Neat to Know: August 27, 2024
Please enjoy this week's edition of Neat to Know, 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.
Vendors and organizations wanted! Deadline to apply is tomorrow!
We’re celebrating Alberta Day by highlighting Alberta’s multicultural heritage at our Towne Square Block Party on August 31 and we want YOU to be able to show the community what you’re made of! If you are part of a cultural organization, or a creator whose craft focuses on any cultural heritage, we want to give you a space to show off.
Interested parties must contact us by tomorrow (August 28) by emailing townesquare@medicinehat.ca or signing up through the Towne Square Block Party intake portal
Read more about Saturday’s event down below in the Upcoming Events section.
Labour Day hours/closures
Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the observance of Labour Day on Monday, September 2.
The following facilities will be closed for Labour Day, and will re-open on Tuesday, September 3:
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City Hall and all City of Medicine Hat administrative departments
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Waste Management Facility (landfill)
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Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre
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Crestwood Recreation Centre
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Co-op Place
The Big Marble Go Centre gym and fitness centre will be open from 12 to 5 p.m.
Residential waste collection
There will also be no residential waste collection on Labour Day. Residential waste collection will resume on Tuesday, September 3 in Zone 2. Download the Recycle Coach App, visit medicinehat.ca/collectionschedule or contact Environmental Utilities at 403-529-8176 for more information.
Echo Dale Regional Park swim lake closing for season
Labour Day Monday will be the last day to take advantage of the swim lake at Echo Dale Regional Park before it closes for the season. A sunny, warm long weekend awaits – a perfect end to what’s been a hot summer season enjoyed by many down at Echo Dale.
Staff will begin draining the swim lake on Tuesday, September 3.
The boat lake and other park amenities remain open!
Towne Square Block Party
Celebrating Alberta Day by honouring our heritage and Hometown Heroes (first responders)
This Saturday! August 31, 2024 from noon to 4 p.m. at the Towne Square
At this Saturday's Block Party we're celebrating Alberta Day by honouring our heritage and hometown heroes! Elder Charlie will honour first responders like Halo Air Ambulance, South Eastern Alberta Search and Rescue (SEASAR) and the Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services (MHFES) with a dedicated prayer and song. He’ll also educate visitors on proper protocol as he assembles a tepee on site.
Indigenous performers Dobry Kunka, Shannon Kunka, and Dustin Kunka (pictured above) will demonstrate the traditional Fancy Dance, Jingle Dance and Grass Dance. Visitors can make a thank you card for our hometown heroes, grab some lunch from the five food trucks, have their face painted by local artist Paintergirl, get active with a water blaster fight or on the climbing wall, or take one of our mini downtown tours by Sally Sehn. Plus – our first responders will cut a special cake to share with you – our fellow Albertans, and McBride’s Bakery has donated donuts for the event!
Free concert - Band of the Household Cavalry
Saturday, August 31 at 7p.m. at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre
The Band of the Household Cavalry will be performing a free concert this Saturday at the Esplanade. The concert is non-ticketed and is first-come, first-seated.
The Band of the Household Cavalry concert will feature 50 musicians performing on the Esplanade’s main stage under the baton of Director of Music and Officer Commanding, Major Craig Bywater BMus (Hons) MMus. The concert will feature soloists, Cavalry Trumpets, film music and more.
This band is the largest military band in the United Kingdom and represents the most senior regiments in the British Army. Their history dates back to 1660.
Bylaws got you baffled? Here's an extra-special tip...
Truly, it’s difficult to think of anything less neat than bylaws… BUT, if you’re having trouble finding a particular one, we have a NEAT trick that will help.
First, visit medicinehat.ca/bylaws. We’ve highlighted some of our most frequently accessed bylaws in the dropdowns at the top of the page, but it is not an exhaustive list. To be sure you find exactly what you're looking for, access our bylaw database by clicking “Search all bylaws” near the bottom of the page. You’ll land on a page that, while very functional, is not overly pretty. But databases rarely are.
Now, remember that extra-special tip? Well, it’s a wildcard. Literally. For the most success in finding bylaws related to a certain topic, use the advanced search technique known as the wildcard characters. Put an asterisk (*) both before and after the term you are searching. For example, to find the relatively new Urban Wildlife Management Bylaw, a search of the term “wildlife” in the bylaw description will not yield any results. However, if you search “*wildlife*” – eureka! There it is. If you forget this tip next time, don’t worry. We have the instructions listed right on the website for reference.
Storm sewer replacement – Intersection of Maple Avenue SE and 4 Street SE
The City will replace storm sewer infrastructure at the intersection of Maple Avenue SE and 4 Street SE beginning Tuesday, September 3. This two-phased project is part of the City’s commitment to a proactive approach to infrastructure replacement in an effort to ensure reliable service for affected residents. Weather permitting, this project is expected to be completed by the end of September.
Learn more on the project and its lane closure in the full media release
Budgeting for a municipality: Part 4
One specific element that makes municipalities different than provincial or federal government is that, by law, municipalities are only allowed to issue debt to pay for capital projects. Therefore, we are not allowed to cover cash deficits with borrowing. This is a basic mechanism to ensure that cities do not over leverage themselves and remain financially sustainable.
When in drought: Stay efficient!
With the last few weeks of summer rolling around, you may want to get the most of the beautiful weather. Running through a sprinkler is a favourite pastime for children trying to beat the heat. The next time you water your lawn, double up on the water use by scheduling your children’s sprinkler time along with it. Together we can have fun while ensuring we keep our water usage down.
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