Local News
City’s affordable housing units slow to develop
By ZOE MASON on January 7th, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com Medicine Hat’s most recent housing needs assessment, the city is making slower than anticipated progress toward addressing the demand for affordable housing. As of the most recent census in 2021, Medicine Hat was home to 7,930 renter households. Of those households, 21 per cent were in core housing need. According to the most recent ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Province launches pipeline website in name of ‘transparency’
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 7th, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com The province launched a webpage Tuesday dedicated to the proposed oil pipeline to the northwest coast. The webpage is designed to be a central hub for project information and updates. It will feature information about ongoing engagement with Indigenous communities and the expedited process underway to seek approval from the federal Major Projects Office. ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Council to advocate for urban electoral boundary reversion
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 7th, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com Council will submit an application next week to change the city’s current electoral boundaries to represent a more “urbanized” riding of Medicine Hat voters. Coun. Bill Cocks confirmed that council will present its submission to the Alberta Electoral Boundary Commission next Friday, Jan. 16, and will advocate a return to similar electoral boundaries from ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Province denies SafeLink working with city on shelter space
By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on January 7th, 2026
asmith@medicinehatnews.com The hunt continues for a long-term solution in the wake of the closure of the Mustard Seed’s Community Impact Centre on Allowance Avenue, as the province has denied an application for the city to partner with SafeLink. At a media scrum following the Jan. 5 city council meeting, Coun. Bill Cocks explained that SafeLink ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Pecha Kucha Night returns to the Esplanade on Jan. 17
By Medicine Hat News on January 7th, 2026
Pecha Kucha Night Medicine Hat has announced the first event of the year, set for Jan. 17. The event aims to start the year off strong with a varied list of speakers, including a social worker reconnecting adults with play, a soldier who served in Afghanistan and is now a mental health therapist, a mother ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Trustees vote unanimously to close two local elementary schools
By BRENDAN MILLER on January 7th, 2026
bmiller@medicinehatnews.com Medicine Hat Public School Division school trustees voted unanimously Tuesday to close both Webster Niblock and Southview Community schools at the end of the current teaching year. “It was a hard decision, but the board has made the one that I think is going to bring resources back to schools and benefit kids in ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Royal Canadian Legion offers free membership as part of centenary celebration
By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on January 7th, 2026
asmith@medicinehatnews.com As the Royal Canadian Legion closes the book on its first century, it looks to start the next one off right with new members. All new members to the legion who join in 2026 will be able to join for free, as part of the first step in the 100th anniversary celebrations. “We are ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Joseph Hutter takes over as interim city manager
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 7th, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com As the city continues to search for a new city manager following the termination of Ann Mitchell in October, Joseph Hutter, who is the city’s managing director of public services, has been appointed to fill the role on the interim. Councillors on Monday voted unanimously in favour of Hutter’s appointment until March 31. Hutter ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Local man gets probation over assault of golf course employee
By ZOE MASON on January 7th, 2026
zmason@medicinehatnews.com Gerald Freedman, retired investment broker and prominent local philanthropist, was sentenced in Medicine Hat Court of Justice on Tuesday for an assault that occurred at Desert Blume Golf Course last spring. Freedman was originally charged with sexual assault, but pled guilty to the lesser charge of simple assault. The offence took place in May ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!Upcoming workshop will offer multiple ways to destress
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 6th, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com What Matters to Hatters is partnering with Recovery Alberta to host a free stress workshop at the Medicine Hat Public Library this weekend. The D-Stress Workshop includes a discussion about stress, how to recognize personal stress times and a discussion of coping skills and strategies that will introduce participants to tools they can use ... Read More »
Be the first to comment!New study provides insights on Alberta immigrant workers
By MEDICINE HAT NEWS on January 6th, 2026
newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com A study of data by Statistics Canada shows immigrants in Alberta earn more with time, but still less than the national average. The on the economic outcomes of immigrants in Alberta analyzed thousands of immigrant workers and their families over a five-year period and examines how workers integrate into the province’s labour market over ... Read More »
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