SMILE SUNDAYS

The Stafford family received recognition at the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede after being named Cypress County's 2026 Farm Family of the Year earlier this month, and also being honoured among southern Alberta's top farm families at the Calgary Stampede.Ross and Arlene Stafford, along with their children Jane and...

A Medicine Hat student's commitment to volunteerism, science advocacy and community service has earned her one of Alberta's highest honours for young leaders.Fatema Riaz was one of eight Alberta students presented with the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Citizenship Medallion during a ceremony at Government House i...

An 11-year-old Brooks boy is hoping to bring confidence and happiness to children facing hair loss after donating more than a foot of his own hair to Wigs for Kids.Jackson McGrath-Merton decided to grow out his hair for a year and a half after his mother explained that some children are unable to grow hair due to illne...

A record-breaking community fundraiser has given a four-year-old boy with a rare genetic disorder the chance to take his first steps, thanks to the Ridin' for Kids Foundation, which raised more than $118,000 for robotic walking legs and ongoing medical care.Emerson Wikkerink and his parents, Ashton and Bryce, were pres...

A Medicine Hat referee is preparing to represent Canada on the international stage for a second time. Matt Wass has been selected to officiate at the 2026 International Street and Ball Hockey Federation's (ISBHF) U16 and U18 world championships in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia. The community has about 76,000 residen...

Methanex Corporation is donating $25,000 to the Medicine Hat Women's Shelter Society to support facility upgrades at its second-stage shelter, Musasa House. The contribution was announced during a cheque presentation event hosted by Methanex in Medicine Hat as part of its community giving investment program. The fundin...

Easton Drescher has been named the 2026 recipient of the Christian Doll Memorial Award on Friday, June 12, an honour recognizing the Notre Dame Academy student who demonstrates excellence in hockey, academics, and leadership. For the Doll family, the annual presentation is about more than recognizing a deserving studen...

A charity motorcycle ride returning later this month aims to help a four-year-old Bow Island boy gain greater mobility by purchasing robotic legs.Riders from across southeastern Alberta are coming together for the sixth annual Ridin' for Kids Foundation fundraiser on June 20.It will raise money for Emerson Wikkerink. A...

Some of North America's top adaptive golfers will descend on Medicine Hat on Monday as the city hosts the 2026 North American One-Armed Golfers Association annual meeting and championship for the first time.Local one-armed golfer and tournament organizer Jesse Florkowski said the event, running June 1-4 at Connaught Go...

A man trekking across the country to raise awareness for mental health and suicide prevention found support and personal connections in Medicine Hat that reinforced the importance of open conversations around mental health.Carter Armstrong of Dryden, Ontario, is walking solo from Vancouver toward his hometown while rai...