Medicine Hat Minute: Tree Planting, Root Cellar, and Solar Park Viability

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

This Week In Medicine Hat:

• On Monday, at 3:45 pm, the Public Services Committee will meet. The Committee will hear a Managing Director’s Service Area Update which includes Non Profit Capital Grant Applications, a Sea Can Update, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede, Downtown Enhancement and Safety Grants, and the Litter Blitz.
  
  
• On Thursday, at 4:00 pm, the Energy, Land and Environment Committee will meet. The Committee will receive a report on the vacant building at 770 1 Street SE. The City plans to demolish the building due to its deteriorated condition and the presence of nearby abandoned gas wellbores. Once used by the YMCA and other community programs, the building has reached the end of its economic life, with failing infrastructure and high redevelopment costs. Materials from the building will be donated to community groups where possible, and the City will explore temporary low-impact uses for the site in the meantime.
  
  
• No public candidate forums will be held in the Medicine Hat-Cardston-Warner riding ahead of the April 28th federal election. The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce, which has previously hosted such events, has opted not to organize a debate this time.

Last Week In Medicine Hat:

• City Council approved $675,000 to analyze the viability of the proposed Saamis Solar Park, moving the project to its next planned phase. The funding will provide a more precise cost estimate and assess whether construction should proceed. Staff said a solar farm could support existing energy demands and attract large commercial users. Critics, including the Medicine Hat Utilities Ratepayer Association, remain opposed, citing cost concerns. Council emphasized the funding does not commit the City to building the project and that public consultation will be required. A final recommendation is expected by late 2025.
  
  
• Council has approved a $3.5 million budget amendment to support the planting of 2,400 new trees over three years, aiming to boost the city’s urban canopy. The project, tied to a federal grant application, would mark the largest tree-planting effort in two decades. Officials say expanding the tree canopy will provide long-term benefits such as improved air quality, energy savings, and better health outcomes. The plan includes student participation through a school-based planting initiative and targets low-canopy, high-density areas.
  
  
• The Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub has earned national accreditation through Food Banks Canada’s Standards of Excellence program. Executive Director Melissa Mullis shared that the year-long process involved updating policies and ensuring compliance with food safety and care standards. The Root Cellar supported over 7,000 people last year through programs like emergency food support and healthy meal initiatives. Mullis believes the accreditation will boost donor confidence and validate their client-centered approach.

-----

Donate:

Common Sense Medicine Hat doesn't accept any government funding and never will. We think you should be free to choose, for yourself, which organizations to support. If you're in a position to contribute financially, you can make a donation here.

-----

Share:

If you're not in a position to donate, we understand, but if you appreciate our work, you can help by spreading our message. Please email this post to your friends, share it on Facebook or Twitter, and help make sure every Hatter knows what's really going on at City Hall.