The Medicine Hat Owl says it's being treated unfairly by the City of Medicine Hat. Wellphotos/Dreamstime

By Olivia Thorington

IN THE CITY

Medicine Hat Owl group claims it’s being treated unfairly by city

Jun 17, 2025 | 10:03 PM

A group of self-identifying journalists say they are being treated unfairly by the City of Medicine Hat.

The Medicine Hat Owl — known also as Community TV — said in a statement this week that limitations placed on its access to city officials were discriminatory and vexatious.

The group and its founder Thomas Fougere have been accused of harassing city employees and treating them disrespectfully.

City clerk Larry Randle decided to leave the city last year because of “abuse” he received from the public and in particular from Fougere.

Fougere has impacted other departments within the city, too.

WHAT'S ON

Top five things to do at the Medicine Hat Public Library in December

Nov 30, 2025

WHAT'S ON

Here is what's on this weekend in Medicine Hat: November 28-30

Nov 28, 2025

IN THE COMMUNITY

Organizations in Medicine Hat and area receive donation from energy company

Nov 25, 2025

A charge of criminal harassment against Fougere claiming he visited the home of a Medicine Hat fire fighter was later dropped.

He was arrested last fall during a community meeting at police headquarters. In a complaint filed to police, Fougere said he was singled out unfairly by the chief.

In a more recent incident, Fougere and colleague Kelly Allard last week engaged in a tense exchange with city staff during a private Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce event.

The pair were later removed by police, according to video footage.

Fougere’s group claimed Monday the city is acting to “thwart the abilities of the Owl — both against our journalists and our businesses.”

“Despite having the powers and resources of the state, they portray themselves as victims.”

The City of Medicine Hat, in response to a request for comment, said it recognizes the importance of a free press as it relies on media to help share information in the community.

“However, we also have a responsibility to ensure that our time and resources are directed toward activities that contribute meaningfully to public understanding and discourse,” the city said in a statement to CHAT News on Tuesday.

Members of the Medicine Hat Owl group, from left to right: Thomas Fougere, Kelly Allard and Alex McCuaig. File Photos/CHAT News

The Owl’s Alex McCuaig, a former reporter with various regional and local outlets, wrote on June 13 the city has “an unwritten and arbitrary policy” to shut out the group from its media releases and news conferences.

Anyone is able to sign up for the city’s media releases online.

The Owl wrote the city said it would not accommodate interview requests, citing ethics guidelines by the Canadian Association of Journalists.

Officials affirmed to CHAT News on Tuesday that media access is only granted to those who subscribe to reporting norms.

“We are under no obligation—legal or procedural—to provide media access to individuals or organizations that do not demonstrate professional journalistic standards,” the city said..

“However, Under Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety Act, we are not only obligated – but also have a legal responsibility – to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of workers, which includes protecting employees from harassment, violence, bullying, and intimidation in the workplace.”

Municipal communications expert Benjamin Proulx agreed with the city’s statement.

Proulx, president of Catalyst Communications, said local governments are required to meet certain service levels and budget appropriately.

“It’s required to do these things,” Proux said in an interview.

“It is not required that staff accept abuse or harassment.”

Fougere and his colleagues argue that they are reporters participating in a form of “gonzo journalism” that includes the journalist as part of the story.

Rhonda Carlson, who served as CHAT-TV’s news director from 2005 to 2011, had a one-word answer when asked if what the Medicine Hat Owl does was considered journalism.

“No,” she said.

“That’s just bullying people and using a large megaphone, that’s all that is there. There’s nothing journalistic about that.”

Proulx said the modern media landscape makes it ever more challenging to discern legitimacy.

“We’ve seen a heavy evolution in journalism where the rise of digital media kind of allows anybody to say they’re a journalist or they’re a reporter, regardless of what’s behind that,” said Proulx.

He said that, in some cases, independent journalists have been able to produce quality, in-depth reporting that can positively impact a community.

“But we have seen it weaponized as well, where it’s almost a cover to be able to do the opposite of what journalism intends to do, which is to report accurately and in an unbiased manner,” Proulx explained.

He said figures with various approaches to creating content have made it difficult for governments trying to balance the need to get information out and good-faith communication amid increased distrust.

A survey of Medicine Hat residents last year showed that levels of satisfaction in “municipal government, including council and administrators” fell to 49 per cent, a sharp drop from the 81 per cent recorded in a 2022 survey.

Medicine Hat isn’t alone. Various studies from Ipsos, Edelman and others show that trust in local government has declined across Canada in recent years.

Mediation by CAJ

After the city cited CAJ’s ethics guidelines when barring the Owl from interview requests, the group interviewed an official from the association.

Brent Jolly, president of the Canadian Association of Journalists, told the Owl that he had questions for the City of Medicine Hat after hearing about their experience.

The Owl wrote Jolly was opposed to the city’s approach and that he insinuated the city wasn’t acting democratically.

However, when reached Tuesday for an interview, Jolly said he had since learned more about the Owl and was taking on a mediator role between it and the city.

“It’s my job and my responsibility to make sure that we do the best we can to make sure that both parties are understanding of where they’re each coming from,” Jolly told CHAT News.

“And to see if something in the situation can’t be improved with a neutral third party involved in some way, so that’s what I’ll do.”

He said the journalist association’s role is to stand up for reporters doing their jobs.

“At a high level, the CAJ will always oppose policies that serve to exclude any journalist from holding instituitions accountable for their actions,” Jolly said.

“Now, how do you define who is a journalist? That’s a bit of a difficult and thorny question to answer.”

Some council watchers have asked why the city doesn’t regulate media through a registration process.

Jolly said he is also surprised the city doesn’t have a media accreditation process in place.

“That’s something they should have or they should think of having,” he said.

The mayor

Mayor Linnsie Clark is the only representative of the city to grant interviews to the Owl group, in direct opposition to Medicine Hat’s corporate protocol.

When asked for her take on the Owl’s claim it was being treated unfairly, Clark told CHAT News after Monday’s council meeting she hadn’t yet read its news release.

Clark did not respond to a follow up request for comment by Tuesday evening.