Death of the Oasis in the Prairies

By medicinehatnews on August 12, 2019.

It is the summer of 2002, the Oasis of the Prairies, also known as the City of Medicine Hat, is in full bloom! Entry features into the city are spruced up, parks and greenbelts are primed and ready to be judged. The residents and staff of this great city are doing everything they can to make not only their residences look better than ever, but also working with others to improve upon theirs. Civic pride is at its highest in moments like this!

I am referring to the efforts we once put into programs like Communities in Bloom. For those unaware, Communities in Bloom is a Canadian beautification program that provides awards for the appearance, tidiness and visual appeal of Canada’s neighborhood, parks, open spaces and streets, through the use of plants, flowers, turf and trees.

It relies on, and involves the local citizens, municipal governments, local organizers and businesses.

In 2002, The City of Medicine Hat achieved the highest rating possible under the program, five blooms! It didn’t stop there though; we also won the Nutrite Turf Award for the best turf in Canada!

Communities in Bloom is a program that at one time instilled a feeling of pride and community within the cities and towns that participated. It also pushed the City of Medicine Hat to be better year after year. What has happened to see such a decline in the way our city looks and feels to its residents, local businesses and the visitors that drive through, and stay in our great city? We were last recognized nationally in 2010, which is only nine years ago!

I will not pretend to have all the answers, but what I do know is that it starts with leadership and a desire to be better than before. Somehow, the City of Medicine Hat has lost its mojo, and is in such a decline that we now allow the destruction of the beauty that once was the Trans Canada and Gershaw Drive Interchange. Not only do we accept this neglect, we also don’t hold departments and managers responsible for the decisions that allowed this to happen.

Several years have now passed since they turned off the irrigation in the interchange areas. The turf has declined to where the weeds are outcompeting it, and the trees and shrubs are now in full decline and will soon all be dead. What once was a wonderful way to enter our city has turned into an eyesore and something we should all be embarrassed of. The City has stated they “have a plan” for the area, well I am asking now, WHAT ON EARTH IS IT AND WHEN IS IT GOING TO HAPPEN?

We also then accept decisions like reducing the watering and maintenance of additional areas in the City in order to save money. This was recently posted in the News from the City Parks Department. Maybe it is just me, but there are plenty of areas in this city that have for years been neglected in maintenance and irrigation, how many more areas can there possibly be!!

What I implore us all to do as residents is have a voice. Say this isn’t good enough. Hold our councilors and city managers accountable for the decisions they are making. We deserve to have them tell us why the beauty of this city has declined so much in such a short time.

Also, do your part not only with your voice but with action. Look after your own backyard and do the simple things like pick up trash as you go on your walks and runs. Show others that live here and the future generations what it means to be proud of the beauty that is the City of Medicine Hat!

Communities in Bloom – Past Results for the City of Medicine Hat

National Finalists – 1997 / 1998 /1999 / 2002 / 2003 / 2004 / 2006 / 2007 / 2010

*1999 & 2007 saw the city win the National Award for municipalities sized 50 – 100,000