact information
- Timeline for the transition and Request for Proposal
- All other details of this announcement
Statement from Mayor Clark: Closure of CHAT-TV
Mayor Linnsie Clark has issued a statement on the closure of CHAT-TV this week.
Please note: This is an excerpt from the statement. Mayor Clark’s full statement can be read at the link below.
"Yesterday’s announcement that CHAT-TV will no longer be broadcasting after nearly seven decades of service is heartbreaking and a huge loss for our region. Since 1957, generations of Hatters grew up trusting CHAT-TV journalists to deliver the day’s stories reflecting the issues and triumphs of southeastern Alberta - stitching together a draft of our history, one story at a time. Local journalism is democracy’s most immediate watchdog. This is true regardless of the size of the municipality you live in. Hometown newsrooms provide the granular scrutiny that national outlets can’t, deterring corruption and keeping public spending, zoning, and policy decisions in the open.”
Water conservation conversation
It’s getting hotter, Hatters! Dive into this information on water management and conservation.
Currently, Alberta Environment and Protected Areas has the South Saskatchewan River Basin listed in Phase Zero for drought, and reservoir levels are near normal.
Despite this, we recognize that upstream conditions are drier than in Medicine Hat. We are encouraging the community to voluntarily conserve water use where possible. The City of Medicine Hat is actively evaluating conditions and keeping the Water Shortage Management Plan in mind as we see forecasts for low precipitation in the coming weeks.
Interested in ways to voluntarily reduce water use in a relatively easy way? Follow these simple tips:
- Repair leaky irrigation systems and indoor plumbing fixtures
- Limit outdoor watering to the early morning or late evening hours
- Turn off sprinklers when it’s windy
- Keep a jug/pitcher of drinking water in the fridge rather than letting water run for a cold drink
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth, shaving and washing your face – use short bursts instead
For more information and tips on water conservation, visit our Water Conservation webpage.
medicinehat.ca/waterconservation
Community Vibrancy Grant window is open
We began accepting applications for our Community Vibrancy Grant this week! The latest application intake is for 2026 projects and events. The window to apply is open until Friday, July 18 at 3 p.m.
The 2026 Community Vibrancy Grant application intake has two funding streams – Community Project and Activities, and Annual Festivals and Special Events.
Read more on these funding streams, including criteria and available funding, on our website.
Get your fill
Water bottle fill stations are back for 2025 with a couple of new locations!
Did you know:
- Water from these fill stations is the same treated, potable drinking water city-wide
- This water undergoes thorough testing to ensure it stays safe to drink
- The units are disinfected each week and are equipped with an automatic flushing system set to run throughout the day to help ensure the water remains fresh
Check out a map of our 10 water bottle fill station locations on our City iMap below.
Reflecting on how our neighbourhoods change
Our latest Municipal Matters article is out today, authored by Randi Buchner, Manager of Land and Real Estate.
Randi shares how the Land & Real Estate department factors historic and continued change throughout Medicine Hat neighbourhoods into their comprehensive five-year strategic plan.
This strategic plan outlines the department’s approach to land ownership, management and development, with a focus on creating value through strategic land use, remaining adaptable to market opportunities, and proactively marketing and selling city-owned land.
Do you know an individual or organization in your community who has made a big impact?
There’s still time to submit a Community Spirit Awards nomination! Nominate them for a Community Spirit Award before Monday, June 16 at 4:30 p.m.
Street sweeping update
Crews finished up work in the final residential zone of the 2025 Spring Street Sweeping Program Monday evening.
We'll be shifting focus to paved lanes around the city, and we will continue with our regular street sweeping throughout the year.
Friday! Ask us in person about the proposed Municipally Controlled Corporation
Friday, June 6, 2025
11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in Helen Beny Gibson Lounge, City Hall
In this come and go drop-in session, connect with our project team to learn more about why the City is considering a municipally controlled corporation for our electric distribution, gas distribution, and electric generation business units (and the supporting energy marketing and business analysis function).
If you can’t join in person, why not join us virtually next Wednesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.? You will be able to submit questions on screen in writing for our team to address during the presentation. You can find the join link below:
June 2 City Council meeting
Following the excitement of congratulating our Medicine Hat Tigers for winning the WHL Championship and representing Medicine Hat at the Memorial Cup, Council also got down to business at the June 2 meeting by approving a capital grant of $1.85 million to the Medicine Hat Women’s Shelter Phoenix Safe House emergency shelter expansion project. They also heard the Destination Marketing Organization annual report, a Special Transit Review, and the Unison at the Veiner Centre annual report. Check out the highlights for more!
Kick Off Parks and Rec Month with Energy in Motion!
Join us this Saturday, June 7 at Big Marble Go Centre from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the first in our series of Energy in Motion events happening all month long! We have tons of free, family friendly activities set up outdoors in the Methanex Bowl. You can expect bouncy castles, food trucks, outdoor games, hands-on activities in our creative zone, a scavenger hunt and more!
Can’t make it this weekend? No problem! Every Saturday for the month of June enjoy fun activities, games, and outdoor excitement designed to celebrate and promote our amazing green spaces. It’s all about getting active, connecting with community, and showcasing everything parks and recreation has to offer.
Click on each event for more details:
Provincial scope and funding
Today, let’s learn more about the provincial government's roles and responsibilities so you know which matters you will, and won't, be voting for this fall in the municipal election.
Provincial governments are responsible for issues explicitly outlined in Canada’s written constitution (the Constitution Act, 1867). They manage schools, colleges and universities; oversee hospitals and long-term care; maintain highways and provincial parks; regulate natural resources and environment; and administer the legal system in Alberta.
The Government of Alberta's main sources of funding are:
Personal and corporate income taxes: Provinces set their own rates.
Natural resource revenues: Royalties from oil, gas, minerals, forestry (especially in provinces like Alberta).
Transfers from the federal government: Canada Health Transfer, Canada Social Transfer
It is important to note that Alberta pays (rather than receives) equalization payments to less wealthy provinces and does not charge a provincial sales tax (PST). Other provinces charge PST or a combined federal/provincial tax (HST).
Learn more at:
medicinehat.ca/threelevels
A splash of perspective
We’ve mentioned water quite a few times already in this edition, so let’s keep the good times flowing!
In 2024, the City produced 14,485,963 cubic metres of potable water at the Water Treatment Plant. By comparison, that’s enough to fill 96 million bathtubs, the Rogers Centre (Toronto skydome) nine times, or the World Waterpark inside the West Edmonton Mall 1,178 times!
Furthermore, the Water Bottle Fill Stations (which were just put in service this season, as you read above) saved 386,228 plastic water bottles last year. That many bottles standing upright and placed snugly side by side would cover five standard tennis courts.
These cool facts and more are readily available in the City’s 2024 Annual Report.
Municipal Election Opportunities (multiple roles)
Want to contribute to your community and be part of the democratic process for the 2025 Municipal Election in Medicine Hat?
The City of Medicine Hat is hiring a variety of paid temporary positions to support the upcoming Municipal Election on October 20, 2025.
We're looking for dedicated individuals to fill the following roles:
- Poll Supervisor (Presiding Deputy Returning Officer)
- Assistant Poll Supervisor (Assistant Supervising Officer)
- Ballot Clerk (Deputy Returning Officer)
- Registration Clerk (Registration Officer)
- Counting Assistant
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