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By Chris Brown

March 20 morning update: Closures, cancellations, postponements

Mar 20, 2020 | 10:52 AM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – As the outbreak of COVID-19 continues to spread and officials preach the need for social distancing the list of closures, cancellations and postponements in Medicine Hat is growing.

Jame Rogers of the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society says the Resource Centre at 476 Fourth St. SE will provide shelter for those staying in shelter or sleeping rough as of March 20 from 8 a.m.-7 p.m. during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

The hours at Chopped Leaf have been reduced. Opening hours are now 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday to Saturday.

Sobeys has reduced its hours to 8 a.m-8 p.m. and installed Plexiglas shields as another safeguard. Costco has set aside 8-9 a.m. Tuesday and Thursday mornings for those over 60 or with physical disabilities. Walmart has also dedicated its opening hours to seniors, the disabled and those with vulnerable health conditions.

Yelo-Cabs in Redcliff announced it will shut down services at 6 p.m. on Thursday for at least two weeks.

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The Medicine Hat Real Estate Board has suspended all open houses until at least March 31.

Alberta Motor Association centres will closed to walk-in traffic as of March 20 until the end of the month. They remain open for business by phone, email and online.

Southview Church of God will be closed until further notice.

Add Medicine Hat Brewing Company to the list of local businesses changing operations in an effort to encourage self-isolation and social distancing. The brewery is reducing its hours to 11 a.m-7 p.m. and suspending all dine-in service. Take-away, delivery and off-sales are still available.

Wendy’s restaurants across the country are closed to dine-in service, with take-out, drive-thru and delivery still available. Five Guys Burgers and Fries in Medicine Hat is open with limited capacity.

Restaurants, cafes, pubs and other local eateries are also making changes following the new restrictions on gatherings introduced by the province on Tuesday. Some remain open with limited capacity while others are restricting their operations to take out and delivery. Tourism Medicine Hat posted a list on Wednesday morning.

Medalta is closed to the public effective today and until further notice. Ceramics classes and workshops are cancelled through June, as is Market at Medalta.

Bowl For Kids’ Sake has been postponed from April 3. A new date will be chosen in the future.

The Kinsmen Home Lotto is closed for public viewing. A virtual tour is available on the Kinsmen website. Additionally the draw has been pushed back to May 13 and the deadline to purchase tickets to May 10.

Medicine Hat Musical Theatre has postponed its production of Spamalot until December 2020.

Hours at the Real Canadian Superstore in Medicine Hat will be reduced to 8 a.m.-8 p.m. beginning Thursday. The store will be open from 7-8 a.m. for those who need assistance or consideration.

Blues at the Bow featuring Colin James scheduled for tonight (March 18) has been postponed, as has the World Water Day film screening at the Medicine Hat Public Library.

The Fairy Tale Ball on March 21 has been postponed, as has the annual High Tea at St. Joseph’s set for March 22.

The 48^th annual Medicine Hat Oilmen’s Bonspiel set for March 27-29 will not take place.

Boston Pizza is closed to dine-in guests as of March 18 but takeout and delivery remains available.

Following Dr. Deena Hinshaw’s update on Tuesday (March 17) afternoon Ralph’s Texas Bar & Steakhouse and Copper Coulee Casino both announced they will be closed for the foreseeable future.

Over the weekend the City of Medicine Hat announced the Family Leisure Centre, Crestwood Recreation Centre, Hockey Hounds Arena, Moose Recreation Centre and the Kinplex will be closed until further notice.

Medicine Hat Tigers games aren’t the only thing on hold at the Canalta Centre. Roseanne Barr on May 1, Baby Shark Live on June 23 and Cirque du Soleil AXEL from July 30-Aug 2 are all postponed.

Monday the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre closed until further notice and events in the main theatre have been cancelled until April 12. Affected shows are Derina Harvey Band (March 19), Pecha Kucha Vol. 25 (March 20), Mission Songs Project (March 23), St. Mary’s School’s Frozen Jr. (April 1-2), Diyet & the Love Soldiers (April 9) and Boom (April 11).

A trip to the movies is also off the table for Hatters. Cineplex announced late on March 16 it is closing all of its theatres until at least April 2.

On Tuesday the Medicine Hat Interpretive Centre has cancelled all programming and closed the Police Point Park Nature Centre until further notice.

All campus events at Medicine Hat College have been cancelled through April 30. This includes the Regional Science Fair (March 21), the Healing and Reconciliation Conference (March 23-27) and the Rattler Run (April 25). Other cancelled events at the college in the coming weeks include Rattlers Awards Night (March 27), men’s basketball ID camp (April 3-5), children’s Easter egg hunt (April 8), women’s basketball ID camp (April 10-12), children’s Easter break camps (April 14-17), women’s volleyball ID camp (April 17-19) and high school all-star-game (April 18).

Large gatherings at the college after April 30 have also been cancelled, which includes the convocation ceremony on June 12.

All Raising the Curtain 2020 events have been cancelled or postponed until further notice. SHINE 2020, scheduled for March 22, has been cancelled.

The Medicine Hat Public Library, the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede facilities and the Veiner and Strathcona Centres will not operate until further notice. Among the events affected by these closures are the Seedy Saturday Seed Exchange (MHPL, March 28), the Cody Sibbald Legacy Classic (Stampede, March 21-22) the Something for Everyone Market (Stampede, April 25) and A Taste of Medicine Hat (Veiner Centre, March 27).

The Medicine Hat Mall is operating under reduced hours, as will The POST Thrift Store. Tim Hortons announced it is closing its dining room, but take out and drive through will continue as normal.

The CCDA tells CHAT News that the annual Downtown Easter Egg Hunt planned for April 4 has been cancelled.

Hidden Valley Ski Resort closed for the season last week.

This list will be updated as the situation progresses.