Community coalition seeking public input

By KENDALL KING on January 5, 2023.

A new Medicine Hat community coalition which aims to foster connection and enhance public well being is seeking city residents’ feedback regarding the issues most important to them.

What Matters to Hatters coalition was founded and launched in late 2021 through a partnership between Alberta Health Services’ Addiction and Mental Health division, the Canadian Mental Health Association, the City of Medicine Hat and the Veiner Centre.

“It’s a group of charities and organizations which have (partnered) to shine a spotlight on how amazing this community is and how many wonderful resources we have,” executive member Michelle SauvÃ© told the News.

Specifically, the coalition hopes to reduce stigma and barriers between community members by focusing on commonalities, and highlighting local resources – including events, programs, services, and more – which offer Hatters support and positivity.

But, still in its infancy, the coalition has not yet determined exact means of achieving its goals, nor which goals are most imperative; and so, it is requesting the public’s assistance in determining those answers.

“We have a survey right now asking residents what sorts of community projects, events and initiatives they value or would like to see in our city,” said SauvÃ©. “With the feedback we receive, the coalition will draft a report back to the community – which we hope to have out by late February. And then, based on what the themes (of the report) are, we’re hopeful there will be a project or two we can initiate.”

SauvÃ© says at that point the coalition will also begin reaching out to other local stakeholders with the intention of increasing membership, engagement and long-term vitality.

With just over a week left until the survey closes (closing date is Jan. 13), SauvÃ© is encouraging all city residents to take part.

“So we’re asking – without identifying any further information – a person’s age and the area of the city that they live in. And then we’re asking four basic questions in the survey.”

And to thank community members for their feedback, the coalition is gifting one lucky survey participant with a locally-focused prize pack.

The survey is available online from now until Jan. 13. A link can be found on the What Matters to Hatters Facebook page or Twitter account.