Medicine Hat Economic Development recognized with provincial innovation award
Medicine Hat Economic Development received the Innovative Approach to Economic Development award for medium-sized communities at the Economic Developers of Alberta Conference for its OpporTOURnity Medicine Hat initiative.
Launched in the fall of 2024, OpporTOURnity Medicine Hat was designed to move beyond traditional investment attraction tools to create an immersive, on-the-ground experience for a group of key influencers brought directly into the community to witness its strengths firsthand.
The program brought 23 investment attraction professionals from provincial, federal, and international organizations to Medicine Hat for the multi-day networking and investment attraction event. Delegates in attendance included representatives from Invest Alberta Corporation, Prairies Economic Development Canada, Business Development Bank of Canada, and the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Over the course of one and a half days, program participants engaged in meaningful, face-to-face interactions with influential members of the local business community, municipal and provincial government officials, and regional partners. Other activities included an evening meet-and-greet and networking event, a cultural tour of Medicine Hat, curated sector and business tours, and presentations highlighting the city’s competitive advantages during a luncheon with Premier Danielle Smith.
Delegates experienced the region’s strengths across agriculture, petrochemicals, manufacturing, defence and aerospace, carbon capture, renewable energy, and a diversified local economy. The structure of the program encouraged open dialogue, strengthened relationships, and provided a deeper understanding of how the community collaborates to support business investment.
“OpporTOURnity Medicine Hat demonstrates the value of connection-driven economic development,” said Selena McLean-Moore, director of Economic Development with the City of Medicine Hat. “By bringing decision-makers here and showing (rather than telling) what makes our community competitive, we are building stronger relationships and positioning Medicine Hat for long-term success. And that’s exactly what’s occurred as the program continues to produce results to this day.”
For further details, visit www.opportunitymedicinehat.ca or view a summary on the project on YouTube.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Address
533 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0A9
Contact Us
Email: opportunity@medicinehat.ca
Phone: 403-977-0146
The City of Medicine Hat acknowledges that we live and work on treaty territory. The City pays respect to all Indigenous Peoples and honours their past, present and future. We recognize and respect their cultural heritages and relationships to the land. Medicine Hat is situated on Treaty 7 and neighbour to Treaty 4 territory, traditional lands of the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (Blood), Piikani (Peigan), Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina (Sarcee) as well as the Cree, Sioux, and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples, and homelands of the Métis Nation District 2 Battle River Territory. Learn more.
Address
533 First Street SE
Medicine Hat, Alberta
T1A 0A9
Contact Us
Email: opportunity@medicinehat.ca
Phone: 403-977-0146
The City of Medicine Hat acknowledges that we live and work on treaty territory. The City pays respect to all Indigenous Peoples and honours their past, present and future. We recognize and respect their cultural heritages and relationships to the land. Medicine Hat is situated on Treaty 7 and neighbour to Treaty 4 territory, traditional lands of the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (Blood), Piikani (Peigan), Stoney Nakoda, and Tsuut’ina (Sarcee) as well as the Cree, Sioux, and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples, and homelands of the Métis Nation District 2 Battle River Territory. Learn more.