City introduces pilot project to provide transit on stat holidays

By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 23, 2026.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com

The City of Medicine Hat is launching a pilot project that will provide transit service on three statutory holidays this year to gauge demand for more regular service.

The pilot will begin with service Monday, Feb. 16 for Family Day.

Medicine Hat Transit will operate according to Sunday service hours (8:15 a.m. to 7:15 p.m.) on the holidays included in the pilot.

The project will assess ridership levels to determine whether financial commitment should be made in future budgets to enable statutory holiday service.

“This initiative highlights the commitment of Medicine Hat Transit to maximizing the value and quality of the service we provide, while also being fiscally responsible,” said City of Medicine Hat manager of transit services Gordon Dykstra.

“Having played a key role in launching this pilot through their feedback, riders now have the opportunity to influence the long-term approach to statutory holiday transit service through their usage.”

The second holiday selected for participation in the pilot is Canada Day. The two holidays were overwhelmingly chosen by transit users in a 2025 survey. A third pilot day will be chosen from National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Remembrance Day and Boxing Day.

There will be no dedicated or on-demand adaptive transit service included within the pilot, but the city reminds transit users that standard transit buses are wheelchair friendly and able to accommodate accessibility needs.

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