August 9th, 2025

Opinions

City Notebook: Power talk predictable, but didn’t see this one coming

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 20th, 2024

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Last Saturday morning this column mentioned that power might be a continuing conversation in 2024. By that night, it was all anyone was talking about. Alberta’s stressed power grid issued an alert calling for Albertans to conserve power – turn off Christmas lights and block heaters, that sort of thing – during Hockey Night ... Read More »

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Guest Column: More energy storage will help keep the lights on

By Robert Tremblay on January 19th, 2024

On the night of Jan. 13, something unprecedented happened in Alberta. Albertans received an emergency alert notification asking them to conserve electricity use as Alberta’s electricity system, operated by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO), was in a level 3 grid alert. Extreme cold, which brings with it low wind, combined with a few unanticipated ... Read More »

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Let’s Chat: Blue Monday it was not

By Linda Tooth on January 17th, 2024

I have often wondered where the term ‘Blue Monday’ came from and why we are hung up on it. A U.K. travel company thought up the gimmick as a marketing ploy more than 10 years ago and it has stuck with us. There is no scientific evidence to support this so-called depressing day but let ... Read More »

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MLA Report: Alberta recovery news

By Justin Wright on January 17th, 2024

This week, many Canadians were troubled to learn about the B.C. NDP’s new drug policy, which allows eligible youth who are already struggling with addiction to gain access to fentanyl through their so-called “safe supply” policy. This is something our United Conservative government does not agree with. Here in Alberta, we believe there is no ... Read More »

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Noteworthy: He shaped the music scene in Medicine Hat, and he’ll be sorely missed

By Bruce Penton on January 17th, 2024

Medicine Hat’s musical community suffered a major loss last Saturday when longtime band director Bill Wahl passed away in Edmonton. Wahl, who formed the Medicine Hat Concert Band Society in 1985 and had been band director at Crescent Heights High School since 1971, faced a dementia challenge in his later years. A note to band ... Read More »

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City Notebook: Memorial Cup bid on the way? Who can say

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 13th, 2024

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Sports reporter James Tubb performed a public service last week arguing in a column that Medicine Hat has to – just has to – bid on the 2026 Memorial Cup tournament. Looking at the current roster, the spring of ’26 could be a lot of fun. Scuttlebutt says the local sport and event council ... Read More »

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Noteworthy: Stay cheery, we never know what someone else is going through

By Bruce Penton on January 10th, 2024

It’s always a treat to verbally engage with fellow walkers while out on Medicine Hat’s walking trails. The smiles, the fellowship, the realization that we’re both enjoying the activity and the fresh air. But once in a while – rarely, actually – approaching walkers turn their heads away. No response from a cheery ‘hello’ … ... Read More »

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Let’s Chat: Time for a change

By Linda Tooth on January 10th, 2024

I recently had a conversation with someone who was at a point in their life where they felt deflated and broken with their career and were in desperate need of a change. Their health was starting to show signs of deterioration from the toxic environment they had been working in for approximately 10 years. I ... Read More »

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City Notebook: Third quarter, time to shine or show true colours

By COLLIN GALLANT on January 6th, 2024

cgallant@medicinehatnews.com@CollinGallant Halfway through city council’s term, there’s still a lot of debate about what sort of council it is, but an answer may already be emerging, or likely will in the next 12 months. Borrowing an adage from sports, a team will generally prove whether it’s a contender or not in the third quarter of ... Read More »

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Noteworthy: Freedom matters but do we really need new smokers?

By Bruce Penton on January 3rd, 2024

Who wins if Canada were to adopt a law to make it illegal to sell tobacco to anyone born in 2008 or later? It’s being considered, according to reports. Canadians who don’t take up smoking would win, because they’ll have a better chance of good health and more money in their pockets. The Canadian health-care ... Read More »

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Let’s Chat: Holiday wrap-up

By Linda Tooth on January 3rd, 2024

I managed to stay off social media for one week. I must admit the first day was hard, but after that it was not a problem. Now, I did sneak a peek at Messenger during that week to see a video sent to me of a four-year-old family member singing Jingle Bells with the new ... Read More »

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