Neat to Know: July 23, 2026

Jul 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.

Residential recycling material list expanding

A more convenient and enhanced residential recycling system is coming to Medicine Hat this fall!

The City of Medicine Hat’s recycling program has been managed by Circular Materials since April 2025, as part of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) program in Alberta.

After a successful first phase of the program, Circular Materials has announced they’re expanding the list of recyclable materials in Phase 2, which comes into effect Thursday, October 1.

Learn more | View the expanded material list

Water safety starts before you dive in

As part of International Drowning Prevention Week, our team in Parks and Recreation has written a helpful article filled with great tips to keep you and your family safe while enjoying the water this summer.

Check out the article and share it with friends and loved ones to help spread the awareness, so we all can enjoy the water safely.

Nomination period extended for Arts and Culture Legacy Award

We've extended the nomination deadline for our new Arts and Culture Legacy Award! Nominations will now be accepted until Friday, August 7.

The Arts and Culture Legacy Award was created in 2026 to serve as a visual memory of arts and culture contributions and achievements, and to ensure the individuals behind them receive due recognition.

This extension meets the demand expressed by residents within this uniquely shorter nomination period for the inaugural year.

Read our news release to learn more about the award and how to nominate.

Helping prevent Dutch Elm Disease

It’s the time of year where Dutch Elm Disease (DED) symptoms typically begin to appear.

DED is a fatal fungus which clogs elm trees’ internal water systems, causing the tree to die within one or two seasons.

It is typically spread by elm bark beetles, which are attracted to fresh wounds (cuts) on elm trees. This is why it’s vital to follow the Government of Alberta’s annual pruning ban from April 1 to September 30, when the beetles are most active.

Elm bark beetles are also attracted to dead or dying firewood. It is illegal to store elm wood in Alberta, or to bring any elm wood into Alberta from a regulated/DED-infected province (view list of regulated provinces). Campers may not know this and mistakenly store or transport elm as firewood.

How to help

We all love our extensive network of public and private trees in Medicine Hat, many of which are elm varieties. Residents can help prevent the spread of DED beyond following the pruning ban and not transporting or storing elm wood.

Monitoring elm trees for symptoms of DED is critical each year, and it takes a team effort from us all. Understanding how to spot symptoms helps prevent its spread.

DED symptoms to watch for

Flagging: When the leaves of one or more branches near the top of the tree wilt, curl, turn yellow and then brown, while remaining on the tree.
Staining: An infected twig sample will have red streaks through the sapwood.

If you spot DED symptoms

If you see signs of DED in your elm tree, please contact any of the following immediately:

Medicine Hat DED hotline: 403-529-8333 “Option 6” (Parks and Recreation office)
STOPDED hotline: 1-877-837-ELMS (3567)

Learn more about DED on the Government of Alberta’s website.

Heritage Day hours

Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the Heritage Day statutory holiday coming up on Monday, August 3.

Visit our holiday hours page to view what to expect for City facilities, Medicine Hat Transit, and Waste Collection on Heritage Day.

UAV and Aerospace Innovation Showcase takes flight during Stampede

Partners from Medicine Hat's growing aerospace, drone, autonomous systems, and defence sector are at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede to showcase the region's innovation capabilities, career opportunities and economic potential.

The Medicine Hat Uncrewed Aerial Vehicle (UAV) and Aerospace Innovation Showcase will be featured at a shared industry booth in the Cypress Centre until Saturday, bringing together local innovators, technology companies, economic development organizations, and industry partners to highlight the region's expanding role in Canada's aerospace and autonomous systems sector.

Read our news release to learn more about the showcase and what to expect.

Showcasing the community at first-ever This is Medicine Hat event

Our community made a memorable impression at the Calgary Stampede on July 4 with the inaugural This is Medicine Hat event, hosted at Craft Beer Market in downtown Calgary.

The event brought together partners, community leaders, business stakeholders, government representatives, and guests from across Alberta and Canada to celebrate the city's growing momentum and showcase the opportunities that make Medicine Hat a great place to live, work, invest, and visit.

View our news release to read more about the collaborative initiative and view a video recap.

Expanding free parking downtown

Medicine Hat Economic Development and the City’s Facilities team recently expanded the free parking options at the Transit Terminal Parkade in downtown Medicine Hat!

All 53 public parking stalls located on the third level are now designated as four-hour free parking. Previously there were nine stalls with four-hour parking, and 44 with two-hour parking. Free four-hour parking is available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

This change offers downtown visitors a convenient extended parking option, making it easier to spend more time exploring local businesses, services, events, and attractions. As always, there is no time limit for free parking at the parkade after 6 p.m. on weekdays and all day on weekends.

Next time you're visiting downtown, give the Transit Terminal Parkade a try. Simply enter from 4 Street SE and proceed to the third level at the top of the parkade to access any of these 53 four-hour free parking stalls.

View the Downtown Parking map for more information on these and other parking options.

Medicine Hat Transit – Route 10 survey

Transit has consistently had difficulty staying on schedule on Route 10 NE Crescent Heights. During times of increased ridership this can mean missed connections which affect the schedules of other buses in the system.

Medicine Hat Transit is proposing changes to Route 10 which will:

Improve schedule reliability across all routes
Maintain access to all existing bus stops

In some cases, changes require accessing stops from the opposite side of the street or using a different route.

We’re gathering feedback to assess impacts, concerns, and opportunities related to this pilot change.

Take a quick survey between July 16 to August 15, 2026 to provide your feedback.

Alcohol in Parks – take the second survey

The Alcohol in Parks pilot program is underway in Medicine Hat. The pilot program will run until September 30, 2026.

It allows users 18 years and older to responsibly consume alcohol while seated at designated picnic tables in Kin Coulee, Echo Dale Regional Park and Strathcona Island Park. Signage is posted on site to indicate which tables are included in the pilot.

Park users can take a survey during the pilot program period to let us know how this program affects you and your enjoyment of these spaces.

Learn more and take the survey on the Alcohol in Parks Pilot page on Shape Your City.

Join the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB)

The City of Medicine Hat is currently seeking residents to serve on the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB).

The SDAB plays an important role in the community by hearing appeals related to development decisions and property standards. As an independent, quasi-judicial board established under Alberta's Municipal Government Act, the SDAB helps ensure decisions are fair, balanced, and made in the public interest.

This volunteer opportunity is well suited for residents who are interested in local issues, public service, and contributing to a transparent and accountable decision-making process. The City welcomes applications from individuals with a variety of backgrounds and experiences, particularly those with expertise in board governance, risk assessment, legal or legislative compliance, information technology or quantitative literacy, and equity, diversity and inclusion. Board members gain valuable insight into municipal governance while helping shape outcomes that affect the community.

Interested in getting involved? Learn more about the role and submit your application on our Commissions, Boards and Working Groups webpage.

New parking lot access point

South Ridge YMCA, Notre Dame Academy, Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre

We've started work this week to add a new parking lot access to the primary parking lot shared by the South Ridge YMCA, Notre Dame Academy Medicine Hat, and Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Centre.

The new access point will be located on the south end of the parking lot off Spruce Way SE. Currently, the parking lot is only accessible from Strachan Road SE.

The work will be done over the summer break, and access to all three facilities will be maintained during construction.

Read our news release to learn more about the project and what to expect.

Rooftop Silent Disco

Saturday, Aug. 6 | 8:30 p.m. | Esplanade

Get ready to party above the city! This isn’t your average dance floor—this is a full-on choose-your-own vibe experience.

Slip on a pair of wireless headphones and take control of your night. With the flip of a switch, you can jump between three live DJs, each spinning a different era of hits:
70s & 80s – disco, funk, and retro anthems
90s & 00s – throwbacks, pop, hip-hop, and Y2K classics
2010s & Now – current hits, remixes, and festival vibes

Sing, dance, and vibe out with a crowd all moving to different beats—watch the colors change across the rooftop as people switch channels and eras in real time.

Learn more and get tickets on the Tixx.ca event page.

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