The Hat makes national news, local industry highlighted in CBC report

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on April 9, 2025.

Medicine Hat agriculture, manufacturing, aerospace and craft beer industries spotlight a new six-minute segment published by CBC News: The National, that has been shared to the Crown broadcaster’s YouTube channel.

The segment, part of the CBC’s Canada Votes series, begins by introducing Canadians to the region’s indoor agriculture sector, and features Big Marble Farms, the province’s largest greenhouse.

CBC reporter Erin Collins speaks to president Ryan Cremer about ongoing trade tensions with the U.S. and getting more Canadian-grown product on the dinner plates of Canadians.

The piece then visits Cancarb’s manufacturing facility, which produces carbon black through the thermal decomposition of natural gas.

The facility is only one of two in the world to use natural gas to produce carbon black, which is primarily used as a reinforcing agent in rubber that is used for things like tires.

The region’s aerospace sector was then highlighted as ‘Canada’s Drone Capital’ that evolved throughout partnerships with CFB Suffield and high-tech equipment developed locally and used by the U.S. Armed Forces.

Collins speaks to Landing Zones Canada CEO Spencer Fraser about expanding drone technology developed in Medicine Hat for use within the Canadian Armed Forces.

Brady Glubish, head brewer at Travois Ale Works, then shares his hopes to expand exports throughout the country and discusses the difficulties of expanding because of inter-provincial trade rules.

Medicine Hat-Brooks MLA and Premier Danielle Smith shared the segment to her social media accounts and said, “I’m pleased to represent this gem of our province and I’m looking forward to Medicine Hat continuing to make news as an economic powerhouse.”

The segment also briefly mentions the region’s growing wind power and cryptocurrency industries.

At the time of publication, “This Alberta city has a blueprint for economic resilience,” has already received more than 9,000 views on YouTube.

CBC will return to the Hat next week for a live taping of the West of Centre podcast, hosted by Kathleen Petty, scheduled for two hours on April 16.