Noteworthy: At least we’re not the only ones with a real mess on our hands

By Bruce Penton on August 21, 2024.

Does this sound familiar?

The mayor of a mid-sized city in Western Canada has been hit with a reduction in pay, been removed as a spokesman for the city in a vote by the rest of city council and a report produced by an independent observer said the mayorÂ showed “a dismissive and condescending attitude towards constructive criticism or the suggestion of apologies,” and that the mayor’s treatment of staff “may have led to an unsafe work environment.”

No, that’s not the Medicine Hat city council/Mayor Linnsie Clark squabble, but the situation in Kamloops, where Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson is embroiled in a situation very similar to the one brewing and/or boiling over in Medicine Hat for the past year or so.

A CBC News story said Hamer-Jackson told reporters he would stay on as mayor and seek re-election in 2026, hinting he would run his own council candidates in the next municipal election.

According to the CBC News story, the mayor suspended the city’s chief administrative officer earlier this year in a bid to “shake things up,” a decision criticized and then reversed by council.

Is there something rancid in the municipal government air these days?

â€¢ The Kiwanis Club was probably the first service club that had an impact on my life. It was when I was six or seven years old, living with my parents, brothers and sisters in Brandon, Man., and in the fall, my dad always bought a box of apples that the Kiwanis were selling as a fundraiser. I remember the apples always arrived around World Series time, so I had two great memories – baseball and apples. I loved October.

The Medicine Hat Kiwanis Club, celebrating 100 years this Saturday with a fundraising barbecue at Kiwanis Central Park, took part in the apple fundraising program from 1964 to 2010, when members would go door to door in Medicine Hat selling bags of apples.

Judy Bergum sent along a lengthy history of the Kiwanis in Medicine Hat, and it’s impossible to mention it all, but when I was a regular a few years ago on the news desk at the News, the ‘best home/best block’ competition, sponsored by Kiwanis, was one of my favourite weekly layout endeavours. And seeing the list of donations made by the club from proceeds of the annual Grapes and Gourmet Gala was impressive. The gala ran from 2004-2019 (it ended when COVID-19 arrived) and local charities such as the Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Alzheimer Society, McMann Lighthouse Street Outreach Project, and many more, received gala proceeds in the $13,000 to $22,000 range.

That’s what the Kiwanis Club is all about: Boosting community spirit and values through the best home/best block competition, and supporting programs aimed at helping the less fortunate. Not to mention providing camaraderie and friendship among club members.

Saturday’s barbecue runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Central Park and offers the sale of burgers, hot dogs, drinks and snacks at minimal prices. Proceeds from the lunch will go towards maintaining and improving Central Park. The day will also feature a disc golf demonstration.

I’ll bet Hatters respond in massive numbers Saturday to say thanks to a valuable organization in our city. One hundred years is an impressive milestone.

â€¢ As high school grads in southeastern Alberta leave home for the first time to attend university, here’s an interesting note that originated with San Diego State University: “Attention freshmen who are moving in tomorrow: A little request: When your mom wants to unpack your clothes and make your bed, let her. When your dad wants to introduce himself to all the people on your floor, let him. When they want to take pictures of every move you make this weekend, let them. If they embarrass you or act crazy, let them. As you start the new chapter of your life, they are also starting the new chapter of theirs. And believe it or not, this is probably more difficult for them than it is for you. So let them treat you like their ‘baby’ one last time.”

â€¢ Short snappers: A mini gas war broke out last Saturday on Strachan Road. The Co-op and Petro-Can, which sit across the street from each other, were both offering regular gas at $1.56.9/litre for more than a week when, all of a sudden, Petro-Can dropped its price to $1.51.9. Next time I looked, though, it was back up to $1.56.9. … Last night’s ‘supermoon’ was the first of four that we’ll see in consecutive months. The ‘supermoons’ will appear to be six per cent bigger and 13 per cent brighter than a normal moon. Next supermoon will appear on Sept. 18. … A snippet from Axios: Multi-billionaire Warren Buffet is famous for telling Fortune (magazine) that the perfect amount to leave children is “enough money so that they would feel they could do anything, but not so much that they could do nothing.”