Neat to Know: August 14, 2025
Your weekly roundup of City news, updates, and other important information.
Lighting the way to a greener future
It’s a brighter day today! Thanks to a $430,000 contribution from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre’s (MCCAC) Community Energy Conservation program, funded by the Government of Alberta, the City of Medicine Hat has completed LED retrofits at 12 local facilities that is expected to reduce lifetime greenhouse gases (GHG) by an estimated 3,662 tonnes and save $97,960.98 in utility costs annually.
What’s the sitch with swimmer’s itch
After conducting tests, Parks and Recreation staff have found the presence of aquatic life that can produce swimmer’s itch in the Echo Dale Regional Park swim lake and boat lake.
Swimmer’s itch is an itchy rash people may get from shallow, warm water. It may appear in outdoor water bodies during warmer weather.
Staff are working to further treat the water in the swim lake to reduce its presence.
We’ve posted signage on-site, and it’s still ok to enter the water. If you do, here’s what you need to know:
- The rash isn’t contagious or dangerous, just itchy
- It typically disappears after about a week
- Shower and towel off right after swimming to reduce the chance of getting it
Read more about swimmer’s itch on the Alberta Health Services website:
Though it’s still okay to swim at Echo Dale, there are other public swimming options available within the city! Enjoy free public swimming all summer long at both Hill Pool and Strathcona Pool, courtesy of the Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club.
If you have further questions, please contact the Parks and Recreation department.
403-529-8333 PKRCAdmin@medicinehat.ca
One year countdown: Special Olympics Canada Summer Games!
The 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games will take place in Medicine Hat from August 11-15, 2026, and will welcome approximately 1,700 participants including athletes, caregivers and officials, and engage more than 1,200 local volunteers.
Special Olympics athletes from across Canada who have qualified to represent their home province or territory will gather in Medicine Hat to compete in the following ten sports for personal bests – and in some cases, the chance to represent Special Olympics Team Canada at the 2027 Special Olympics World Summer Games.
- Athletics
- Basketball
- Bocce
- Golf
- Rhythmic Gymnastics
- Powerlifting
- Soccer
- Softball
- Swimming
- Ten Pin Bowling
We’re so proud to host these participants in our world-class facilities and warm community. The countdown is on!
Are you registered to vote?
To vote in the 2025 Municipal Election October 4 to 20, all voters must be on the permanent Electors Registry.
There is a single voters list for Provincial and Municipal Elections. To register, or check to make sure you are registered, visit voterlink.ab.ca. The deadline is August 15.
If you are not on the List of Electors by August 15, you can still vote at a polling station in advance or on election day by bringing ID that contains your photo, name and home address.
Learn more about the 2025 Election:
College Avenue resurfacing
A section of College Avenue and College Drive is set for paving as part of our annual roadway resurfacing program.
Starting Monday, August 18, the following two sections will be paved as part of this section of the annual program.
- College Avenue between College Drive and the Trans-Canada Highway
- College Drive between College Avenue and Markwick Drive
Please expect delays and drive with caution in the area. Lane closures will be required to detour traffic through the work zone.
This paving work is anticipated to be completed Thursday, August 21. Crews will then move on to South Boundary Road the week of August 25 for the final section of the annual roadway resurfacing program.
To check out this and other capital projects, visit our capital project map.
Parks and Rec projects winding down, starting up
A pair of Parks and Recreation projects are nearing completion, and another two are set to get underway in Medicine Hat.
Winding down
The Herald Courts rehabilitation project on the SW Hill is slated to wrap up by late August, weather permitting. Notable project features include a new basketball court and tennis court, as well as lighting upgrades.
The East Glen Outdoor Rink and Court rehabilitation project is nearly complete as well. Crews have upgraded the facility to include a new high-board rink, basketball court, boardwalk and lighting upgrades.
Starting up
Meanwhile, construction is set to begin on two projects starting Monday, August 18.
The courts in Lions Park are due for an upgrade to improve surface drainage, which will help prolong its life. The facility will change from two multi-use courts (tennis and pickleball) to one dedicated tennis court and four dedicated pickleball courts. It will also include lighting upgrades. Weather permitting, the work is anticipated be completed by mid October.
And, previously communicated in the July 10 edition of Neat to Know, construction on a pedestrian bridge on the trail network between Gas City Campground and Echo Dale Regional Park is around the corner. The location of the bridge may make detours difficult for the duration of the project. The project is set to be wrapped up by late September. Meanwhile, we’re still pleased to offer over 180 kilometres of paths and trails around the city to access!
Those looking for an easy, moderate, or advanced unpaved trail experience can find an abundance of options on our Heritage Trail Network map.
A Wizarding Night at the Museum
Friday, October 17 | 5:30-9:30 PM | Esplanade
Step into the wizarding world! Upon arrival, be sorted into your Hogwarts house, borrow a cloak, claim your keepsake pin, and choose your wand—if it doesn’t choose you first.
Young witches and wizards will whip up a little luck in Potions Class, crafting Felix Felicis (golden slime!) to enjoy during the night’s adventures.
With Spectrespecs on, embark on a Luna Lovegood–inspired scavenger hunt through the gallery—spot magical artifacts, solve mysteries, and avoid mischievous Wrackspurts.
End the evening in the Hogwarts Common Room for a cozy screening of Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. Bring your stuffy and pillow and enjoy your potion project… just watch out for whiskers!
Recommended for ages 8+. Tickets are vanishing fast—grab yours before you’re stuck at Platform 9¾!
Sunshine Ice Cream Crawl
Various dates | Board the Sunshine Trolley at the Medicine Hat Visitor Information Centre
In these dog days of summer, why not hop on Tourism Medicine Hat’s Sunshine Trolley for a unique sampling of local ice creams? There’s still room on the August 20 tour.
Our friends at Tourism Medicine Hat have created many other guided and self-guided tours for you to be a tourist in your own town. Check out their website to find something new!
Tech smells: mobile ‘sniffer’ hunts natural gas
This year, when the City inspects 7,264 gas services and 151 kilometres of gas main as part of the annual gas infrastructure survey, we’re enlisting the help of a new technology that sniffs from a vehicle.
The Mobile Guard is a vehicle-mounted super sniffer manufactured by global technology leader ABB that uses an anemometer to identify wind direction and a pump that samples air quality as it drives. The device measures the level of methane in the air sample and tracks the location and severity on a map. It can also detect and inform whether any recorded methane is likely to be naturally occurring, or if it is gas coming from a pipeline.
The contracted mobile vehicle, which will drive at night, complements the traditional onsite inspections by contractors who walk in an around properties during the day to survey pipe, risers, regulators, meters and more to evaluate and maintain the integrity of the City’s natural gas delivery system.
The mobile sniffer will help the entire inspection process conclude in only three weeks. Now that’s neat!
To view all our career opportunities at the City of Medicine Hat, visit our website and sign up for job alerts.
1…2…3…4… We need Counting Assistants galore!
New Alberta legislation mandates that ballots in the 2025 Municipal and School Board elections be counted by hand. So, we need all hands on deck!
Counting Assistants earn $240/day on election night and $200/day on the few days following the election. Play your part in our local democracy and apply today!
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