Medicine Hat Minute: Curling Begins, Roundabout Pilot, and Electrical Substation Locations

Medicine Hat Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Medicine Hat politics

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• On Tuesday, at 5:30 pm, there will be a Council Committee Of The Whole Meeting. The entire meeting will be closed to the public as the Committee discusses the 2025-26 budget. There will be a meeting of the Energy, Land and Environment Committee on Thursday at 4:00 pm. No agenda is available for this meeting yet.
  
  
• The Medicine Hat Curling Centre will reopen for the first time in two years. It is now named R-M-E Place following a naming rights agreement with Rocky Mountain Equipment. The company’s logo is already displayed prominently throughout the facility, but financial details of the deal remain undisclosed. The new ice plant is operational, and curling leagues begin today, with the first tournament taking place on October 4th and 5th.
  
  
• Our friends at Project Confederation are hosting an exclusive event, "A Conversation With Ted Morton," offering attendees a unique opportunity to engage with one of Alberta's prominent political figures. Morton will discuss key moments from his career and share insights from his new book, Strong and Free: My Journey in Alberta Politics, highlighting critical turning points in Alberta’s political landscape. The event will take place on Wednesday, October 9th, at 6:00 pm at the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede in the Cactus Room. While attendance is free, donations are welcome to help cover costs, and RSVPs are required. Guests will also have the chance to purchase copies of Morton's book at the event. Secure your spot by RSVPing here.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• Medicine Hat has introduced its first mini roundabouts as part of a pilot project aimed at enhancing traffic calming measures. Located on Eighth Street Southeast at both Second and Fourth Avenues Southeast, the initiative incorporates various elements such as signage, pavement markings, and landscaping. Over a two-year period, City staff will monitor the effectiveness of these changes. The insights gained will inform updates to the City’s active transportation and safety plans, with potential future traffic calming measures considered based on the results.
  
  
• Fourteen previously unmarked military graves at Hillside Cemetery in Medicine Hat have been given markers through the Last Post Fund. A dedication ceremony honored the veterans, including Lieutenant Harry Dobbin, a Royal Air Force member who passed in 1919. For over a century, Dobbin’s grave had no military recognition, but it now bears a permanent marker. Veterans Affairs Canada will oversee the long-term care of these markers to ensure their legacy endures.
  
  
• The City has identified two potential sites for a new electrical substation to meet the growing power demand in the city's southwest. The preferred site is located near Hidden Tree RV Storage, and an alternative is north of Sunshine Greenhouses within Cypress County. These locations were chosen based on factors like community feedback, environmental and visual impacts, and costs. The City plans to submit an application to the Alberta Utilities Commission for approval, which may include a public hearing. Construction is expected to begin and conclude in 2026.

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