Medicine Hat Minute: Issue 234

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

📅 This Week In Medicine Hat: 📅

• This afternoon, at 3:45 pm, there will be a City Council meeting. The meeting begins with a closed session, wherein Council will discuss updates on collective bargaining, corporate communications, and the 2026 calendar. Appointments of public members to advisory boards and commissions will also be reviewed. Additional matters include contact information updates and planning for an upcoming economic development conference.
  
  
• The Council meeting will open to the public around 6:30 pm. There will be a Public Hearing regarding an application from Prime Builders Ltd. to demolish the former Riverside School at 201 2 Street NW, a 1.2-hectare site with nearby areas including parks and low-density housing. The school is on the Heritage Inventory but is not a protected historic building, so demolition is allowed. The project is part of plans to redevelop the site for low-density residential housing while maintaining the neighbourhood’s character and respecting heritage elements where possible. City staff recommend approving the demolition with conditions, including disconnecting utilities, clearing and grading the site, and completing the work within one year.
  
  
• Also on the agenda is the appointment of Councillor Cocks as the City’s representative on the Inter-City Forum on Social Policy (ICFSP), which is a network for Alberta municipalities to share information, collaborate, and advocate on social policy and service issues. The ICFSP membership costs $500 per municipality and allows participation in discussions about programs and policies affecting urban communities. The previous representative was Councillor Alison Van Dyke. If approved, the City will renew its membership and cover the associated costs through the Community Development Department’s operating budget.
  
  
• Medicine Hat’s new Development and Infrastructure Committee held its first meeting of the term, receiving updates on transportation planning, trail development, and waste initiatives. Staff outlined next steps for the Transportation Master Plan, which was delayed to allow more public input. New engagement tools will include an updated project webpage, a “share your story” feature, and an online survey expected in early 2026, with findings returning to Council by the end of Q1. Transportation plans are already being revised based on earlier feedback, including a shift from on-street bike lanes to more multi-use pathways. Staff also noted they will seek an additional $14,000 for the Heron Crossing multi-use trail beyond its original $70,000 budget. 
  
  
• Medicine Hat Regional Airport reported a 48% increase in takeoffs and landings compared to last year, with total activity expected to exceed 38,000 movements in 2025. Airport officials say this makes it one of the fastest-growing airports in Canada for air traffic activity. Much of the growth is attributed to the Dave Rozdeba South Alberta Flight Academy, a partnership between Prairie Rose Public Schools, Eagle Butte High School and Super T Aviation. The program allows high school students to earn a private pilot licence while completing their diploma, offering training at a cost well below typical flight-school fees. Airport managers note the expansion has required operational adjustments but see the increased activity as a positive indicator for the region’s aviation sector and local training capacity.

🚨 This Week’s Action Item: 🚨

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