Neat to Know: April 30, 2026 | City of Medicine Hat

Apr 30, 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.

Land Use Bylaw Refresh

The City of Medicine Hat is nearing completion of the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) Refresh, a multi‑year project to modernize land use rules and align them with the City’s long‑term vision set out in the myMH – Medicine Hat Master Plan. The refresh focuses on clearer rules, better organization, and more predictable planning outcomes for residents, businesses, and developers. Rather than a full rewrite, the final phase consolidates targeted improvements, addressing key land use issues raised through extensive public and stakeholder engagement.

You can learn more about the Land Use Bylaw Refresh by visiting our Shape Your City webpage.

What’s next? Feedback gathered over several years will be considered by City Council at the June 1, 2026 public hearing. A time for the hearing will be available when the Council agenda is set on Friday, May 29.

2026 Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony

The City of Medicine Hat invites residents to the 2026 Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony on Sunday, May 31 at Big Marble Go Centre. This year’s inductees are Robert Grisonich, Wade Peterson, and Wes King-Hunter.

The Sports Wall of Fame induction ceremony will begin at 7 p.m. in the Big Marble Go Centre gymnasium. The event will be filmed and posted on the City’s YouTube channel.

Read our news release to learn more about this year’s recipients.

UA Flag Football – Skills and Drills

Starting May 10 | 8-part program | Big Marble Go Centre – Methanex Bowl

Flag football has arrived at the Big Marble Go Centre. UA Flag Canada brings structured, non-contact flag football to your community - a fast, fun way to get active, build skills, and connect with others.

Every week, boys and girls ages 6 - 14 years old take the field for Skills & Drills - a hands-on program built around the fundamentals of the game.

No league play, no pressure. Just guided repetition, real development, and a love for the game that grows session by session.

Whether your child is stepping onto the field for the first time or looking to sharpen what they know, this is where it starts.

Click here for more info and to register.

Firefighter training: Top level of transit terminal and parkade

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services (MHFES) will be conducting training on the top level of the transit terminal and parkade in downtown Medicine Hat from May 4 to May 7, 2026.

Training will be conducted from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. each day. There will be no access to the top level of the parkade during training.

Crews will be operating fire hoses and flowing water as part of the training. There may also be minor, temporary restrictions to movement in and around the area. MHFES will work to control water flow, limit disruptions, and minimize any impact to surrounding areas.

Access will be maintained for transit vehicles and riders on the ground level, as well as parking on the second level of the parkade.

If members of the public have any questions or concerns, please contact Chief Training Officer Siggelkow at 403-581-7238.

The City of Medicine Hat and MHFES would like to thank the public for their understanding while these vital training exercises take place.

New residential parking permits for arena areas

New residential parking permits for the designated areas around the Moose Recreation Centre and the Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre will be available for pickup starting Monday, May 4. Current permits will expire on May 31.

Permits are available to residents living within time-restricted parking zones near each designated area:

How to apply

Submit your application online at medicinehat.ca/residentialparking. Or, apply in person at the Municipal Works office (88 Kipling Street SE):

Monday to Thursday – Between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Friday – Between 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.

Please note, the Municipal Works office is closed daily from 12 to 1 p.m.

What you’ll need

Valid driver’s license
Current vehicle registration (for each vehicle requiring a permit)

Permits will only be issued for vehicles registered to eligible addresses within each designated area. Each household is also eligible for one visitor permit.

Protect our waterways: Clean, Drain, and Dry

This week, the Government of Alberta announced that from May 1 to September 30 mandatory inspections will be in effect for anyone entering Alberta with watercraft through the eastern and southern provincial borders. This program protects Alberta’s 11 irrigation districts against aquatic invasive species like invasive mussels or even plants, mud and water that can infect fish with whirling disease.

We enjoy the privilege of three flowing water bodies through Medicine Hat, most notably the South Saskatchewan River, so this is a great time to remind you to clean, drain and dry:

Clean your boat and gear. Remove all mud, sand, water and plant traces, and wash your watercraft and gear on dry land away from storm water drains, ditches or waterways.
Drain your boat. In Alberta, it is illegal to transport watercraft with the drain plug in place.
Dry your boat and gear completely between trips.

Head to medicinehat.ca/aquaticinvasivespecies to learn more.

Public Hearings

Four public hearings will occur at the regular City Council meeting on Monday, May 4. Council gave first reading to each of the following four bylaws on Tuesday, April 7, 2026:

Bylaw 4873-2026 proposes to rezone 201 2 Street NW, the former Riverside School site, from Direct Control (DC) District to Low Density Residential (R-LD) District.
Bylaw 4875-2026 proposes to rezone 800 Gershaw Drive SW from Mixed Use (MU) District to Highway Commercial (C-H) District.
Bylaw 4876-2026 proposes to rezone 2 & 6 Sierra Green SW from Medium Density Residential (R-MD) District to Low Density Residential (R-LD) District.
Bylaw 4877-2026 proposes to rezone 2 & 4 Ranchero PL NE from Low Density Residential (R-LD) District to Medium Density Residential (R-MD) District.

Any person who claims to be affected by the proposed bylaws may make an oral presentation limited to five minutes to City Council at the public hearing.

To learn more about how to take part in a hearing, visit: medicinehat.ca/publichearings. Proposed bylaws are available to read at medicinehat.ca/bylaws.

Watch for Monday’s agenda to be posted this Friday.

Eastern Conference Finals – Game 6

Sunday, May 3 | 6 p.m. | Co-op Place

The Medicine Hat Tigers host the Prince Albert Raiders this Sunday in a pivotal sixth game of their best-of-7 league semifinal series.

Let’s pack Co-op Place and cheer them on as they fight to earn a place back in the WHL Championship series!

It’s a rare 6 p.m. puck drop for Sunday’s game.

Get your tickets at Tixx.ca.

Wanting to avoid the drive and parking process for Game 6? 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 5 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

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!

Free compost giveaway and battery recycling

Saturday, May 9 | 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. | 1453 Hutchinson Ave SE

Our second of three free compost giveaway days in 2026 is coming up quickly!

After giving out 19,300 kilograms of free SureGrow compost during our first event on April 18, we’re back for May 9. Bring a shovel and container and come grab up to 10 gallons of compost per household.

This year, you can also come recycle your used household batteries. We’ll have a station on-site to allow for safe and proper battery recycling.

Can’t make it on May 9? Our final event of the year is Saturday, Sept. 12 – same time, same place.

Learn more about our SureGrow compost at medicinehat.ca/suregrow.

And, if you have household batteries lying around and want to recycle them outside of these events, visit RecycleYourBatteries.ca to find a recycling location near you.

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:

Missed the Cultural Forum? Read our What We Heard report

Thank you to everyone who participated in Medicine Hat's recent Cultural Forum and helped shape conversations about the future of arts, heritage, and entertainment in our community. The forum builds on the City's Arts, Heritage and Entertainment Plan (AHEP) by helping to support community connections and capacity.

Feedback gathered at the event has been summarized in this What We Heard report. The next Cultural Forum is being planned for May 2027.

Celebrating the Past, Present, and Future of Economic Development

For many decades, economic development has helped communities grow stronger and more resilient.

Join Medicine Hat Economic Development in celebrating international Economic Development Week from May 4-8, 2026.

From the milestones that shaped our community to the momentum driving us forward, we’ll be honoring the past while looking ahead to the next century in Medicine Hat.

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