Candidate says city must grow in way that works, and lasts

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on August 26, 2025.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

Council candidate Laura Butterfield hopes to leverage the city’s unique strengths to put it on the map and future-proof that growth to keep it there.

Butterfield was born and raised in the city, and brings with her a diverse background in land development, energy sector acquisitions, municipal administration and corporate leadership. It is her hope this variety of life experiences will serve her well on council next term.

Having worked for the City of Medicine Hat for more than 10 years, and now as the senior lead of corporate operations and resourcing for a North American company, she combines familiarity with municipal processes with strategic planning, operational efficiency and results-driven decision-making, skills she plans to apply at city hall.

“I’m running for council because I believe Medicine Hat has great potential, and it’s time we make it easier for people to build their futures right here at home,” said Butterfield. “That means offering smart tax incentives, cutting red tape and making sure City Hall helps growth and development, not hinders it. We need to be a city that says ‘yes’ more often, with clear, consistent policies that make it easier to build and do business here.”

She aims for smart, sustainable growth for the city, feeling it is a vibrant and affordable community, but that it needs to offer more incentive if it hopes to attract and retain both large industry and small businesses alike.

“I want to make sure that the growth benefits everyone, and my campaign is about sustaining our roots while building for the future; supporting local businesses, keeping families strong, ensuring services remain reliable and affordable and creating opportunities for the next generation,” said Butterfield.

To that end, her priorities on council would be to implement targeted tax incentives and support local development, removing development barriers such as offsite levies and complex regulations, and advocating for stronger marketing and promotion to showcase Medicine Hat as a top Canadian destination.

That growth, to Butterfield, includes improving infrastructure such as housing. She says that could mean encouraging infill development, mixed-use housing and commercial spaces that bring life back to underused areas.

“Growth for the sake of growth isn’t enough. It has to serve the community. So I definitely believe that sometimes rapid growth takes over, and then we lose sight of where we’re at,” said Butterfield.

While she has her own vision, she assures residents above all that she is here to listen, and if elected, they can rely on her to do just that and to be flexible to what those she hopes to represent need to continue to make Medicine Hat the best it can possibly be.

“I’m all about the voices of our residents, our taxpayers, business owners, homeowners,” said Butterfield. “My priorities are what they are, but I think the voice of the citizens is much, much louder than what my priorities are. If they feel differently I want to hear and I want to support what they believe in and where they see the city growing.”

With October approaching fast, residents can expect to see Butterfield out and about, door knocking and meeting with various people from throughout the community both formally and informally, to get a bigger picture of the next steps for Medicine Hat.

“I’m excited about this journey. I’m nervous, but as we grow and we share our values and traditions, that strength that’s always made Medicine Hat a great place to call home,” said Butterfield. “I think City Hall should work for the people, and I want to grow Medicine Hat together, not separately.”

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