Neat to Know: December 11, 2025
Your weekly roundup of City news, updates, and other important information.
New individual use sand box locations
Last week we added three more individual use sand box locations! We hinted last month that we'd be adding more boxes, and they were installed last Friday.
Look for the newest yellow sand boxes in the following places:
- Saamis Rotary Park playground parking lot
- Ross Glen Spray Park parking lot
- Lions Park baseball diamond parking lot - North end of Minto Avenue
We now have eight total locations evenly spread out across the city for residents to use on their sidewalks throughout the winter months!
Check out our other five locations at medicinehat.ca/snow.
Trail and public sidewalk snow removal
After highlighting our Snow and Ice Control program in the November 6 edition of Neat to Know, it’s time we move off the roads and talk about snow removal on our trails and public sidewalks! And, what better time to do so than after a dose of freezing rain and Thursday morning flurries.
Our staff performs snow removal on approximately 73 kilometres of hard surface trails in the winter months.
Weekend crews will clear up to 30 kilometres of these same trails, as needed – trails cleared on the weekend are deemed higher-use trails. We also clear select sections of sidewalks that are the City’s responsibility to clear.
Snow removal on trails has a different standard than sidewalk snow removal. All trails designated for snow clearing are made passable within 72 hours after the last snowfall has ended. We even exceed the standard after most of the snow falls and make trails passable within 24 to 48 hours.
Trails designated for winter snow clearing will be cleared once there is snow on them. We unfortunately can’t clear these trails instantly – but, once the snow falls, know our crews are hard at work to make the beautiful trail system in our community safe to enjoy.
Please note that once trails are cleared, there is always the possibility of slippery sections during inclement weather. We ask that you always use caution, obey signage and any potential barricades if they’re ever needed on a trail.
Check out our trails and public sidewalks snow removal map on our website, or visit medicinehat.ca/trails.
Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year’s Day Hours
Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the statutory holidays on Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day.
Visit our Holiday Hours webpage to view what to expect for City facilities, Medicine Hat Transit, and Waste Collection over the holidays.
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Conserve and save this holiday
There are ways to conserve energy all around your home and save on your utility bill. You can find many tips at medicinehat.ca/conserve, but here are a few of our faves during the holidays:
- Choose LED light strings which use 90% less energy.
- Set automatic timers for your light strings.
- Conserve oven heat by baking goodies in one day.
- Give ENERGY STAR® certified electronic gifts.
- Unplug electronics if you leave for the holidays.
- Turn down the heat when guests come to visit.
- Close the fireplace flue damper to conserve heat. Just remember to open it back up for Santa!
- Shut closet doors to avoid heating an unused space.
2026 Waste Collection calendar
And, with a new year nearly upon us, it’s time to take note of our 2026 Waste Collection Schedule and Zone Map. These statutory holidays are also a great reminder to always check the schedule.
Scheduled collection days advance through all five zones with each statutory holiday or staff training day, so your collection may not always be on the same day of the week.
Visit the Collection Schedule page on our website to view our 2026 schedule and learn more about this service.
Streamlining Access to Information
We are continually working to improve your ability to access public records.
Many of our records are publicly available through the periodical and proactive release of information to Medicine Hat residents. Use the search box on our website to find the topic that interests you, or review published documents on these helpful pages:
New payment options
If you haven’t found what you are looking for, you can submit an Access to Information request, which is now easier than ever before with new payment options. When you fill out the online form, you can now choose to pay online or be invoiced and no longer have to make the trek to City Hall in person.
Learn more at medicinehat.ca/accesstoinformation.
December 8 City Council meeting
The December 8 City Council Meeting included a public hearing approving the demolition of the former Riverside School building for future residential development, a presentation from the Destination Marketing Organization on its 2025 Mid-Year Report, and several bylaw amendments, including changes to meeting times and utility rates. Review the highlights for details on these and other decisions.
Winter Day Camps
Dec. 19, 22, 23, 29, 30 & Jan. 2 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Big Marble Go Centre
Keep your kids active and entertained during the winter break with our Winter Day Camp! Designed for children ages 4-12, this full-day camp runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is packed with fun activities like gym games, Nerf wars in the fieldhouse, and swimming in the pool!
Just pack a snack, lunch, water bottle, swimsuit & towel, and indoor shoes, and we’ll take care of the rest. It’s all fun, no stress—perfect for kids and parents alike!
Need extra time? If you require additional childcare before or after day camps, register for pre- and/or post-care. Pre-care is available from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and post-care from 4 to 5:30 p.m.
Last Pre-Game Buffet of the year
Saturday, Dec. 13 | 4:30 p.m. | Co-op Place
Enjoy a comforting taste of Ukrainian tradition! Our menu features garlic sausage with cabbage and egg noodles, old-style Ukrainian goulash, and classic pierogies with bacon, onion, and sour cream. We’re also serving cabbage rolls in tomato sauce and homemade borscht, along with fresh garden and Caesar salads, buns with butter, and a sweet finish of assorted squares and fresh-baked cookies.
Come early, beat the rush and enjoy a fresh, locally inspired and delicious buffet cooked on site. Free fountain pop included with every buffet. Kids 12 and under receive 15% off. The Molson Lounge is open early for adult beverages!
This is a reserved seating ticketed event, and a Tigers game ticket is necessary to attend. Save your seat at tixx.ca.
Esplanade and Indigenous artefact featured on BBC2 series
In 2024 The Esplanade's Galleries and Collections team, Elder’s Charlie and Dan Fox, JR Fox and Brenda Mercer came together to plan a momentous event that would be documented by the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC2) for an upcoming series titled Empire.
In August of 2024, Historian David Olusoga and a production film crew from BBC2 flew from the UK to Medicine Hat to document the Mike Mountain Horse Story Robe. The Esplanade’s Galleries and Collections team invited Elder Charlie Fox from the Kainai Nation to guide and conduct a ceremonial blessing of the Story Robe for the Empire series.
The Mike Mountain Horse Story Robe was designed and painted by Ambrose Two Chiefs recounting 12 important events in Mike Mountain Horse’s service in the First World War. The Story Robe was gifted to The Esplanade (formally Medicine Hat Historical Museum, Medicine Hat Museum and Art Gallery) through the Medicine Hat and District Historical Society, who acquired the piece from Thyrza Burkitt, neighbour to the Kainai Nation and acquaintance of Mike Mountain Horse.
This past November the Empire series was finalized and aired on BBC2. You can watch the third episode of the series that features the story robe on Vimeo.
Watch the video here
Use password: Empire03
The Empire series explores the rise and legacy of the British Empire, revealing how this vast global power, ruling a quarter of the world, shaped modern Britain, its identities, and the world today through colonialism, trade, migration, and conflict, with Olusoga personally connecting to the story through his own family history, from slavery in Barbados to India's indenture system. The series travels to former colonies, uncovers complex histories, and shows how empire's "living legacy" impacts billions globally.
The Esplanade’s Galleries and Collections team is forever grateful to Elder Charlie Fox, Dan Fox, JR Fox, and Brenda Mercer, who were deeply committed to this project. A special thank you to Nicki Eastly from Medicine Hat College who loaned us the MHC teepee and to the BBC2 for honouring Mike Mountain Horse.
Volunteer! It’s a special way to engage
Medicine Hat is proud to host the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games next summer from August 12 to 16, 2026. The event will bring over 5,000 people and an estimated economic impact of over $12 million to the community.
The event is free to attend, but for a more enriched experience – why not volunteer? Register online at socmedhat2026.ca/volunteers.
To view all our career opportunities at the City of Medicine Hat, visit our website and sign up for job alerts.
Specialist - Corporate Safety
Permanent | Full-Time
As a Specialist - Corporate Safety, you'll play a crucial role in promoting public and employee health and safety while mitigating corporate risks associated with our operational and capital programs. Our diverse Utility Distribution Systems (UDS) department spans complex industrial environments in electricity and natural gas distribution, offering unique opportunities to support high-impact safety initiatives. Collaborating closely with departments, you'll develop, implement, and evaluate safety management systems, ensuring compliance with legislation and standards. This is an exciting time to join our team as we build and shape the future of the department and establish a strong foundation for a culture centered on safety and employee well-being.
Plant Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer
Permanent | Full time
The Plant Electrical and Instrumentation Engineer supports plant and project operations for the City's Power Plant, focusing on process control systems, electrical compliance, and Information Technology (IT)/Operational Technology (OT) infrastructure. This role ensures electrical, and control standards are upheld while collaborating with stakeholders to maintain system integrity. Success requires strong communication skills, attention to detail, adaptability, and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
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