Economic Development

Al Sharma,. Manager of Investment Attraction for Medicine Hat Economic Development, attended the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Conference in Whistler, BC in January 2025.

We are excited to introduce our fully staffed Medicine Hat Economic Development team! Over the past year, we’ve grown into a dynamic group of seven, each bringing unique skills, perspectives, and passions to support our city’s growth. Meet the team:

When Medicine Hat Economic Development received Council approval for its strategy in the summer of 2023, a critical piece of the holistic approach was a focus on business retention and expansion. This activity involves engaging with the industry to identify challenges and opportunities; often referred to as the heart of economic development. 

The final quarter of 2024 has been productive, from meeting with stakeholders to building relationships throughout our region. The Medicine Hat Economic Development team continues to leverage connections and utilize data-driven decision-making to grow the industry and the economy in Medicine Hat.

A living wage reflects what earners in a family need to bring home based on the actual costs of living in a specific community. Living wages are rooted in the belief that individuals and families should not just survive but be able to live in dignity and participate in their community.

Medicine Hat Economic Development staff attended a WestJet Roundtable discussion put on by the Medicine Hat Regional Airport and the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce on October 2. WestJet representatives Jared Mikoch-Gerke, the Director of Alliances and Airport Affairs, and Tara Jago, the Senior Manager of External Affairs, presented the rationale behind changes to WestJet service on their route between Medicine Hat and Calgary.

Medicine Hat has been named the host of the Aerial Evolution Association of Canada’s (AEAC) 16th-annual National Student Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Competition, held May 9-11, 2025. The event offers students from across Canada the opportunity to address real-world challenges, develop innovative solutions, and gain hands-on experience in simulated situations.

Medicine Hat Economic Development hosted 23 investment attraction professionals for an event called. OpporTOURnity.

Entrepreneurs are known for being out-of-the-box thinkers. Creators who bring businesses to new heights with drive, fresh perspectives, and problem-solving approaches.

The changes to the downtown core – its enhanced vibrancy and usage, the proliferation of summer patios, new businesses opening and staying open – didn’t happen by accident. Rather, the gradual revitalization of our downtown streets and business community occurred as part of the City’s long-term plans.