Radio Ramblings: A pleasure to have been Alberta bound

By Taylor Herperger on May 2, 2019.

When I think about Alberta, both as a province and as a concept, I can’t help but bring to mind the distinct imagery carved out by song lyrics. Hot summers, prairie lights, and Rocky Mountain sunsets. Chinooks, big trucks and the wild rose. All things that, on their own, could be an emblem of anywhere, but that together help define a province – a culture.

My musical references in regards to Alberta were brought to life late last May when I decided to accept a one-year contract position at 105.3 ROCK as promotions manager. At the time, I knew nothing of Medicine Hat other than this is where the family car broke down on the way to Drumheller when I was 10, and that The Guess Who made mention to it in “Runnin’ Back to Saskatoon.” I knew not a soul in The Hat, I came without expectations of any sort, and had zero leads for a place to live, but I did know that accepting the position would be an adventure. I mean, a groovy radio station in the middle of the Alberta Badlands, in a city I had to map out to find out where it was? Sign me up!

When I got to Medicine Hat, all my prior assumptions were confirmed. Come summer time, this place really does have all hell for a basement (gotta love it when your car’s AC kicks out in the middle of an Alberta summer), and that it is actually a pleasure to be Alberta bound, a Gordon Lightfoot opinion that I reckoned would be safe to trust. Within almost no time at all, I took a leap and dove headfirst into everything Medicine Hat. I experienced the timeless intrigue of The Monarch Theatre, the satisfaction of Swirls Ice Cream on a hot day, and learned that Inspire Café not only holds cool events, but that it also makes a mean chai.

As the year went on, I further became part of the Alberta way and attended my first-ever Stampede (and indulged in so much Pooty’s Poutine, omg), had the opportunity to expand my role at the radio station and work with all the lovely folks at 102.1 CJCY, spent all my dough at local farmers’ markets, and visited every landmark in the vicinity I could get my butt to. I grabbed my camera and explored Medalta, I walked up and down the river like a boomerang, drank my weight in beer at local craft joints and danced the night away at the Royal Hotel. For bigger explorations, I revved up the car and took trips to Red Rock Coulee, Banff, Drumheller, Calgary, Writing-On-Stone Provincial Park, Dinosaur Provincial Park, and Elkwater.

My year in Medicine Hat had me soaking up all the Alberta vibes I possibly could, listening to the best tunes along the way and meeting some excellent humans. Now, as I stare down the last few weeks of my Medicine Hat tenure, it warms my heart to look back on such a fruitful year. I learned so much about this beautiful province, and it gave me a year of adventures. Thanks for a great year, Medicine Hat, it truly was a pleasure to be Alberta bound.

Taylor Herperger was Promo Director at 105.3 ROCK and 102.1 CJCY.

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