Video: Medicine Hat mayor and councillors have been sworn into their roles at the organizational meeting

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Mayor Clark said getting to know the new council is exciting.

“I know everybody has a passion for something, and if we can support each other’s passions, I think we can accomplish a lot,” Clark said.

Clark said she was happy to see so many people come to city hall.

“I was surprised, but I guess with all the new councillors, their families want to come out and see and celebrate with them on their achievement,” Clark said.

With a new council being sworn in, Clark said this council needs to push for an opportunity to collaborate.

“We passed our committee appointments today, and I trust that each person was going to be capable of filling their role and bring something special to it,” Clark said.

“We might switch it up or change committees, but there’s a lot of depth in our group for sure.”

Mohammed said it warms his heart to see all the people who came.

“It shows that our community really cares about what we do here. So it’s really exciting to see,” Mohammed said.

“It feels really good because right now we feel like we’re official and we can start to get to work.”

Clugston said it’s exciting to be a councillor apart from being the mayor.

“It is different for me, coming from that role back to a councillor role, but it’s a good fit for me right now, where I am in my life,” Clugston said.

“It’s a very different position. It’s not twice as hard as being a councillor; it’s a hundred times harder than being a councillor.”

Young said it’s exciting to have a campaign, but it’s nerve-racking to get the position.

“You obviously hope that this is where you’re going to be, but you don’t want to get ahead of yourself. So I feel very excited, but I also feel very humbled,” Young said.

Hellman said this new council is a team, and he’s looking forward to the next four years.

“I think we’ve got a lot of work to do, as does every council when they first take over,” Hellman said.

“I think it’s really good to see the number of people that are engaged that came out to see the swearing in tonight and welcome their new team.”

The positions for the committees have been appointed following the swearing-in ceremony.

Mayor Clark has been declared the ex-officio of all the standing committees.

The chair of the Administrative and Legislative Review Committee is Young, with vice chair Clugston, and Mohammed as the third member. The Council Employee Committee will have the same members.

The Audit Committee is chaired by Phaff, with vice chair Mohammed, and the third member being Varga.

The chair of the Corporate Services Committee is Hellman, with vice chair Varga, and the third member is Young.

The Development and Infrastructure Committee is being chaired by Mohammed, with vice chair Reynish and the third member being Phaff.

The Emergency Advisory Committee’s chair is Mayor Clark, with Cocks as the vice chair, and the third member is Clugston.

The chair for the Energy, Land and Environment Committee is Clugston, with the vice chair being Young, and the third member is Cocks.

The Public Services Committee is chaired by Cocks, with vice chair Hellman, and the third member being Reynish.

Reynish has been appointed to the Civic Functions Committee.

The Community Futures Entre-corp’s member is Clark.

The member for the Highway 3 Twinning Association is Phaff.

Varga has been appointed as a member of the Regional Drainage Committee.

The Southeast Alberta Rural Renewal Steering Committee’s member is Mohammed.

Phaff has been appointed to the Chamber of Commerce.

Reynish and Clark are members for the Cypress View Foundation.

The Friends of Medalta Society’s member is Phaff.

Clark and Young have been appointed as the Intermunicipal Community members.

The Medicine Hat Community Housing Society’s member is Hellman.

Phaff has been appointed for the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede.

Medicine Hat Public Library’s member is Hellman.

Reynish is the member for the Municipal Names Committee.

Varga and Clugston have been appointed the members for the Municipal Planning Commission.

The member for the Palliser Economic Partnership is Mohammed.

Appointed for physician attraction and retention are Mohammed and Clark.

Cocks and Clugston have been appointed to the Police Commission.

Shortgrass Library System’s member is Reynish.

The member appointed to the Southeast Alberta Economic Advocacy Committee is Clark.

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board members are Cocks and Hellman.

The members for the Tourism Medicine Hat Committee are Young and Varga.

The appointed members for the Resiliency and Inclusion Task Force are Hellman and Young.

The Community Vibrancy Advisory Board member is Cocks.

The Deputy Mayor is Clugston, and the Acting Mayor is Cocks from Nov. 4, 2025 to the end of December 2026.

The next council meeting will take place on Nov. 10, 2025, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. for budget discussion, and a closed Committee of the Whole was confirmed on Nov. 24, 2025, from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

A council meeting on Dec. 1, 2025, has been moved to Dec. 8, 2025.

by Jett Schwaier

Video: Medicine Hat mayor and councillors have been sworn into their roles at the organizational meeting

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