Neighbourhood association launches with community walks

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on October 5, 2024.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Neighbourhood Association of Medicine Hat and Area is inviting residents out to get to know their community during their official launch event.

The Ignite Your Community neighbourhood walk, will be hosted in several spots throughout the city, said Shantel Ottenbreit, Community Resource Worker with the City of Medicine Hat.

These walks are in neighbourhoods to encourage residents to get to know those around them, as well as one in Kin Coulee park for city-wide connection.

“It’s a great opportunity for people to come out, learn a bit more about the neighbourhood, share some stories, get to know other people who live nearby and just have a really great time being outdoors on a lovely fall day,” said Ottenbreit.

All of the walks are free to attend thanks to a grant received from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Alberta, and light refreshments will be available at each.

The Neighbourhood Association of Medicine Hat and Area has been around for about a year and consists of both service providers and passionate locals, said Ottenbreit, with a goal to help with the formation of neighbourhood associations by lowering some of the barriers associated.

She explained they hope to be an umbrella organization for different associations in the city, to help them avoid some of the red tape or work required to become or maintain a registered society or charity.

“We’re sharing with them the information about what we can do to support them, and how we’re hoping to help them remove barriers that might exist to actually hosting different events in their neighbourhood,” said Ottenbreit.

Walks will happen over the course of both Saturday and Sunday with exact details for each walk available on the association’s FaceBook or at shapeyourcity.medicinehat.ca/neighbourhood-associations.

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