The start of the Downtown Stories heritage experience. (Photo Courtesy Chris Brown)

By Chris Brown

'It's the community's stories'

Downtown Stories a new heritage experience in Medicine Hat

Jul 12, 2021 | 4:15 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – The history of downtown Medicine Hat is rich, and not something that has to be left in the past.

The city has launched Downtown Stories to celebrate the past and present and build a bridge to the future.

It tells the history of 17 downtown sites through audio and video clips, and asks people to add to it by taking photos and leaving their own comments.

“It’s a very big engagement piece. It’s heritage-based so it talks about what was but it also has a component of living history of what is,” says Candace Lundrigan, cultural public programmer at the Esplanade.

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“It’s the community’s stories,” she continues. “We didn’t want to just live in the past or backward-looking or not touch on the lives of our living residents. We really wanted to connect the different generations and capture the character of what was and re-imagine the vibrancy of what could be going forward.”

In addition to the clips and trivia questions to explore the past, there are comment boards and selfie stations at the sites.

“We really want people to add to this story so we’re documenting memories of these places and it’s going to shift and grow as it goes forward,” says Lundrigan.

Stops along the way include Stardust Cafe (formerly Pink Lantern) Saamis Immigration (Hat Hardware) and Gaslight Plaza (Eatons).

Lundrigan says Downtown Stories is a casual experience for everyone and a great way to show off Medicine Hat to visitors.

If you take the full tour in order, the starting point is the Ewart Duggan House on First Street. But you can drop in at any of the sites.

Downtown Stories is best experienced on a smartphone. You can access it by scanning the QR code on the billboard on the Esplanade’s front lawn or by texting the word “HAT” to 1-587-418-5082. The QR code can also be found on banners downtown and window signs of some participating businesses.

You can also access Downtown Stories via a home computer through a link on the Esplanade’s website.

Lundrigan says this is a pilot project for the Esplanade and similar experiences will follow.