Opinions
City Notebook: A time to unite in good spirits, good company
By Collin Gallant on December 21st, 2024
@@CollinGallant There’s a certain timelessness and timeliness to Christmas. Each year there are old friends, annual traditions, time-tested recipes and ancient ornaments that have survived drops, moves and the ravages of time. But there are also the immediate, the challenges, the pressure we place on ourselves, and emptiness that can appear against a backdrop so ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Let’s Chat: Culture at its finest
By Linda Tooth on December 18th, 2024
My little group of six theatre-loving friends recently dived into the culture in Medicine Hat. This city I love, have lived in and worked in has such great opportunities to bring a little bit of culture and fun to those willing to go out and find it. Does the name Shirley Valentine mean anything to ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!MLA Report: 2024 year in review
By Justin Wright on December 18th, 2024
Mental health and social advocacy Mental health advocacy has been a central pillar of my work throughout 2024, addressing not just traditional mental health services but the broader spectrum of community wellbeing. Starting in December 2023, I launched a series of Mental Health Summits that progressively expanded in scope and impact: • Our February summit ... Read More »
1 responseMansoor’s Musings: Meaning of Christmas for a Muslim
By Mansoor Ladha on December 18th, 2024
Being a Muslim in a predominantly Christian country, especially during Christmas, can be quite an experience. In my neighbourhood, Christmas always starts early: every mid-November, neighbour Greg, dubbed “self-styled Santa,” sends a personal note, reminding everyone on our street that it was time to decorate for the festive season. He couldn’t care about the mounting ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!City Notebook: Urban-rural divide on property taxes
By Collin Gallant on December 14th, 2024
@@CollinGallant This week came the obvious comparison from certain expected circles about the tax freeze in Cypress County and tax hike in Medicine Hat (council debates a 5.6 per cent hike on Monday). So, of course, the question is: what’s the difference, and if one can make it work without increasing tax bills, what’s wrong ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Guest Opinion: Paving paradise with all-season resorts
By Lorne Fitch on December 12th, 2024
Bill 35, the All Season Resorts Act, is proposed by the UCP government as an answer to a question Albertans have never asked. As such, the legislation is an insiders game of plunking upscale hotels and facilities on public land, including Alberta Parks, irrespective of existing regional plans, protected areas or critical wildlife habitats. This ... Read More »
1 responseMansoor’s Musings: Pierre Poilievre needs to polish his political style
By Mansoor Ladha on December 11th, 2024
This column may sound like one written by a Liberal supporter but it’s really a postmortem by an acute observer of Conservative leader, and possibly PM-in-waiting, Pierre Poilievre’s political rhetoric. Like many other columnists, I am getting a little fed up with Poilievre blaming Prime Minster Justin Trudeau for everything under the sun. We have ... Read More »
2 responsesNoteworthy: Photo radar’s unknown made for more honest – and safe – drivers
By Bruce Penton on December 11th, 2024
I’ve had the occasional photo radar ticket over the years (maybe two or three in 20 years), but in my mind, the speed cameras are an effective way to control vehicle traffic in Medicine Hat. Now that the provincial government has announced it is scaling back on photo radar enforcement (and mocking the program by ... Read More »
1 responseLet’s Chat: Grieving is a process
By Linda Tooth on December 11th, 2024
I was having a conversation recently with someone who said her mom was struggling with grief after the loss of her child. That got me thinking about grief and how we handle or do not handle it. Add trying to process grief with the upcoming Holiday Season and, unfortunately, we have a time where people ... Read More »
1 responseCity Notebook: City’s energy future as much psychological as it is financial
By Collin Gallant on December 7th, 2024
@@CollinGallant The longest serving member of city council, Robert Dumanowski, has waxed philosophically at times during this term. Once came in the middle of council controversy that’s dogged this term about stoking discontent with local government. The most recent came Thursday at the beginning of what could become the controversy of the next year, and ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Let’s Chat: Let us be pawsome
By Linda Tooth on December 4th, 2024
I realize I have spoken at great lengths about my love of cats, whether it be my own or the community cats of Medicine Hat we have worked tirelessly to provide a better life for. What I have not done is write about our dog, which we have had for five years. We adopted him ... Read More »
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