Medicine Hat Minute: Election Day, Community Microgrants, and Permanent Water Stations

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

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• Today is Election Day! If you're over the age of 18, are a Canadian citizen, and an Alberta resident, you can cast your vote today! Full details of eligibility criteria are listed here on the Elections Alberta website. You must vote at your designated polling place, all of which will be open 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. You can find your designated polling place using your postal code here on the Elections Alberta website. If you have questions or have trouble navigating the Elections Alberta website, please just reply to this email and we’ll help out if we can.
  
  
• You will need to prove who you are to vote, and the main way to do this is using a valid government-issued ID that includes your photo and your address. Alternatively, you may use two pieces of ID with a combination of information, and in certain circumstances you may be able to vote using an attestation instead. A full list of acceptable ID types are listed here on the Elections Alberta website.
  
  
• Our friends at the Alberta Institute have a section on their website where you can confirm that you've voted and then share that with your friends on social media and by email to encourage them to vote too!

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• The City has decided to ​​make water bottle fill stations seasonally permanent, after a successful pilot project in 2022 that delivered the equivalent of 118,000 one-litre bottles of water to people. This year, there will be ten stations installed. Locations include downtown and near several parks and trails. Each fill station will cost $1,300.
  
  
• The City has announced a new Community Microgrants program to provide funding to residents to organize activities that strengthen the local community. Up to $500 is available in two categories - Community Connections and Arts, Culture, and Heritage. There are a variety of eligibility criteria for each category, including celebrating diversity, honouring Indigenous culture, and offering opportunities for neighbours to connect.
  
  
• Annual gas infrastructure inspections have begun, and the City is letting residents know that contractors will be accessing the exteriors of more than 9,000 residential and commercial properties. Contractors are not required to seek the owner’s permission prior to entering the property, but they will be carrying photo identification that must be presented upon request.

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