An orphan well in Medicine Hat is pictured in a file photo - CHAT News File Photo

By Charles Lefebvre

Year in Review

Year in Review 2019 – Medicine Hat

Dec 25, 2019 | 9:00 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — 2019 was a year of significant change for the City of Medicine Hat and the surrounding area.

Here are some of the biggest stories that impacted Medicine Hat and area residents during the past year.

City begins exit from natural gas business

Natural gas helped put Medicine Hat on the map, and for many years, was a significant revenue generator for the city.

However, in September, the city announced it would be shutting down 2,000 natural gas wells by 2022, due to low natural gas prices.

WHAT'S ON

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IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

Dec 12, 2024

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

Dec 12, 2024

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/09/11/gas-city-to-abandon-majority-of-gas-wells-through-90-million-program/

Aurora Sun completion delayed

When it was announced in 2018, the cannabis company’s production facility was expected to be a huge boost to the local economy. But, in November, the company announced it would be scaling back on construction, due to lower than anticipated revenue from legal cannabis. As a result, the facility is expected to open at a smaller scale.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/11/14/aurora-deferring-completion-of-medicine-hat-facility-following-first-quarter-results/

Folium Bioscience announced

During the mayor’s State of the City Address in January, Mayor Ted Clugston announced Folium Bioscience, a hemp extraction and production facility, chose Medicine Hat as the location for its new facility, which will be built adjacent to Aurora Sun.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/01/29/breaking-new-cannabis-company-coming-to-medicine-hat/

Seniors service consultations

Medicine Hat is looking at the possibility of changing how seniors services are delivered in Medicine Hat.

They’re looking for feedback on whether the city should continue to provide programming at the Strathcona and Veiner Centre, or potentially contract out the service. A recommendation to council will be presented in the New Year.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/12/13/seniors-services-consultation-session-on-tuesday/

Supervised consumption site announced for Medicine Hat.

The site of the former Mango Tree restaurant on South Railway Street was announced in January as the location for the site, with many opinions on both sides of the issue. However, following the election of the United Conservative Party, funding for new supervised consumption sites in Alberta were frozen, and the future of the program remains up in the air.

Links: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/01/15/supervised-consumption-site-announced-for-medicine-hat/

https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/09/03/residents-business-owners-and-experts-voice-opinions-during-supervised-consumption-site-town-hall/

Frozen pipes cause havoc in Medicine Hat.

An extended cold snap in Alberta caused multiple instances of frozen water pipes during February and March at various areas in the city. In the summer, the city revealed it cost $416,000 to repair and replace the pipes.

Links: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/03/06/local-frozen-water-pipe-numbers-double-from-2018/

https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/06/20/frozen-pipes-cost-city-almost-half-a-million-dollars/

Curbside recycling changes

The City and CanPak Environmental ended their partnership for Curbside Recycling in the fall. Green For Life Environmental Inc. has stepped in on an interim basis to collect recycling while the city looks to finalize a new partner, which they hope to have in 2020.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/09/18/city-looking-for-new-curbside-recycling-partner/

Solar thermal plant shut down

Highly touted when it opened in 2014, the city announced in May the solar thermal plant located near the Gas City Campground will no longer operate. The $9 million project would primarily operate during the summer months, and a decision about its future is expected early next year.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/05/13/solar-thermal-plant-will-not-operate-this-year/

Provincial budget impacts city projects

During the 2019 Alberta Budget, it was mentioned municipalities across Alberta would have to shoulder more costs for infrastructure funding, rather than relying on the province for funding.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/09/04/mackinnon-report-recommendation-could-bring-changes-to-municipal-funding-by-province/

Qinetiq lands major armed forces contract

Qinetiq, a company which builds target systems for military customers around the world, received a $51 million contract from the Canadian Armed Forces to create a new unmanned aerial vehicle system to be used for training.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/05/10/qinetiq-receives-51-million-contract-from-armed-forces-work-to-be-completed-in-medicine-hat/

Three killed in plane crash outside of city

On the morning of June 3, a plane carrying three people crashed near Irvine, killing everyone on board. The plane took off from Medicine Hat the previous evening. In December, the Transportation Safety Board released its report into the crash.

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/12/03/report-released-into-june-plane-crash-near-irvine/

Train derailment prompts evacuation of Irvine

On August 2, a train carrying styrene derailed near Irvine, prompting an evacuation of the town and the closure of the Trans-Canada Highway. The Transportation Safety Board is still investigating the cause of the derailment

Link: https://chatnewstoday.ca/2019/08/03/tsb-launches-investigation-into-irvine-train-derailment/