Neat to Know: March 20, 2025
Your weekly roundup of City news, updates, and other important information.
Join the Resilient and Inclusive Task Force
We’re seeking applications for public members on the new Resilient and Inclusive Task Force, formed earlier this year.
The task force was formed, following an update to City Council’s strategic plan in October 2024, in response to growing concerns in the community related to public disturbances, and other anti-social behaviours. The task force is intended to develop and implement strategies and actions to bolster community capacity, enhance community safety and promote social cohesion.
The group is now seeking public members to ensure broader community perspectives and experiences are represented within the group.
City announces new Chief Financial Officer
The City of Medicine Hat has hired Jilian Campbell as the Chief Financial Officer and Managing Director of Corporate Services.
Campbell most recently served as Manager of Strategic Planning and Financial Coordination with Strathcona County from 2021 to 2025. Prior to that, she held municipal leadership positions in finance, strategic planning, internal controls, customer service centres, and budget planning with the City of Edmonton for over 20 years.
Campbell will commence in the role on March 31, 2025.
Tree removal, replacement at Gas City Campground
The City of Medicine Hat has accepted a proposed plan to remove a section of trees in Gas City Campground (GCC) which are encroaching on critical natural gas infrastructure.
TC Energy will remove 28 trees located in close proximity to a TC Energy gas pipeline along the south perimeter of the campground. This work is anticipated to begin by the end of this week, and will be completed well in advance of the campground season.
Once these trees are removed, TC Energy has agreed to fund the replacement and replanting efforts, aligning with our Tree Preservation Bylaw. A total of 84 new trees will be planted.
Setting the (servicing) standard
An updated Municipal Servicing Standards Manual (MSSM) is now available after our development staff completed a refresh of the 266-page technical document.
The MSSM outlines the minimum specifications required for City infrastructure to inform developers and contractors.
Read more on the MSSM and the major changes within this update on our website.
Read more
Consumer carbon tax rate set to zero after March 31
The City of Medicine Hat collects a carbon levy on natural gas usage and remits it to the Federal Government as part of Canada’s climate action plan.
In his first day in office, Prime Minister Mark Carney published an order-in-council to set the consumer carbon price to zero after March 31, 2025.
The carbon price was scheduled to increase from $4.09508 per gigajoule to $4.86307 per gigajoule. Instead, customers will see that price reduce to $0 per gigajoule from April 1st onward.
Note that most customers will still have a carbon charge on their April utility bill to account for the portion of their billing cycle that includes days up to March 31. For consumption after April 1, there will be no Federal Carbon Charge.
An Evening of Art, Conversation and Connection
Immerse yourself in the first E Talk, an evening of compelling conversation and creativity as we explore The Feminine Lived Experience exhibition. Led by Curator Xanthe Isbister, this thought-provoking panel discussion brings together exhibiting artists to share their inspirations, insights, and lived experiences in an intimate and engaging setting.
Arrive early (7–8 p.m.) for this free event to craft your own teacup cocktail ($) with Grit City and indulge in high tea-inspired treats before the discussion begins. Plus, make a meaningful impact by bringing menstrual products to donate in support of the Root Cellar’s mission to fight period poverty.
New: ‘Come and try it’ fitness classes!
There’s a Spanish flair in the air at Big Marble Go Centre! We’re teaming up with Ever Active and What Matters to Hatters to bring you two new 'come and try it' fitness classes: Pedal Fiesta and Latin Dance.
Pedal Fiesta features a guided experience in both Spanish and English. During this spin session, you'll journey through different countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, enjoying music and its rhythms while exercising on the stationary bike.
In the Latin Dance class, you will learn the basic steps of salsa, cumbia, merengue, and other rhythms while working on body coordination. You'll also enjoy a dance session with live music, exercising your legs as well as your physical and mental fitness.
Check out these and all of our other programming options online.
Visit BMGC programming
March 17 Council Meeting
In a relatively short meeting on Monday, March 17, Council approved motions directing staff to update the Tax Incentive Bylaw #4667 to allow for a multi-year tax incentive program and develop options for a non-profit operating grant program.
Reliable power you can count on
Did you know the City of Medicine Hat is ranked as one of the most reliable electricity grids in Canada? We maintain 2,400 kilometres of power line on 19,161 power poles to keep the lights on. According to Electricity Canada (formally the Canadian Electricity Association), we have:
84% fewer outages
The System Average Interruption Frequency Index (SAIFI) measures the average number of interruptions that a customer experiences during a given period and is calculated by the Total Number of Customer Interruptions divided by the Total Number of Customers Served.
In 2024, Medicine Hat had only 0.41 interruptions per customer in 2024. More than half of all Medicine Hat electricity customers didn’t lost power even once during the year.
93% shorter outages
The System Average Interruption Duration Index (SAIDI) represents the average outage duration (measured in minutes) experienced by each customer over a specified period and is calculated by the Total Customer Minutes of Interruption divided by the Total Number of Customers Served.
In 2024, power outages in Medicine Hat were on average half an hour compared to 7.13 hours nationally.
50% faster restoration
The Customer Average Interruption Duration Index (CAIDI) is the average duration of a single customer interruption when an outage occurs.
At 1.44 hours per customer outage, power in Medicine Hat is restored 50% faster than the Canadian Average of 2.85 hours.
| CMH | CDN Average | |
|---|---|---|
| SAIFI | 0.41 interruptions | 2.61 interruptions |
| SAIDI | 0.53 hours | 7.13 hours |
| CAIDI | 1.44 hours | 2.85 hours |
HVAC Technician
Join our team and make a meaningful impact in the City of Medicine Hat as an HVAC Technician! You will have the opportunity to play a crucial role in maintaining, optimizing, and ensuring the reliable operation of the City's HVAC systems. If you thrive in a dynamic environment and are ready to take on a role that offers stability, growth, and the chance to contribute to your community, this role is for you!
Specialist - Event Technology (Lighting Director)
Are you ready to elevate the event experience in the City of Medicine Hat? We are seeking an innovative and dynamic Specialist, Event Technology (Lighting Director) to bring creativity and technical expertise to a wide range of events and productions. If you thrive on designing and implementing cutting-edge technology solutions and collaborating with diverse teams to create memorable experiences, this is your opportunity to shine.
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