Fourteen downtown businesses have applied for the CCDA lighting initiative. Applications close Dec. 31

By Tiffany Goodwein

Downtown lighting initiative sees businesses light up dark areas

Dec 18, 2020 | 6:01 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– A downtown lighting initiative aimed at shedding light in back alleys and other dark regions of the downtown core is seeing businesses grasp at the opportunity.

The initiative, sphere headed by the CCDA began in mid-September and is in partnership with the MHPS.

“ One of the main priorities of the CCDA is to help promote and help improve the safety and security of downtown. We believe it has always been a safe place to spend time, but back alley lighting and a few of those concerns were brought up many times so we thought the lighting initiative was a really awesome way to help tackle that problem,” said CCDA board member Kaleb Motz.

Downtown businesses are eligible for a $400 rebate towards the installation of back alley lighting. Already to date, 14 businesses have applied for the rebate and lighting has gone up.

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat and area: Dec. 13-15

18h ago

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

Loitering, vandalism, and open drug use are among some common issues identified in the downtown core.

The MHPS says lighting can help deter some of those behaviors.

“Lighting can help deter those kinds of activities by making it an undesirable place for people to commit these offenses. So by simply lighting up a back alley or back of your business will make it less appealing to spray paint or do vandalism, or try to take shelter or sleep for the night. If it is too bright then they will look for somewhere else to go,” said Sgt. Brian Bohrn.

For Jan Dynes, owner of the Clay Trade and Framing and Arts centre, the lighting initiative was something she took advantage of. Dynes has owned her business for 40 years and has been at her 2^nd street location for nearly 17. She has always thought of the downtown core as a nice, safe place to shop, but she wanted to enhance her backlighting even more so she applied for the program, and got some more lights.

“I thought it was great. I thought it was a positive step just to encourage people to come downtown and feel safe,” said Dynes.

Interested businesses can apply for the lighting initiative on the CCDA’s website.

The application deadline is Dec. 31.