City Notebook: Mood detector

By COLLIN GALLANT on August 5, 2023.

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant

Medicine Hat is the unhappiest place in Alberta, according to a recent study that ranked 30 different categories, like weather, the economy, commute times, sense of belonging and incomes.

Such studies come out every so often, usually by web-based real estate brokers, and with the unstated but clear goal of getting a lot of clicks and internet traffic, so don’t give it a lot of weight.

But, sun-soaked, relatively easy-to-get around Medicine Hat checked in at No. 94 overall among the nation’s 100 largest centres based on scores for location, demographics and well-being.

They were low for location and demographics as well as well-being (93rd in both), and economic factors (58th), but in the top third for community aspects (30th).

Not exactly encouraging news is it? But don’t fret. Cosmopolitan Montreal sits at No. 86 overall on the list. Edmonton at No. 88. People have a high opinion of Kelowna, but it’s No. 81.

Alberta’s five happiest places (in order) are Sherwood Park, St. Albert, Airdrie, Calgary, and Ft. McMurray.

On the other end of the province, the Hat beat out Grande Prairie, Edmonton, Red Deer, and Lethbridge in the bottom five.

The national champ was Caledon, Ont. and the last place finisher was London, Ont.

Brighter days?

Another thought on the potential conversion of the Aurora Sun facility to grow vegetable seedlings. It’ll help out local growers who buy wholesale, and this region and Lethbridge account for two thirds of the greenhouse space in Alberta, and it would create some jobs.

But… considering the unemployment rate is a stable 5 per cent in the region, doesn’t that indicate that maybe we don’t have a jobs problem, but instead a wage problem?

Hinterland Who’s Who

Who’s that but none other than the long-billed curlew that is being honoured with an international prize.

The shore bird that can be found in the greater Medicine Hat area each summer was featured in the 2022 relaunch of the iconic short documentary series now produced by the Canadian Wildlife Federation.

Now the segment that was filmed in Grasslands National Park across the line in Saskatchewan has won the Gold Medal for best public service announcement at the World Media Festival in Hamburg, Germany.

For the record, the bird – North America’s largest shorebird – winters in Mexico and dwindling numbers make it a species of concern in Canada. Its bill makes it well-adapted at eating grasshoppers along with what it gleans from shorelines.

Last year’s Hinterland Who’s Who series also included the pronghorn, and this year, the metre-long American eel and the round-leaved sundew (one of Canada’s few meat-eating plants) are included. Find the features at HHW.ca.

A look ahead

City council resumes after the summer break on Aug. 21. A special session to determine priorities for a long-term recreation construction program takes place on Aug. 28.

100 years ago

“A great flight of grasshoppers,” was en route to southern Alberta from Montana, headlines blared in Medicine Hat in early August 1923.

Canadian delegates to the Empire Exposition in London visited the city to engage manufacturers to exhibit at the global fair.

The Moderation League and the Committee of 100 – opposing sides in the coming provincial liquor plebiscite – set up offices in Medicine Hat and rallied support from citizens.

Collin Gallant covers city politics and a variety of topics for the News. Reach him at 403-528-5664 or via email at cgallant@medicinehatnews.com