Neat to Know: July 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.
|
|
|
|
Kin Coulee basketball court construction complete
The basketball court in Kin Coulee Park is back open to the public just in time for the long weekend!
The court had been closed and fenced off for an exciting upgrade project, which has been a collaborative effort between the Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club and the City of Medicine Hat. The construction fencing is now taken down.
The construction project had the following upgrades:
- Replaced the former half-court with a full regulation sized court
- Nearly doubled the size of the parking lot
- Added court lighting to make it easier to play later into the evening
The project has also been made possible after the Medicine Hat Kinsmen Club secured $125,000 in grant funding from the Government of Alberta’s Community Facility Enhancement Program. We appreciate the Kinsmen Club’s dedication to the community, and the vibrant partnership we have which makes this all possible!
Most importantly, we all hope you love the upgrades!
Head on down to Kin Coulee Park to enjoy the new facility and all other amenities within one of our community’s beautiful destination parks.
Aging-in-place program coming to Medicine Hat
The nationally renowned Oasis aging-in-place program is expanding to Medicine Hat starting in August!
Oasis is a member-led program that empowers older adults to shape the activities, programs, and services they want in their own community. It focuses on social connection, physical activity and nutrition, and connecting residents with local services and resources, and nutrition.
This expansion provides up to three seniors communities in Medicine Hat with the benefits of the program. It also has a full-time program coordinator job opportunity which is open for applications, and other ways to get involved!
We're now the first city in a prairie province to offer this evidence-based, older-adult-driven model.
Read our news release to learn more about the expansion and how you can participate.
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.
High heat in the Hat
The next couple of days are going to be scorchers! Friday’s forecast has a daytime high of 35 degrees, while it’s set to be 39 degrees on Saturday.
If you're heading out to enjoy the sunshine, be sure take steps to protect yourself from the heat:
- Drink plenty of water, even before you feel thirsty
- Take breaks in the shade or air-conditioned spaces
- Wear a hat, sunglasses, and light-coloured clothing
- Check on older adults, young children, and others who may be more vulnerable to heat
- Never leave children or pets in a parked vehicle
Know the signs of heat illness, including dizziness, headache, nausea, extreme thirst, and confusion. Heat stroke is a medical emergency. If someone is confused, unconscious, or has a very high body temperature, call 911 immediately.
Learn more at albertahealthservices.ca/heat
Let's stay safe and enjoy the start to the long weekend! Thankfully it’ll cool down into the 20s on Sunday and the holiday Monday.
Arts and Culture Legacy Award nominations still open
There’s still time to nominate a deserving individual for our new Arts and Culture Legacy Award! Nominations will 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.
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.
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.
Walk & Talk events
Tuesday, Aug. 4 | 9 a.m. | Police Point Park
Thursday, Aug. 6 | 6 p.m. | Police Point Park
Branch out and discover what's growing around you.
Join us for next week's Walk & Talk in Police Point Park for a stroll through the scenic trail network with the Interpretive Program Staff leading the way. Next week's talk will focus on the dos and don'ts of foraging in City parks. There are two dates listed above to choose from!
The Parks and Rec bylaw 4859 was updated to permit foraging, but there are still rules to abide by.
What's the big dill? Come find out!
Opening Ceremony: Special Olympics Canada Summer Games
Tuesday, Aug. 11 | 6 p.m. | Co-op Place
Book your FREE seats for the Opening Ceremony of the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games!
This inspiring event brings together athletes, coaches, volunteers, and supporters from across the country to mark the beginning of the Games. Experience the excitement as teams parade in, the flame of hope is lit, and powerful stories of determination and achievement take center stage.
Visit tixx.ca to reserve your seats.
Showcase your business at Art in Motion
Saturday, Sept. 12 | 12 to 5 p.m. | First Street SE
Did you know you can be a vendor at Art in Motion for free?
Each year, First Street comes alive as thousands of people gather to enjoy live entertainment, interactive activities, art, music, and local vendors. With more than 5,000 attendees last year, it's a great opportunity for artists, makers, creators, and small businesses to showcase their work, connect with the community, and reach new customers.
Best of all, there's no vendor fee and no business license is required.
Visit the Art in Motion event page and scroll to the bottom to learn more about becoming a vendor and how to apply.
Should archives show us everything?
Say you’re an archivist going through a donation of 50,000 photos, mostly parades and storefronts from the 1950s.
Then you find one that stops you: a close-up of a badly infected foot. No name attached, no face, nothing to identify the patient. The donor signed the rights over years ago.
Nothing is stopping the archives from putting it online tomorrow.
So, would they?
In her recent Eye on the Esplanade article, Archives & Education Assistant Lainie Dommett explores the legal and empathetic complexities archivists must navigate in the face of changing technology and shifting cultural expectations.
To view all our career opportunities at the City of Medicine Hat, visit our Careers webpage and sign up for job alerts.
Coordinator, Entertainment & Events
Permanent | Full‑Time | On site
Are you passionate about creating unforgettable experiences through arts, culture, and live entertainment? We're looking for a dynamic and relationship-focused Coordinator, Entertainment & Events to help shape the region's cultural landscape.
In this role, you'll connect artists, community organizations, audiences, and stakeholders to deliver engaging performances, festivals, and events that enrich our community.
To receive updates directly to your inbox, subscribe to eNotifications for the categories that interest you. There is a navy blue box on the right-hand side of each of our news articles on our website that will allow you to sign up for a variety of list-serves, or go there directly by clicking the link below.
Stay up to date.
Subscribe to eNotifications to stay connected with City of Medicine Hat news, activities, events, programs, operations and more.
