Great Big Paddle back on Saturday after taking 2020 off

“Medicine Hat’s become a real waterfront tourist destination, I don’t think a lot of folks realize that,” he says. “We’ve got one of the nicest rivers through a medium-sized city. It’s a safe river to paddle on, we watch the flow rates, very safe through town.”

Paddlers will launch from the Echo Dale boat ramp at noon and will end at the Strathcona Island Park boat ramp.

Anyone who’s spent time on the river in Medicine Hat knows it offers a view that’s tough to beat.

“Redcliff gets its name from the big red cliff, so that’s the first thing you see after you launch at Echo Dale, this great big monstrous red cliff. And it’s spectacular from the water,” Redmond says. “The next hillside past the red cliff, there’s a big clay cliff. And over the years faces have been weathered in that cliff. And there’s actually a woman’s face about 30-foot tall, 12-foot wide right there in front of you. That’s one of the best-kept secrets.”

The library, bridges, city hall, the Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club are other sights to behold along the way.

And then there’s the wildlife.

“You see lots of beavers, occasionally you’ll see the otters on the river, there’s a ton of deer along the river this year. Last year we saw the moose. You get all this wildlife and you get all this geography – the cliffs, the valleys, the coulees. It’s just spectacular scenery and it’s right through the heart of Medicine Hat.”

And there’s more than just the physical benefits of time on the water.

“From a mental health perspective, it’s a great way to relax. It’s very soothing. You get on the water all your worries just kind of go away,” Redmond says.

This year’s event will be the first without longtime club member Jan Owen, who passed away in the spring. The bench next to the Strathcona Island Park boat ramp has been purchased and dedicated to her.

“As everybody comes in here on Saturday, Jan will be keeping an eye out for us. It’s a real honour to be able to paddle and end up in front of Jan’s memorial bench,” Redmond says.

The paddling club is working with AHS to ensure a safe event. As well, all participants must have all the legally required safety gear on their watercraft and must be properly wearing their life jacket or personal flotation device.

The Kona Ice Food Truck will be at the paddlers’ exit and registered participants will receive a commemorative neck sun buff.

For more information visit the Medicine Hat Paddling Club’s Facebook page.

You can register for the Great Big Paddle at Eventbrite.

by Chris Brown

Great Big Paddle back on Saturday after taking 2020 off

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