Neat to Know: October 30, 2025

Yard waste collection nearing end of season

The last day of seasonal yard waste collection will be Friday, November 14, 2025. Refer to the collection schedule in the Recycle Coach App or on the City’s website at medicinehat.ca/collectionschedule to determine your last scheduled day for yard waste collection.

Residents with yard waste material after the seasonal program ends are encouraged to:

• Place materials in your backyard composter
• Use the excess material as cover to protect your garden and plants in the winter
• Take yard waste materials for composting to the City of Medicine Hat’s Waste Management Facility – Monday to Saturday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Highlighting our Community Spirit Award winners

Since last week’s Neat to Know, we’ve highlighted two more Awards of Service recipients from our 2025 Community Spirit Awards:

• Paul Carolan – Compassion
• Marilyn Kusler – Environment

Halloween safety tips

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services wants everyone to have a safe and spooky night out for Halloween 🎃! Here are some simple tips to keep your home and family protected:

• Use battery-operated candles or glow sticks instead of open-flame candles in pumpkins and decorations.
• Keep costumes and décor away from heat sources such as heaters, candles, and light bulbs.
• Make sure trick-or-treaters can see and be seen—use reflective tape, flashlights, or glow sticks.
• Remind children to stay on sidewalks and cross streets safely.

And as always, ensure your smoke alarms are working and practice your home escape plan with your family. For more fire and life safety tips, visit: medicinehat.ca/fire.

Remembrance Day hours

Hours and services at various City of Medicine Hat facilities will be affected by the Remembrance Day statutory holiday on Tuesday, November 11 to honour those who serve.

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

Time to fall back

Swearing In Ceremony

Monday, Nov. 3 | 6:30 p.m. | City Hall, Council Chambers

The official swearing in ceremony of the new City Council will take place on Monday, November 3 at 6:30 p.m. The ceremony will be followed by an organizational meeting where Mayor Linnsie Clark will confirm the council appointments to each of the standing committees and Council will discuss the 2026 Council and Provisional Calendar. The event will be streamed live on the City’s YouTube channel.

Regular Council meetings begin Monday November 17, 2025 at 4 p.m. in Council Chambers.

Rooted in Action: Volunteerism Learning Series

Session 1 – Volunteerism 101
Thursday, Nov. 6 | 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. | Microsoft Teams

Are you a local organization that utilizes our community's volunteers?

We're pleased to partner with Volunteer Alberta to host a free volunteerism learning series aimed at rejuvenating and educating the volunteer base in the community! These sessions are a mix of in-person workshops and virtual webinars.

These sessions focus on:

• Volunteerism 101
• Volunteer Screening
• Youth Engagement Matters
• Mapping Youth Engagement Practices
• Learning to Unlearn Volunteerism

The first of five sessions is a webinar set for Thursday, November 6 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Microsoft Teams.

Remembrance Day service

Tuesday, Nov. 11 | Doors open 9 a.m. | Multiple locations

We’re pleased to invite the public to downtown Medicine Hat for the Royal Canadian Legion Robertson Memorial Medicine Hat Branch #17’s Remembrance Day service.

Join us at the Esplanade for the annual Remembrance Day service. Seating in the theatre takes place until the service starts, then overflow seating applies. Please note, once the ceremony starts, doors will close and attendees will be able to watch the service from the main lobby of the Esplanade. The service will also be livestreamed on the City’s YouTube channel starting at 9:25 a.m. Afterwards, join us at the Cenotaph for a ceremony and wreath laying.

Remembrance Day timeline:

• 8:30 a.m. Esplanade doors open
• 9 a.m. Theatre doors open
• 9:25 a.m. Ceremony begins in the Theatre
• 10:30 a.m. Remembrance Day parade to Riverside Veterans Memorial Park
• 11 a.m. Ceremony at the Cenotaph

And, while you’re downtown, make sure to check out our new Veterans’ Crosswalk which honours the service of veterans who fought in the name of peace, and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives defending it.

Tree planting

We recently planted another 90 trees around the city as part of our tree replacement program!

Locations:

Crews planted trees in Gas City Campground, Celebration Park, Cypress Way median, and near Old Cemetery Road. These locations were selected to replace trees which had been removed at the end of their life cycle and due to drought conditions.

We selected tree varieties that are known to tolerate he unique growing conditions in Medicine Hat. We also chose a diverse variety of trees to foster a stronger urban forest.

Our community takes immense pride in our beautiful tree network and this ongoing work will continue to revitalize our urban canopy.

Tree varieties:

Siberian Larch, Ponderosa Pine, Silver Maple, Brandon Elm, Bur Oak, Honey Locust, Golden Willow, Dropmore Linden

Why did we plant in the fall?

Fall tree planting is standard practice in Southern Alberta because it aligns with the region’s climate and growing conditions. Cooler temperatures and increased soil moisture in autumn reduce stress on newly planted trees, allowing them to focus on root development. The soil remains warm enough to support growth even as air temperatures drop, and pests and diseases are less active. These factors help trees establish before winter and prepare for vigorous growth in spring. Now that's neat!

Nominate a good neighbour before Nov. 1

Neighbourhood Associations of Medicine Hat and Area invites you nominate a neighbour before Saturday, November 1 to be entered to win a $100 local prize package.

Many nominations have already come in sharing stories of neighbours offering rides, goodwill, mowing lawns, shoveling snow, creating play spaces, watching out for one another, passing on hand-me-downs, volunteering in condo associations, greeting new neighbours, and more acts of kindness and connection.

Help show that Medicine Hat is a city with a big heart! Nominate a Good Neighbour.

Election wrap-up