The Jehovah's Witnesses conference runs Friday to Sunday at Co-op Place. Eli J. Ridder/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder, Jesse Gill

Thousands arrive in Medicine Hat for Jehovah’s Witnesses conference

Jun 20, 2024 | 4:04 PM

Thousands of visitors are arriving in Medicine Hat for the Jehovah’s Witnesses annual regional convention that could bring millions of dollars in economic activity for the city’s largest one-weekend event.

The conference runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Co-op Place.

The conference will feature several biblically-based talks and video presentations open to the public and centred around the “declare the good news” theme for the conference.

The 2023 Jehovah’s Witnesses conference in Medicine Hat drew thousands of visitors to the city. Lisa Parent/CHAT News

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Last year, the event brought some 8,500 people and over $4 million in economic activity to the city over two weekends, according to a Tourism Medicine Hat and sport council study.

This year, about 3,500 delegates are expected over the three-day conference from across southern Alberta, Saskatchewan and British Columbia.

READ: Jehovah’s Witness convention draws in thousands of delegates

Conference spokesperson Brad Pramberg said Thursday the attendees are excited to get started.

“The city is ready to host us and, as usual, the city is very hospitable and friendly so I think everyone’s looking forward to a very positive few days here in Medicine Hat,” Pramberg told CHAT News.

Earlier this year when the conference dates were confirmed, the city’s tourism director Jace Anderson said the conference presents an opportunity to showcase Medicine Hat.

“The other thing that’s beautiful for us is we get as a community the opportunity to present ourselves as open and welcome to host business events of this size,” Anderson said in February.

The conference is open to non-affiliated members of the public to attend.

READ: Jehovah’s Witnesses conference returning to Medicine Hat

“”It’s free of charge, there’s no collection ever taken at one of our conventions and we invite everyone from all backgrounds to come and visit us here at the convention site,” Pramberg added.

The convention gets underway on Friday at 9:20 a.m. and runs until 4:55 p.m. It runs 9:20 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and 9:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. on Sunday.