Community Survey 2026
Between February 2 and 16, 2026, IPSOS (on behalf of the City of Medicine Hat) is conducting a community survey targeting Medicine Hat residents aged 18 and older.
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The results 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 from what residents feel is the most important issue affecting the community, to levels of satisfaction with specific municipal services.
The results of the survey are benchmarked against other municipalities, and the survey is repeated every two years, allowing the City to monitor results over time.
Statistically relevant
The feedback that is captured through the survey is considered representative of the population as it is scientifically designed to reflect the broader population. Results are weighted to reflect age, neighbourhood and other demographics. IPSOS will use a randomized telephone survey (95% cellphones and 5% landlines) with an overall sample size of 400. The results are considered accurate to within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.
How the survey works
IPSOS contacts a random selection of Medicine Hat residents by phone. The group of respondents is carefully adjusted (or "weighted") to reflect the city's population like different ages, neighbourhoods, and demographic groups. This approach helps ensure the results truly represent the community and are not skewed by bias.
With a sample size of 400 residents, the survey results are considered reliable by a 95% confidence level. In simple terms, this means that if the survey were repeated with another group of 400 people, the results would be nearly the same 19 out of 20 times.
Why the survey matters
Because the survey is statistically accurate, the results are a trusted source of information. For example, City Council uses this, along with other information, when setting priorities and making decisions.
The survey provides valuable insight on what matters most to residents and where improvements may be needed. It asks about topics such as:
- Quality of life in Medicine Hat
- Important local issues
- City services
- Financial planning
- Communications and customer services
- Views of Council, administration, and municipal operations
Tracking change over time
The same survey questions are asked every two years to a new random group of residents. This allows the City to:
- Measure changes over time
- See what's improving and what isn't
- Compare Medicine Hat's results with other municipalities
You can review previous survey results to see how opinions have changed since 2022 and how Medicine Hat compares to similar municipalities.
Online survey
If you are not contacted by phone and would like to participate, you can complete the survey online.
The results of the online survey will be reported separately than the telephone survey to maintain the integrity of the scientific survey.
What happens next
Survey results are expected to be available in the spring of 2026 and will help inform future City planning and decision-making.
Contact Us
City of Medicine Hat
City Hall
580 1 St SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 8E6
403-529-8100
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