Your Weekly Tune Up
Remember to Vote - May 29, 2023
The 2023 Provincial General Election Day is today, Monday, May 29. Find out where to vote: https://map.elections.ab.ca/.
You can view the candidates here: https://www.elections.ab.ca/current-election-information/candidates/
Links to the registered parties and their websites here: https://www.elections.ab.ca/political-participants/parties/.
Want to see the candidates through the local election forums? Click here
Water bottle fill stations on City fire hydrants are back
A program to provide publicly accessible safe drinking water in the summer will be implemented permanently in Medicine Hat. The City has begun installing the seasonal public water bottle fill stations across the community and sending preliminary water samples away for testing. The equipment, which connects to existing fire hydrants to deliver clean drinking water in public spaces, will be bagged and unavailable for use until test results confirm safe water quality.
The water in the fire hydrants is the same treated, potable drinking water distributed to businesses and households, and undergoes rigorous testing to ensure it continues to be safe to drink.
The stations will be installed in ten public locations in 2023. Residents can easily locate a public water station by looking for the blue water droplet dots on the City’s iMap at www.medicinehat.ca/iMap. Read the full news release on the City's website.
Chamber policies approved at Alberta Chambers of Commerce 85th Policy Conference
This weekend, two representatives from the Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce attended the Alberta Chambers of Commerce (ACC) Annual General Meeting and Policy Conference in Fort McMurray, taking with them twelve policy priorities from Medicine Hat.
There were a total of 39 policies brought forward with one withdrawn, one defeated, one referred back to the Alberta Chambers of Commerce Board and 36 policy resolutions that passed on the floor. The Alberta Chambers of Commerce will advocate to the Provincial and Federal Governments on all resolutions adopted at its annual policy conference.
Advocacy in Action
Chamber Appears at Senate Committee on National Finance
Last week, the Canadian Chamber appeared before the Standing Senate Committee on National Finance to discuss the implications of the 2023 federal budget on Canada's economic competitiveness and the need for strategic policies to attract investment and stimulate growth.
New measures for foreign national physicians seeking to become permanent residents
On April 25, 2023, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada introduced measures to facilitate the issuance of permanent resident visas for foreign national physicians providing publicly-funded medical services in Canada.
Under the Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate the Issuance of Permanent Resident Visas for Physicians Providing Publicly Funded Medical Services in Canada and related amendments to the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Express Entry system, there are now exemptions for certain job offer and work experience criteria to facilitate the eligibility of self-employed foreign national physicians (such as those working in a fee-for service model).
Next Level Events
Learn from the Experts
The Medicine Hat & District Chamber of Commerce is putting on "Learn from the Experts", an event where businesses are welcome to come learn, chat, ask questions, eat and drink! This is for people who are thinking about starting a business, own a business less than 2 years old, or anyone who owns a business and could use a little advice.
There will be speed-dating style one-on-one time with all the experts and an opportunity to hear from Community Futures Entre-Corp and APEX Alberta about the supports available in Medicine Hat. Come have a beer and learn how to make your business thrive!
Join us June 22nd, 2023 at Medicine Hat Brewing Company Inc @ 3:30-5:30pm. Stay after for the band that is playing as part of the Medicine Hat Jazz Fest starting at 6:00pm!
Enriching Your Business
Fuelling the Business Community
New Members!
We would like to welcome Spider Electric Ltd and Little Owl Learning Center Inc to the Chamber Family!
We continually look forward to helping our members during their business journey and wish each the best in all future endeavors. We are extremely happy to have such amazing members, and are very glad that we can serve a part in that journey! Keep your eye out for more new member posts moving forward!
The Medicine Hat JazzFest is celebrating its 27th anniversary from, June 19 to 25.
This year’s exciting line-up brings some new things as well as some past favourites and features a wide array of experiences, from a drum circle workshop to a Latin Dance party to free and ticketed concerts, JUNO winning headliners and local performers. JazzFest has evolved into an event that really brings people together, presenting top-quality music while emphasizing the fun and community-building power of music.
Headliners include two-time JUNO award winner Caity Gyrogy in a double bill with The Ostara Project, an all-star line-up of Canada’s best female jazz musicians. The Florian Hoefner Trio is a 2023 JUNO award-winning group from eastern Canada. Returning for the popular Airport Hangar dance party is Vancouver’s Mazacote.
The Medicine Hat Jazz Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to presenting the best in jazz music. Winner of an Alberta Chamber of Commerce Business Award in Arts and Culture and two Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce Business Awards in tourism, the Medicine Hat JazzFest is now an established part of the cultural, tourism and economic life of Medicine Hat.
Visit the web site www.medicinehatjazzfest.com for full details. All tickets at www.tixx.ca.
Non-profit organizations/groups for Canada Day
Canada Day, Saturday July 1st, is at the Medicine Hat Stampede grounds. Looking for non-profit organizations/ groups that would like to make the Citizens of Medicine Hat and surrounding area aware that you are here in our community!
If you are interested please contact the Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede office: (403) 527-1234, leave your name and phone number so the committee chair can call you back to give you more information about the day.
This is free to any organization! This day is a fun packed day with free pancake breakfast, free stage entertainment (day and evening), free hotdog lunch for children 12 and under (small fee for adults), face painting (small fee), wagon rides, farmer's market, opening ceremonies, and fire works!
Fill Up On Funding
City launches Community Microgrants program
The City of Medicine Hat Community Microgrants program is now open, offering funding of up to $500 in two categories: Community Connections and Arts, Culture, and Heritage. The initiative is designed to encourage residents to organize activities and events that strengthen bonds within their community and neighborhood. Notice of application status will be provided within 30 days of submission.
To be eligible for a Community Connections microgrant, proposed events must fulfill one or more of the following objectives:
- Foster respect and celebrate diversity
- Build relationships and opportunities for neighbours to connect
- Offer the sharing of resident’s skills and knowledge
- Foster neighborhood and/or community pride
To be eligible for an Arts, Culture, and Heritage microgrant, proposed events must fulfill one or more of the following objectives:
- Co-created with others, such as community art projects, community band concerts, or heritage tours
- Honour Indigenous culture
- Advance arts in the community such as multicultural music festivals
- Animate the community, such as street parties, outdoor movies nights, or murals
The grant intake will close for the year once the total funding is allocated. For more information on community microgrants criteria and application process, visit: www.medicinehat.ca/microgrant
Minister Bibeau launches a new intake of the Agricultural Clean Technology Program
This new intake of the ACT Adoption Stream will provide non-repayable grants between $25,000 and $2 million to help producers purchase and install equipment that reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions or provides other associated environmental benefits.
Eligible applicants from across Canada will be able to submit applications for this intake from June 1 until June 22, 2023 and are encouraged to apply immediately. Organizations who have received Adoption Stream funding in the past are not eligible to apply to this new funding opportunity.
Other Resources
Other Events
May 3rd-31st: Making Procurement a Part of Your Small Business Plan | Register
May 29th: From Lab 2 Fulfillment (FL2F): Women in STEM & Health: Transform Your Ideas | Register
May 30th-June 28th: Tween & Teen Programs at MH Public Library | Register
May 31st: Startup Women Webinar: How to Build Customer Trust with a Solid Brand Strategy | Register
May 31st-June 2nd: Inventures- Calgary | Register
June 2nd: Women in Business Inspire Awards | Register
June 5th: Drone Games- Dunmore | Register
June 7th: Navigating the AI Revolution: Your SME Playbook | Register
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