Neat to Know: October 2, 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.
Medicine Hat City Council members recognized at Alberta Municipalities Conference
The annual Alberta Municipalities Conference was held in Red Deer from September 25-27. We are proud to report that two members of Medicine Hat City Council were recognized for their contributions and achievements.
Councillor Robert Dumanowski received the Alberta Municipalities Distinguished Service Award. Since joining Medicine Hat City Council in 2001, Councillor Dumanowski has served on all standing committees, demonstrating his steadfast commitment and open-minded approach to addressing community issues. His dedication to making a positive impact has been a constant presence at the council table. With over 20 years of service, Councillor Dumanowski is a deserving recipient of this award, recognizing his long-standing contributions and unwavering dedication to the City of Medicine Hat.
Councillor Shila Sharps was recognized for her achievement in completing all seven core courses required to receive the Municipal Elected Leadership Certificate. This year, 26 AB Munis graduates were presented with this certificate through University of Alberta’s Augustana Extended Education. Congratulations to Councillor Sharps on this accomplishment and thank you for your dedication to professional development in the pursuit of service to the community.
Airport/Chamber WestJet roundtable event
The City of Medicine Hat and the Medicine Hat Regional Airport served as joint host of a roundtable event on Wednesday, October 2 with the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce and representatives from WestJet regarding air service between Medicine Hat and Calgary.
The event provided an opportunity for WestJet to outline their plans for the community with the permanent transition to WestJet Encore from WestJet Link. It also allowed for business and community leaders to provide feedback, ask questions, and discuss how these changes will impact the local economy and connectivity.
Run for the Cure – Kin Coulee Park closure
Kin Coulee Park will be closed to vehicle traffic for the morning and early afternoon of Saturday, October 6.
This closure is to accommodate the safety of those participating in the Run for the Cure event Saturday morning. The closure will go into effect at 7 a.m. and is expected to be lifted by 1 p.m.
Thank you for your understanding as this event takes place in support of breast cancer research.
IPSOS Community Survey results
The results are in! Between May 6 and 26, 2024, the City of Medicine Hat enlisted IPSOS to conduct a community survey covering a wide range of topics from what residents feel is the most important issue affecting the community, to levels of satisfaction with City services. The results, which are statistically relevant (see ‘That’s Neat’ below), provide City Council and administration reliable data to better understand community sentiment around a variety of City topics, in turn supporting decision making.
The results of the 2024 survey show that satisfaction with most City services remains very high, though concerns related to affordability, social issues, and governance and leadership have increased since 2022.
Read the 2024 Community Survey report
The numbers behind statistical relevance
IPSOS is a globally renowned market research firm dedicated to obtaining accurate, relevant and reliable data to support confident decision-making.
Using advanced scientific methodology, IPSOS used a randomized telephone survey (65% cellphones and 35% landlines) to survey a sample size of 400 residents, which is considered representative of Medicine Hat’s population according to advanced scientific methodology. The results of the randomized survey are considered accurate to within ±4.9%, 19 times out of 20.
What if you weren’t randomly selected for the survey? Great question! IPSOS also delivered an online survey for anyone to participate. However, these results are not considered statistically relevant and are, therefore, reported separately.
Together, both tools provide valuable insight in benchmarking our progress and charting a path forward that resonates with our community.
Learn about the 2024 Community Survey
Outdoor washroom/facility closures
With temperatures dropping as we head further into fall, the City of Medicine Hat will be closing and winterizing washrooms and facilities throughout October and early November.
Medicine Hat Southwest Substation: Public drop in sessions
Tuesday, October 15 from 1 p.m to 7 p.m. and Wednesday, October 16 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Desert Blume Golf Course, 107 Clubhouse Drive, Desert Blume
The City of Medicine Hat has narrowed down a preferred and an alternate site for a new substation to accommodate the growth and increasing electrical needs in the southwest area of the city and the city’s electric service territory.
Drop in at the Desert Blume Golf Club to meet the team, ask questions and share your feedback one-on-one. The City plans to file the application for approval to the Alberta Utilities Commission this fall.
Review the Medicine Hat Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan
The City invited residents, businesses, and community groups to participate in shaping a plan that resonates with our community's Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment scene. After much engagement, a draft plan is ready for review.
Review the draft Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan online and send written feedback to Cassandra@expeditionconsulting.ca by Friday, October 4, 2024.
Read the draft Arts, Heritage, and Entertainment Plan
Intermunicipal Development Plan survey and open house
This plan establishes a regional framework for attracting and coordinating economic opportunities and managing land use, subdivision, and development in the IDP area. The current Plan boundary encompasses the Town of Redcliff, the City of Medicine Hat and some surrounding areas within Cypress County.
Attend the open house Thursday, October 3 between 4 and 8 p.m.
Current exhibitions
Exhibitions are inherently fleeting, creating a momentary window into the mind of one or many artists and curators through which viewers can engage with the art and their concepts. The three exhibitions currently on display at the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre speak of distinct human experiences, each offering a unique angle that encourages the visitor to reflect on their own place in the world through the beautiful objects, stories and ideas on display.
A Hare Raising Tale: A Reminder of the Human Capacity for Renewal and Growth Amid Adversity
This new body of work by ceramist Annette ten Cate envelopes the viewer in a three-dimensional storybook where an array of animal characters embodies human personalities and follow the ceramic Hare through its journey of love, loss and resilience.
Life Cycles: New Works by the Hat Art Club and Medicine Hat Potters Association
Twenty-nine local artists spent a year producing 70 works of art in various mediums that address the universal themes of birth, life and death.
Have Spatula – Will Travel
Have Spatula – Will Travel is a family-friendly exhibition that looks at the recipes, cooking, and foodways of our community, and how the act of sharing food is an important path to multiculturalism and inclusion. This exhibition combines old and new local food-related artefacts and archive materials from our Collections.
Ignite your community: neighbourhood walks
Come out, meet your neighbours, explore your neighbourhood, learn something new, and share your favorite things about the neighbourhood.
All walks are free of charge and open to all! Walks will be held at different times throughout Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6. Each walk will have a common start and end point with refreshments and a treat for all in attendance.
Can't make a neighbourhood walk? Join us in Kin Coulee on Sunday, October 6 from 1-3 p.m. for a short walk around the Kin Coulee loop. Following the walk, there will be a weiner roast and cake to celebrate kicking off Neighbourhood Associations.
Results of the building permit poll
Last week we asked you to guess the percentage increase of building permits to date in 2024 over all of 2023.
- 75% of respondents thought we were up 43%
- one-quarter of you thought building permits increased by 327%
- no one chose 609%
And the answer is… a whopping 609%!
Here are the highlights:
- The number of single detached homes increased by 13%
- Semi-detached homes increased by 267%
- There are already 94 new apartment units in 2024 compared to zero in 2023
- There are five development permits for rowhouses/townhouses this year compared to zero in 2023
Overall, this amounts to a 609% increase in new residential housing this year!
Council Code of Conduct
The City of Medicine Hat recently passed a new Council Code of Conduct to enhance its effectiveness based on a review of best practices in Alberta and lessons learned from past versions of the bylaw. The bylaw guides the behaviour of councillors as they carry out their duties as elected officials and now offers a means for others, in addition to council members, to bring complaints under the bylaw to an Integrity Commissioner for consideration.
Enough about the roads – let’s talk about pools!
We’ve pulled the plug at our last open outdoor pool this weekend and are now set to rejuvenate Hill Pool. Through the fall and into next spring, crews will replace some of the water circulation parts that have reached the end of their useful life, repair cracks, fencing and gates, as well as paint and improve lighting. When patrons return to swim next summer, they will see two new sun shade structures to improve the experience on deck and in the pool. Here’s the full advisory.
We can’t talk about pools without mentioning the Kinsmen Aquatic Park at Big Marble Go Centre! And we have great news – the upgrade is complete, the pool is filled, staff are trained on the new equipment, and we’ve just sent the water samples away for testing. As soon as we get the “all clear” that the water is safe, we can confirm an opening date for the Kinsmen Aquatic Park. Stay tuned!
Electric Distribution Inspector
This position acts as an Electrical Group B Safety Codes Officer and is responsible for reviewing construction plans and standard drawings as well as onsite inspections of infrastructure installations related to the Electric Distribution Utility.
EU Technologist II (Engineering)
This intermediate technical position collaborates with engineers, technologists, and operations staff responsible for municipal water, wastewater, and solid waste services. This posting will remain open until we find the right candidate.
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