Opinions
City Notebook: What’s old is new
By Collin Gallant on January 4th, 2025
@@CollinGallant Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: Medicine Hat should have a “one-stop shop” for investors to ease the process of getting things done at city hall. No, you didn’t wake up in 2021 – when former city manager Bob Nicolay promised such “concierge service” with “Invest 2.0” – or 10 or even ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Let’s Chat: Are you an extrovert?
By Linda Tooth on January 2nd, 2025
I am sitting here wondering what I can possibly write about that people would find interesting when the idea came to me, the difference between extraverted and introverted as it pertains to people. If you saw my column last week, I mentioned that I was going to try to be introverted in 2025, as I ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Noteworthy: What didn’t make news in the year 2024
By Bruce Penton on December 31st, 2024
Some names and events that made the news in 2024: Linnsie Clark, city administration turmoil, Saamis Solar Park, uproar over utility prices, gunman shoots at Trump, Trump wins, wildfires, hurricanes, heat waves, floods, Ann Mitchell, Shohei Ohtani, crypto, Netanyahu, Ukraine, Putin, Danielle Smith, Drake, Taylor Swift, Stormy Daniels, Gavin McKenna, 34 felonies, posties go on ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!City Notebook: From sourpuss to hopeful, a personal plan for 2025
By Collin Gallant on December 28th, 2024
@@CollinGallant A while back I changed my all-important social media moniker from “aspiring curmudgeon” to “aspiring optimist” – sort of a New Year’s resolution – not to sing “stay on the sunnyside” but to help bust out of a funk of a blah and bad news cycle that frankly becomes self-perpetuating. Needless to say it ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Economics 101: Inflation and the decline of the Canadian dollar
By Eric Van Enk on December 28th, 2024
The U.S. Federal Reserve created market volatility with their meeting on December 18th and the subsequent press conference. The statement from Chairman Jerome Powell that upset the apple cart was his response to the last question of his press conference. Chair Powell was asked if he could rule out a rate hike (increase in the ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Let’s Chat: Linda’s lineup for 2025
By Linda Tooth on December 27th, 2024
A friend of mine recently suggested I write a list of what I would like to see myself accomplish in the next year. As we know, 2024 was a crappy year (no pun intended) for my partner and myself. So I started thinking I could have a list of ‘Linda’s Lineup for 2025’. It looks ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!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 »
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