The City of Medicine Hat has chosen five successful applicants to acquire the sea cans that used to sit downtown. File Photo/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder, Dan Reynish

CITY HALL

Five applicants awarded sea cans, City of Medicine Hat says

Mar 27, 2025 | 1:28 PM

The City of Medicine Hat has selected five applicants that will find new homes for the sea cans that used to occupy Towne Square downtown.

Public services head Joseph Hutter said this week the applicants have until April 15 to move the seacans from Marshall Yard.

In January, residents, businesses and community groups were able to submit their ideas to repurpose one or more of the eight sea cans.

City staff had developed 10 criteria to gauge the balance of these and eight other elements. Financial compensation could also be provided to aid in cost recovery.

The so-called market pods were arranged in a pair of parallel rows that attracted vulnerable and unhoused members of the community, creating what can be an unsafe environment, city staff said.

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There were acts of vandalism and the sea cans were even broken into, prompting staff to propose their removal.

Medicine Hat’s manager of cultural experiences and events Aaron Nelson reported removing the sea cans would cost the city about $20,000. Council granted approval in November 2024.

Hutter said Monday that a total of 14 applications were received for the eight sea cans. The city has not revealed who the five successful applicants are.

They are working with the city’s planning and development services — and in some cases Alberta Transportation — to obtain necessary permits.