City of Medicine Hat

Welcome to
Medicine
Hat
Alberta, Canada
The world’s tallest tepee stands near the Trans-Canada Highway overlooking the scenic Kin Coulee Park.
The legend
behind the name
Medicine Hat inherited its name from the native word “Saamis” which means medicine man’s hat.
A number of legends tell the story of how this city was named. One of these legends is beautifully
depicted in a sculptured brick mural at City Hall.
The legend tells of a winter of great
The young man tried to trick the serpent by
famine and hardship. The elders of the
throwing the body of his dog into the river
Blackfoot Nation council chose a young Blood
but the serpent was not fooled, and finally
to save his tribe from starvation. Setting out
reluctantly, the woman was thrown into the
with his new wife and favourite wolf dog,
frigid waters.
he journeyed down the ice-bound South
Saskatchewan River. After many arduous
The man was told to spend the night on the
days they made their way to the “breathing
small island (Strathcona) and “in the morning
hole” — an opening in the ice, located on the
when the sun lights the cutbanks, go to the
river between what is now Police Point and
base of the great cliffs and there you will find
Strathcona Park in Medicine Hat. This location
your Medicine Hat”.
was known as a sacred place to the Blackfoot
Nation: a place where the water spirits came to
And so aided by the magic of his Saamis, the
breathe.
young hunter located the much needed game,
saved his people, and eventually became a great
They made camp and summoned the spirits
Medicine Man. The “breathing hole” remains
to appear. A giant serpent rose from the misty
open in winter to this day, and on clear, frosty
waters and demanded the sacrifice of the
nights the ghostly wisps of vapour rising from
woman in exchange for a “Saamis” or “holy
the frigid waters whisper to us of the Legend of
bonnet” which would endow the owner with
the Saamis.
special powers and great hunting prowess.
RICH
in history
In 1883 the Canadian Pacific Railway
stopped to build a bridge across the South
Saskatchewan River and a tent town was born.
With the arrival of the railroad came the North
West Mounted Police. They maintained law
and order among the railway workers and First
Nation’s people of the area and made Medicine
Hat a law-abiding town.
In the CPR’s search for water, their drills
accidentally struck natural gas west of the town,
heralding the exploration that mapped out one of
the largest natural gas fields in North America.
In the latter part of 1903, City Council embarked
on a program to supply all residents with gas,
the beginning of a City-owned utility. In 1906,
Medicine Hat was incorporated as a City.
Since the turn of the century,
Medicine Hat’s own gas fields
have supplied the traditional gas
lamps that continue to light the
historic downtown district.
BEAUTIFUL
geography & wildlife
Located in the beautiful South
Saskatchewan River valley, amid coulees of
varied hues, rolling prairie and carved hillsides,
Medicine Hat residents enjoy the beauty and
peace alongside the many species of wildlife.
WARM
spirited people
Medicine Hat is a community alive with a
vibrancy and spirit few communities witness. The
community enjoys the closeness of family and
values that are intrinsically tied to our colourful
history and quality of life. People are varied from
third generation families to new residents. There
is an abundance of culture and ethnic pride
throughout the community.
“With our home and business just
blocks apart in historic Riverside,
we’re defining the true meaning of
neighbourhood.”
Medicine Hat College services almost 2,500
students each year and offers programs to meet
the ever-changing needs of the student. With some
of the lowest student-to-instructor ratios in the
province, the College offers a very personal one-onone student experience.
—Kristine and James Dalzell
Owners of The Zucchini Blossom Market
and Café featured in the 2006/07
“Where to Eat in Canada” guidebook.
SAFE
and comfortable
Medicine Hat residents, with the support of
our protective services and other community
agencies, strive to preserve a quality of life
that is secure and inviting. We work together
to find long-lasting solutions that make our
community the best place to live.
The Palliser Health Region is the health care
provider for Southeast Alberta and one of
Medicine Hat’s largest employers.
VIBRANT
arts & entertainment
The Family Leisure Centre is a state of the
art indoor leisure and recreation facility that
features a huge aquatic centre with a wave
pool, water-slide and ice arena.
Orange and black are two of Medicine Hat’s
favourite colours thanks to the Tigers —
Medicine Hat’s Western Hockey League team.
Competitive swimming clubs, ice arenas, a
curling rink, golf courses and bowling alleys
assist in keeping residents busy. Skiing and
snowboarding are close by in the Cypress Hills.
Unique in arts and enriched in history…
Medicine Hat’s cultural community
flourishes and our heritage is celebrated
and preserved.
The Esplanade Arts and Heritage
Centre features a world-class 700-seat
performing arts theatre, museum, art
gallery and archives.
History is such an integral part of our
community it is difficult to miss. From our
Clay Industries National Historic District to
the brick homes created from that Industry,
to the gas lamps and the original brick
exteriors they light at night, Medicine Hat is
proud of its past and its people.
DIVERSE
culture & heritage
“My appreciation for Medicine Hat intensified when I returned after
years of travelling the globe with a dance and skate company. No where
else have I found such a unique group of young, passionate, creative,
purpose-driven people all packed into such a tiny community. I’ve truly
been pleasantly surprised for the love I have found for this beautiful
town.”
—Amy Rebbeck
Amy Rebbeck and her father Lyle Rebbeck live and work in Medicine Hat. Amy is a
dance instructor and Lyle is a musician and the Producer of the Medicine Hat JazzFest.
PROGRESSIVE
and diverse economy
The community is blessed with natural resources
such as clay, natural gas and sunshine which
have all contributed to the local, national and
international success of Medicine Hat industries.
Ranching and traditional agriculture farming
share in the success of the local economy with
specialized crops such as potatoes, corn, beans
and greenhouse grown tomatoes, cucumbers
and sweet peppers. Medicine
Hat is the major urban centre
in southeast Alberta and
the entrance to Alberta’s
industrial corridor.
“Our family began manufacturing brick in
the Medicine Hat area in 1912. Since then we
have grown and diversified, with operations
and sales in various countries. Although
the I-XL group of companies now includes a
variety of businesses, located both within and
outside of Medicine Hat, we have maintained
our base of operations here. Medicine Hat’s
size and location contribute to a quality of
life that makes this an excellent location for
our company and for our employees. We are
proud to be a part of this unique community.”
—Clayton Sissons
Clayton is a fourth generation Medicine Hat business person
and President of I-XL Ltd.
INDEPENDENT
and entrepreneurial
The Medicine Hat economy is led by
healthy environment, a high quality of life and
entrepreneurs who understand the strengths of
sustainable employment. There is an eclectic
the community and capitalize on opportunities
blend of locally owned and operated family run
offered by its natural resources and competitive
businesses along with large retail stores for local
advantage. The community, in turn, benefits by
and regional visitors and shoppers.
ensuring business and industry are successful
while not compromising values such as a
LANDSCAPES
that transform
Beautiful spots nestled amid the hustle and
bustle, the city’s parks reflect the diverse urban
landscape. Police Point Park is a historic 1900’s
North West Mounted Police (NWMP) outpost
turned into a wildlife refuge along the South
Saskatchewan River. Many species of animals,
birds and plants are seen throughout the parks.
Cypress Hills Interprovincial
Park
The highest point in Canada between
Labrador and the Rocky Mountains
is located 66 kilometres (41 miles)
southeast of Medicine Hat. Other
nearby wonders are Dinosaur Provincial
Park, a world heritage site rich with
fossil beds and Writing on Stone Provincial
Park, an awe-inspiring place with pictographs
and petroglyphs etched into sandstone.
VALUES
that inspire
As Medicine Hat continues to grow and we
welcome newcomers to the city, the fundamentals
of a healthy, vibrant community remain deeprooted. A shared vision to be a “Community
of Choice” resonates with those who visit or
make Medicine Hat their home. Family, friends
and a strong sense of caring continue to be
values that inspire pride and commitment.
“Three generations of our family have chosen to call Medicine Hat our
home. We enjoy all of the amenities of a large city including shopping,
performing arts and theatre, social clubs, college and sports, without
all the hustle and bustle, giving us more family time. In Canada’s
sunniest city, we take full advantage of the numerous walking and
cycling paths and parks, surrounded by nature. Our children have
the opportunity to excel academically through our excellent school
system and world-class violin and piano instruction. We are truly
proud and honoured to call Medicine Hat our home.”
—The Dumanowski Family
Mark and Jody, with their four children; Luke, Adam, Samuel and Antonina.
Mark is an Investment Advisor with CIBC Wood Gundy in Medicine Hat.
MEDICINE HAT
quick facts
Distance from other communities
Cypress Hills. . . . . . . . . . . . . 66 km / 41 miles
Lethbridge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168 km / 104 miles
Calgary. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 293 km / 182 miles
Swift Current. . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 km / 135 miles
Regina . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 478 km / 297 miles
Wildhorse (US) Border. . . . 146 km / 91 miles
Havre, MT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 km / 135 miles
Location
Medicine Hat is located in southeastern Alberta
approximately 293 kilometres (182 miles)
southeast of Calgary and 146 kilometres (91
miles) north of the United States border. Medicine
Hat is located on the Trans-Canada Highway,
Highway 3, and the Canadian Pacific Railway
mainline. It is approximately 50 kilometres (31
miles) east of Canadian Forces Base Suffield.
Climate
As Canada’s sunniest city with more than
2,500 hours of sunshine a year, Medicine Hat
has the longest growing season in Alberta
(120+ days per year). Summer temperatures
average 20C (68F) and winter temperatures
are easy to take. Chinook winds can raise
temperatures by as much as 34C (93F) in one
day. January temperatures average -13C (9F).
Medicine Hat
“A Community of Choice”
Call us: 1-888-4-THE-HAT
e-mail us: business@medicinehat.ca
Visit us: www.medicinehat.ca
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