Fire crews were still on scene fighting a fire at The Royal which began Friday morning. (Photo Courtesy Gates Guarin)

By Gates Guarin

Tributes and memories flood in after morning fire engulfs The Royal

Sep 16, 2022 | 5:08 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – It is the end of an era for a historic downtown gathering spot. The Royal, a historic downtown gathering spot, was engulfed in thick plumes of smoke after a fire broke out this morning.

Medicine Hat Fire and Emergency Services were called to the scene of a structure fire at approximately 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Crews were met with billowing smoke erupting from the roof and sides of the building.

“We started with a bit of an interior attack,” said deputy chief Chad Eakins. “Conditions changed quite rapidly, we have a fire in the walls and now into the attic space.”

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Old, heavy timber construction on the building’s second floor contributed to most of the fire, and fire crews had to pivot and fight the fire from the building’s exterior. Fire crews also focused on preventing the spread to the Compass building located adjacent to The Royal.

According to fire services, no injuries were reported and the fire is still currently under investigation.

The Royal’s history in Medicine Hat stretches back almost 120 years. It began life as The Royal Hotel in 1904, temporarily closing in 2019. The hotel upstairs had 18 rooms but was not in use. The Royal reopened its doors under Lynne Palmer just over three years ago to the date.

The Royal is known for its live music and showcasing local musicians. Tributes and memories have poured in on the CHAT TV Facebook page, with many in the community sharing stories, photos and videos of their time at The Royal.

Raelynne Howe says, “It’s like losing a family member,” and Sandy Heath says The Royal is “the heart of the music community.”

Sean Miller shared a video, saying his music career started at The Royal, and made sure to shout out “all the musicians and lovers of The Royal.”

Courtesy Sandra Loitz Hanson

Courtesy Samantha Whitfeld

Courtesy Kim Gehlen-Jeffrey

Courtesy Lorna Grant

Support has also been coming in for Palmer and her staff of 15, who suddenly no longer have a place to work.

Vanessa Hood, who worked at The Royal ever since Palmer reopened the venue, has started a GoFundMe page to help Palmer deal with the tragic loss.

“She has put her heart and her soul into this establishment, and just seeing this all happen today is absolutely heartbreaking,” Hood says.

The hope is that enough money will be raised to create what Hood calls The Royal 2.0, and that a new place for up-and-coming musicians to come and perform will rise from the ashes of tragedy.

— with files from Chris Brown