Neat to Know: April 23, 2026
Neat to Know is a roundup of City news, updates, and other important information. You can expect to see the week's most interesting content and even some that may have not been delivered through our regular channels.
2026 Tax Rates
On April 20, 2026, Council passed the 2026 property tax bylaw with a 4.9% increase. Originally proposed at 6.1%, Council directed staff to reduce the increase to 4.9% and use $1.1 million from the Tax Rate Stabilization Reserve to address the funding shortfall. Staff are expected to exhaust all options to find the $1.1 million in savings from existing budgets before pulling from reserves.
At 4.9%, the median single-family home valued at $359,500 will see an increase of $115 per year (less than $10 per month) on the municipal portion of their tax bill.
The City is also legislated to collect the provincial education tax, which has seen a higher than normal increase of 8.7%, and the Cypress View Foundation levy to fund accommodations and operations for seniors at the Cypress View Foundation. You can see the breakdown of each levy on your tax notice.
Tax notices will be mailed May 21 and taxes are due June 30. If you prefer to skip the paper bill, you can sign up for tax eBilling at medicinehat.ca/etax.
Learn more at medicinehat.ca/tax.
April 20, 2026 City Council meeting
City Council met on April 20 to discuss several key items affecting Medicine Hat residents. Council considered several tax bylaws (see above). Council defeated a motion to increase tax penalties, keeping them at current 2026 rates. A review of results from the 2026 Community Survey showed a 90% overall satisfaction with City services, with the highest satisfaction ratings for garbage and recycling services. A notice of motion was also introduced to explore a pilot project allowing alcohol consumption in designated City parks, and Council acknowledged that the City received three Government Finance Officers Awards.
2026 Community Survey results are in!
The results from the 2026 Medicine Hat Community Survey were presented to City Council on Monday and are now viewable online at medicinehat.ca/communitysurvey.
The overall results are positive and a number of areas have improved since the last survey in 2024. Notably, 93% of residents report positive quality of life in Medicine Hat, and 90% are satisfied with City services.
Go Tigers!
The Medicine Hat Tigers are back in the Eastern Conference Championship series!
The defending Western Hockey League champions open the series on the road against the Prince Alberta Raiders tomorrow at 7 p.m. Game 2 is set for Saturday at 7 p.m. You can watch and cheer them on from home for FREE on victoryplus.com.
The series shifts back to home ice at Co-op Place early next week:
- Game 3: Tues., April 28 at 7 p.m.
- Game 4: Wed., April 29 at 7 p.m.
Tickets are selling fast! Grab them while you can on Tixx.ca.
All aboard!
Wanting to avoid the drive and parking process to Games 3 and 4, and every home game in the Tigers’ playoff run? Ride the Co-op Place Express!
- Round-trip fare: $5
- Pick-up/Drop-off: Medicine Hat Mall Bus Stop on Carry Drive (free parking!)
- First bus leaves the mall at 6 p.m. or once full
- Last bus to the game leaves the mall 15 minutes before puck drop
- Return trip after the game: Last bus departs 30 minutes after final horn
Enjoy a stress-free trip to the game! Visit Tixx.ca to grab your passes ahead of time. You can also pay cash when you board, or use your Medicine Hat Transit pass.
Go Tigers!
Strychnine
We’ve received several questions from residents asking if we use Strychnine to control the population of Richardson’s ground squirrels (gophers) in Medicine Hat.
The questions have come following Health Canada’s approval for the emergency use of 2% liquid strychnine in Alberta and Saskatchewan to control Richardson’s ground squirrel (gopher) infestations until November 1, 2027. This approval does not include use in urban municipalities.
Our staff is not permitted to use strychnine.
We only use approved methods of controlling these and other pests. However, we mostly focus our efforts on plants and animals that are officially designated as invasive species in Alberta.
Municipal Matters: Celebrating event season in Medicine Hat
Spring has sprung, and with it comes the much-anticipated return of festivals and events in Medicine Hat.
In our latest Municipal Matters article, Director of Parks and Recreation, Scott Richter, highlights how we support festivals and events in our community, including two of several grant funding opportunities that are available annually.
Read the full article here: Municipal Matters – April 23, 2026
Upcoming event limiting Kin Coulee vehicle access
Motor vehicle access in Kin Coulee will be limited for Medicine Hat College’s Rattler Run event on Saturday, April 25.
Please note the following effects in place for the event:
- The main entrance will be closed to motor vehicles from Friday, April 24 at 11 p.m. until Saturday, April 25 at 2 p.m.
- Vehicle access will still be permitted at the north entrance on Kipling Street SE past the Parks and Recreation office.
- Anyone driving in the park exercise caution and obey signs and speed limits.
- There will be barricades set up, and Medicine Hat College will have security near these barricades.
Please view the map below for more information on vehicle use.
Please note:
⛔ Red lines - No vehicle access
✅ Green lines - Vehicle access allowed
🚸 Yellow line - Participants will be running along the north side of the North Road, please use caution.
City wins Triple Crown for financial reporting
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has once again recognized the City of Medicine Hat with a Triple Crown for achieving three financial reporting awards in 2024:
- Canadian Award for Financial Reporting (CAnFR) (2024)
- Popular Annual Financial Report Award (PAFR) (2024)
- Distinguished Budget Presentation Award (2025-2026) for its two-year budget beginning January 1, 2025.
The City has won the Canadian Award for Financial Reporting Achievement for 23 years in a row and the Popular Annual Financial Report for 13 consecutive years.
Those wishing to view the awards can find them displayed on the wall near the east elevator in the main lobby of City Hall.
Litter Blitz wrap-up and Thank-You BBQ
Thank you to all who participated in this year’s Litter Blitz, and to all who attended our thank-you barbecue at the Medicine Hat Interpretive Program’s Earth Day event this past Saturday!
It was an exciting chance to connect with so many passionate Hatters who strive to keep our community clean and free of litter.
We’ll be drawing prize winners from this year’s social media contest and the Earth Day event. So, stay tuned for the winning names from Litter Blitz 2026!
Community Day at BMGC
Saturday, Apr. 25 | 12 to 4 p.m. | Big Marble Go Centre
Join us for a full afternoon of FREE family fun—made possible by CF Industries as they celebrate their 50th anniversary! We have a high-energy day packed with activities for all ages, this is one you won’t want to miss!
💦 Free swimming – two swim times available, grab your tixx now to secure your spot!
🎯 Nerf Wars
👶 Tot Time
🏰 Bouncy castles
🎲 Yard Games
…and more to explore!
Bring your friends and family and spend the day making memories together. No admission required—just show up and join the fun.
📍 Big Marble Go Centre
🎟️ Get your FREE swim tickets on Tixx.ca
Let’s play, connect, and celebrate our community!
Highway 3 Twinning - Public Information Session (drop-in)
Tuesday, Apr. 28 | 4 to 7 p.m. | Medicine Hat College (Big Eagle Room)
Alberta Transportation and Economic Corridors (ATEC) is hosting a drop-in public information session next week regarding the Highway 3 Twinning project for the section between Highway 885 (Whitla) and Medicine Hat.
Their recommended plan for the preliminary design will be shared at this upcoming session. A drop-in session will also be held in Seven Person the day before.
ATEC has also launched an online survey for residents wishing to provide their feedback: Take the survey
View ATEC’s preliminary engineering plan and display boards on their project webpage.
Public Reception
Saturday, May 9 | 7 p.m. | Esplanade
Join us at the Esplanade for a public reception celebrating three solo exhibitions:
Because of Her by Adrianne Williams explores the enduring presence and influence of women through layered, contemplative paintings rooted in memory, care, and collective lineage.
dlúne æîk’ãzñ - Mouse Spirit Power by Heather Shillinglaw honours over 30 years of collaboration with her mother and Elder Shirley Norris Shillinglaw, inviting viewers into a grounded, attentive perspective shaped by Denesuline knowledge systems.
Time After Time by Caprice Hogg reflects a lifelong connection to the landscapes of the Canadian West, capturing moments of light, memory, and place through expressive oil paintings.
Learn more about these exhibitions on the event page at Esplanade.ca.
Want to see more upcoming events, programming and activities? View all options at City of Medicine Hat facilities:
Compost and batteries galore
This past Saturday we hosted the first of three free compost giveaway and battery recycling events in 2026. And the first event of 2026 picked up where a very successful 2025 left off.
327 people picked up 19,300 kilograms of free SureGrow compost!
Residents also safely disposed of 70 kilograms worth of used household batteries. This proper disposal means fewer chances of fires in our waste collection trucks and at the Waste Management Facility, so thank you!
Did you miss Saturday’s event? Well free compost day #2 is right around the corner:
Saturday, May 9
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
1453 Hutchinson Ave SE
View location
See you there!
Medicine Hat Economic Development receives provincial 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.
Read our news release to learn more about OpporTOURnity and this award.
To view all our career opportunities at the City of Medicine Hat, visit our Careers webpage and sign up for job alerts.
Customer Service Representative
Temporary | Casual | On-site
Are you passionate about providing exceptional customer service and enjoy working in a dynamic, community-focused environment?
We're looking for enthusiastic individuals to join our team as Customer Service Representatives for our Parks and Recreation facilities, including the Big Marble Go Centre, Crestwood Pool, Gas City Campground, and Outdoor pools.
This unionized position offers a rewarding opportunity to make a positive impact on our community members.
Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.
Water & Sewer System Operator – Entry - Step 2
Temporary (up to six months) | Full-time | On-site
Are you looking for a rewarding opportunity to make a difference in your community while gaining valuable hands-on experience?
The City of Medicine Hat is hiring three Water & Sewer System Operators - Entry for temporary positions to join our Environmental Utilities team. In this role, you'll be involved in the operation, installation, maintenance, and repair of the City's Water Distribution and Wastewater Collection Systems infrastructure.
This is a great entry-level opportunity for individuals who are eager to contribute to essential services in a dynamic and team-oriented environment.
Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.
Facilities Technician
Permanent | Full-time | On-site
Join a team that takes pride in maintaining safe, efficient, and high-performing facilities that support the community every day.
As a Facilities Technician, you'll play a key role in delivering both technical and administrative expertise-working alongside a collaborative team and valued partners to keep operations running smoothly, support ongoing improvements, and ensure facilities meet the highest standards of quality and compliance.
Learn more and apply on our Careers webpage.
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