Archive for the ‘News & Announcements’ Category
Ganesh statue at the Calgary Zoo. Image by Hold Your Spin @ Flickr.
On my last visit to the Calgary zoo seeing the elephants was a high priority. I have been fascinated with these big, beautiful, and endangered species since childhood. But as I wandered by the enclosure I noticed a new addition to the artwork collection at the zoo. A depiction of the Hindu god Ganesh, portrayed as a dancing elephant, met my curious eyes.
This statue has come under fire in recent times from a Calgary based group known as Concerned Christians Canada. The religious group claims such portrayals of religion have no place in such a public setting and are requesting that the zoo remove the statue; something the zoo is refusing to do. Concerned Christians chairman Jim Blake is quoted as saying, “The zoo is not a place of religious expression . . .Whether you are a believer of any faith or an atheist or agnostic, if you’re a non-Hindu, it’s a god that does not represent your views.”
As an advocate of cultural appreciation, I believe the statue is a fantastic way to expose non-Hindus to the influence of the elephant on the Hindu culture. And this is the zoo’s intent as well. After all, how can we possibly appreciate a culture if there is no way we can ever experience it? Canada is a multicultural nation, one of few in the world with this official policy, and as a result we have a duty as citizens to learn about the cultures that make our country unique.
To be clear, I do not think culture should be forced upon anyone. For example, if the statue had a big sign that said, “Hey everyone, Hinduism is the best” I would not be supporting the zoo in this dilemma. All in all, the zoo’s attempt at conveying the relationship between animals and culture through a statue of a religious figure is one that I can honestly support and believe it should not be stifled by a group of over-zealous individuals.
It’s almost that time again, when we do a big post about the best restaurants of the given year. Last year’s article was posted by myself without any input from the community, so this year will be a little different, considering we actually have a community now. What I want is for people to comment about their favourite restaurants for 2009 and don’t skip on the details! In a couple weeks or so we will be writing a new article with everybody’s input and will also have a poll for users to vote. Last year’s winner of the poll was Dublin’s Pub as you can see by the poll:
Best Medicine Hat Restaurant of 2008
- Dublin's Pub (29%, 22 Votes)
- Other (23%, 17 Votes)
- Thai Orchid Room (20%, 15 Votes)
- Pho Dao (16%, 12 Votes)
- Samir's Donair (11%, 8 Votes)
- Jungle Cafe (1%, 1 Votes)
Total Voters: 69
Loading ...The Google Car was recently spotted in town, cruising up and down the streets to take street level photos all along the way. This seems kind of weird, because Calgary has not even been photographed. So maybe it was for some other Google Map purpose. Who knows!
For those unaware, Google Maps offers a “Street View” service (if offered to the city you are browsing), which allows you to virtually stand and walk down a street. Google Street View allows you to navigate around cities effortless with the click of your mouse. This is particularly helpful if you are planning out a trip and want to check out some recognizable landmarks on the path you will be taking.
Sometimes the Google Cars take noteworthy images. In one case, a friend of mine online was driving by the Google Car in Salt Lake City, and had photos of his car taken twice as it drove by. In another case, a Google Car hit a deer.
Previously posted about, Empire Gaming, is now officially open. It will be open all day and until around 9PM tonight (or later). I won’t re-iterate what was said in the previous post, but for those of you that don’t know, or forgot (it was quite awhile ago), Empire Gaming is a new business in Medicine Hat dedicated to video gaming. There’s a ton of high-end PCs, lots of Xbox360’s, and a Wii on projection all for you and your friends enjoyment. Dusty and I went there today and played some Call of Duty 4 on the Xbox360 and joined in with some others who were playing.
More information will come over time about tournaments, events, and other special things going on. Today, ROCK 105.3 is on location there and they are serving BBQ hamburgers outside sponsored by Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Medicine Hat. If you go in and play for an hour you also get a chance to enter a contest for a free mini-laptop or a Playstation 3. Go down there and check it out!
Empire Gaming is located at 104-7 Strachan Bay SE (across the street from the Walmart, kinda).
With only two weeks left before its grant application deadline, the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat & Southeastern Alberta is reminding area non-profit groups to submit their applications as soon as possible.
Earlier this summer the foundation announced it was resuming its community grants process after a year-long break. Applications are being accepted until the close of business on September 15, 2009.
“We are happy to see grant applications received in our office daily,” said executive director Mike Christie. “Several organizations have worked very hard on their applications and we look forward to presenting them all to our grants committee.”
The organization strives to make grants that will better the life of area residents, and Christie says they are particularly looking forward to assisting community groups during this economic downturn.
*Updated September 6th, 2009*
Medicine Hat residents have an opportunity to comment directly to City Council on the Strategic Review of the natural gas and oil production business (Prodco) at a Special Meeting Monday, Aug. 31 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall.
The public is invited to make comments and or ask questions about the strategic review. The City’s Procedure Bylaw 2270 allows delegations to speak directly to Council for normally a maximum of five minutes, excluding Council members’ questions/answers or clarifications.
City Council retained Ernst & Young (E&Y), one of Canada’s leading professional services firms, in 2008 to undertake a strategic review of the City’s investment in its oil and natural gas production business. In January 2009, E&Y presented its five key recommendations for Prodco to City Council: THE JUMP – Read the rest of this entry »
Interested in the new school routes when your children have to go back to school on the 30th? A recently launched community site will help with with all you need to know! Tot-em Transportation, the company responsible for most school buses in the city has launched their new website and has .PDF route maps for tons of schools in the city, including:
Medicine Hat School District
- Connaught
- Crestwood
- Elm Street
- George Davison
- Herald
- River Heights
- Ross Glen
- Vincent Massey
- Webster Niblock
- Medicine Hat Christian
- Alexandra Middle School
- Medicine Hat High
- Crescent Heights High
Medicine Hat Catholic
- McCoy High School
- Notre Dame Academy
- St. Francis Xavier
- St. Louis
- St. Mary’s
- St. Michael’s MH
- St. Michael’s BI
- St. Patrick’s
- Mother Teresa
Once you’ve clicked on a link above, make sure you select either AM or PM on the left hand side to be redirected to a list of corresponding maps (Note: only some schools have different AM/PM schedules). Alternatively, you can navigate around yourself at the Tot-em Transportation website. If your child’s school is not listed, please phone 403-527-6986 (ext 1) to get the information you need. I think it’s a pretty neat service and provides some much needed information for parents.
The Family Leisure Centre Kinsmen Aquatic Park will be closed August 31st to September 13th, 2009 inclusive for routine scheduled annual maintenance. The Family Leisure Centre Fitness Room will remain open Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 7 PM (closed Labour Day September 7th). The Encana Arena will not be affected by the aquatic centre closure and the regular ice schedule will remain in effect.
Crestwood Recreation Centre will be open extended hours during the FLC closure:
- Monday to Friday – 6 AM to 8:45 PM
- Saturday – 12 PM to 7:30 PM
- Sunday – 12 PM to 5:30 PM
- Monday, September 7th – Labour Day – 12 PM to 5 PM
Residents may call the Swim Hotline at 403-502-8571 or refer to the Family Leisure Centre website at http://www.medicinehat.ca/flc for information regarding swim hours.
Medicine Hat’s automated waste collection system will be showcased at several open houses prior to the launch of the new system in early September.
Residents are invited to attend any of the upcoming public meetings to ask questions and see the new carts. All open houses will run from 7PM-8PM.
*UPDATE* New open house locations added (August 29th)
Stantec Consulting Ltd. has been engaged to prepare a Leisure Trails Future Development Plan.
The purpose of the Future Trail Development Plan is to create a long term, comprehensive planning document to guide the decision-making for the continued development and expansion of the Leisure Trails System.
A series of “Traveling Trail Open Houses” are scheduled for August 29 and 30 whereby residents can provide their input and fill out a short survey. Look for a white tent on the trails at the following locations:
Saturday, August 29
- Police Point Park main entrance: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Strathcona Island Park Lovell McDonnell Ball Diamond: 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 4 -8 p.m.
- Family Leisure Centre (at the corner of Division Avenue North and the entrance into the Leisure Centre): 2 – 4 p.m.
- Saamis Rotary Park Playground: 3 – 5 p.m.
Sunday, August 30
- Devonian Trail between the YMCA and the Arena: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
- Kin Coulee Park Little League Ball Diamond (west end of Park): 4 – 8 p.m.
- Echo Dale Regional Park: 1 – 3 p.m.
- Ross Glen Water Park: 3 – 4 p.m.
- McCutcheon Drive NW (along the trail): 7 – 8 p.m.
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