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By Chris Brown

Stay hydrated and safe

Stampede ready for a scorcher on Canada Day

Jun 30, 2021 | 4:33 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – With COVID restrictions lifting the same day and the Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede grounds hosting its first Canada Day celebration, officials probably already had enough to think about.

With temperatures expected in the high 30s July 1, officials are also thinking about how to keep people cool, hydrated and safe.

“We understand that it’s going to be a really hot day so we’re doing as much as we can in regards to creating places where people can cool down with water tents, misting tents and then also we’ve put up a ton of tents all over the grounds to create a little bit more shade,” says general manager Kara Brake.

Shade tents will be available throughout the ground and there are areas on the grounds like Pioneer Village that have natural shade, Brake says.

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As well, events will be happening inside buildings like the Kinplex and Fieldhouse that people can go into to get out of the sun.

“We’re doing the best we can with the conditions that we’re given and then hoping that people stay hydrated,” Brake says. “Food trucks will have water, we’ll be selling water as well and people can bring their own water bottles as well just to make sure that we encourage people to stay hydrated.”

The festivities begin with pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m. and the nighttime grandstand show will start at 8 p.m., followed by the fireworks.

For those, Brake says extra precautions have been taken with the heat and dry conditions.

Stampede officials have worked closely with the City of Medicine Hat and Medicine Hat Fire Services and everyone will be prepared.

“We’re cutting the grass really short today to help with that. We’re also constantly soaking the ground to make sure that the area that we’re setting off the fireworks is going to be soaked and wet,” Brake says.

Fire services units will be there and also down in the coulee.

Even with COVID public health measures lifting tomorrow, Brake says they have a responsibility to encourage everyone to be safe.

Masks are encouraged but not required, and people are asked to remember to stay physically distant from others. Sanitization stations will be placed throughout the grounds.

With activities spread out over more than 12 hours, Brake expects a lot of people to come and go at different parts of the day.

“We know that we’re just really looking forward to having people here,” she says.