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In a surprise media conference, Julie Friesen has announced that she will be running  in the federal election for the Liberal party in opposition to Norm Boucher, who has also announced he will be running in the federal election for the Liberal party. This is after Julie made the comment yesterday, stating “Citizens of Medicine Hat should be very, very disappointed in (Mayor Boucher)”. There has been some bad blood between the two since the last civic Mayoral election, where Julie was out-voted to Norm by a couple percent. She stated today that, “Second time’s a charm” and that “Here’s my second chance”. There have been some comments floating around how Julie would be a good candidate for the Mayor position in Norm’s absence; however, this can no longer be the case.


About 5 months after being elected Mayor, Normand Boucher is running in the federal election for the Liberal Party. What are your thoughts?


There has been a lot of talk circulating around Twitter and Facebook lately regarding the mistreatment of animals at the Guzoo Zoo in Three Hills, Alberta.

Bengal Tiger. Photo by Nic Burgess

Bengal Tiger. Photo by Nic Burgess

Guzoo describes itself as being a wonderful idea by a silly man and has been in operation since 1990. Guzoo claims itself to be an animal sanctuary, but recently, there has been a public uproar that focuses around the habitat in which the animals are kept. The Guzoo website cites that many animals, including lions and tigers, cope well with (and even like) winter conditions, but that many of them are kept inside during the winter season and only let out during chinook weather. Even so, there is something that does not seem quite right about seeing a Bengal Tiger sitting in a tiny snow covered cage that is devoid of any trees or grass. Along with this, Guzoo’s website asks for sympathy for its Zookeepers, who apparently have it worse than the animals in winter:

Don’t feel bad for the animals in the winter, they are much better suited to tolerate the cold temperatures then you might think.  Instead, give our poor zoo keepers some sympathy.  Regardless of the weather conditions, they must trample through snow, struggle with frozen locks, numb fingers and fight with the feed tractor which often chooses not to start on the REALLY cold days. Having to dress in layer upon layer of clothing makes movement all that more laborious.  Shoveling snow out of gates and walkways, making necessary repairs to damage caused by board breaking winter winds, and trekking out into the various pastures to check that the automatic waterers have not froze up, are just some of the hardships of winter  Believe me; the winter is harder on the humans at the zoo than the animals.
From Guzoo in Winter

Barbary Macaque (Endangered) by Nic Burgess

Barbary Macaque (Endangered) by Nic Burgess

Other reported mistreatments include bad water dishes for the animals, injured animals, over abundance of animal feces, garbage within enclosures, dangerous objects within enclosures,  food seemingly thrown over the fence for the animals to pick at, extremely small living conditions and exposing the animals to frigid temperatures for which they are not accustomed to. Much of what I have found on the Internet describes how many of the animals in winter do not have heated water dishes for winter and as a result of the water freezing, resort to eating snow.

Another topic of discussion is that Guzoo apparently does not do much to help animals that are hurt or get into fights, and how animals that are killed are not cleaned up or dealt with, but rather, the corpses simply stay there for the duration of the season.

Many additional reports can be found by Googling “Guzzo Animal Farm” including:

I have also found a video of the poor conditions at Guzoo, which can be viewed below:


The Tourism Branding survey was released yesterday on whatismedicinehat.com. It is the third step in our public engagement process (following the Executive Interviews and Question of the Week). The survey will be posted for the next 2 – 3 weeks. It takes about 10 minutes to complete.

The survey has taken elements from the previous two steps (primarily the Question of the Week) as certain themes emerged. The outcome of the survey is going to be a much more defined focus for our tourism industry and so we need as much public participation as possible over the next few weeks. People have been really engaged so far and this is really when we need their input the most.

A focused approach to Tourism will lead to a stronger Tourism Industry from an economic perspective. Tourism stakeholders have long maintained that this industry hasn’t yet realized its potential, which is what this tourism brand is seeking to help with.

To sweeten the deal for respondents, there are a number of prizes which respondents can choose to enter a draw for.

  • Medalta, in the Historic Clay District: Tea Pot, Sugar & Creamer set (approx. retail value – $80)
  • Cypress Hills: Wildlife & Park Bus Tour from Medicine Hat (20 people max). Blackout Period: July – August, Public Holidays. Includes Red Rock Coulee, Branchville Road, Eagle Butte & Elkwater (approx. retail value – $1,000)
  • Track Side Liquor Store: Two bottles wine (approx. retail value – $40)
  • Tourism Medicine Hat: Gift Basket (approx. retail value – $80)
  • Paradise Valley: 10 Golf Passes (5 x 2 packs)
  • Elkwater Lake Lodge & Resort: One (1) night accommodation in a Lodge Room. Blackout periods apply (approx. retail value – $115)

As always,  any questions can be directed to me (Quentin Randall) as the manager of this project.
email: quentin@medalta.org
twitter: @q_randall
phone: 403.529.1070

Thank you – this has been an excellent process and if we can finish strong, I’m feeling good about the final result.


The Lifeline Haiti Benefit Banquet and Silent Auction is coming up and is to Celebrate “CBC’s – Champion of Change” Bob Davisson and his extraordinary work being done in Haiti.

The event takes place on March 12th, 2011 at the Medicine Hat Lodge. Doors open at 6PM, Dinner is at 7 and tickets are $30 each.

Tickets available at The Family Book Nook, The Medicine Hat Lodge Gift Boutique or by contacting Red Carpet Events. Tables of 8-10 are available by contacting Red Caroet Events at 403-878-3635.

The silent auction will include NHL items and original photography.


The Hive Artists’ Hub has a subsidized artist and/or artisan studio available starting April 1, 2011 for a 6 month term. The application deadline is March 15, 2011. Application is open to artists and artisans of all mediums excluding ceramics. To apply or for more information, contact Susan Knight at 403.504.5371, susan@hivehub.ca, online at hivehub.ca, or in person at 569 2nd Street SE in Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The Hive Artists’ Hub is a Canadian Badlands Ltd. initiative, under the supervision of the Historic Clay District. Located in downtown Medicine Hat, the facility has five artist and/or artisan studios which are subsidized through the Rural Alberta Development Fund. Short and long-term opportunities are available for artists, who will also have access to professional development opportunities and storefront gallery.

For more information, interviews or visuals, contact:

Susan Knight – Artists Incubator Director
The Hive Artists’ Hub
403.504.5371
susan@hivehub.ca

Quentin Randall – Marketing Coordinator
Historic Clay District
403.529.1070
quentin@medalta.org


The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta are accepting grant applications for spring 2011 grants.

Applications will be accepted until the close of business on March 15, 2011. Organizations must hold a charitable registration number from the Canada Revenue Agency or be a qualified donee under the terms of the Income Tax Act. The Community Foundation awards grants for charitable activities in the arts, education, social services, the environment, health, culture, recreation or any project that will maintain or improve the quality of life in Southeastern Alberta.

During 2010 the Community Foundation was able to make 133 charitable grants to 74 different organizations for a total of $211,802.00.

“We are pleased to give grants to qualified organization in Southeastern Alberta,” said executive director Mike Christie.

Community Foundation donations are held forever and carefully invested, with the principal of the donation never being spent. The interest earned on donations is then used to give grants to community charities.

The grants committee of the Community Foundation will review the spring grant applications and notify recipients in May. Grants will then be handed out to the chosen organizations at the annual Founder’s Day Picnic in June 2011.

To assist in the grant application process, the Community Foundation will host a “Grant Application Workshop” for all interested parties, Wednesday February 9th, 2011 at 12:00pm at the Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce.

The Community Foundation of Medicine Hat and Southeastern Alberta has a large service area. Qualified organizations are welcome to apply for funds. For more information on eligibility or to receive an application, groups may visit www.mhcf.ca or call the Community Foundation office at (403) 527-9038.

For more information, please contact Mike Christie at (403) 527-9038.

View Workshop PDF


Just over 4 years ago, the old Vitality juice facility was transformed into a place for youth to congregate in a safe environment. The Medicine Hat Skate Association was the main component in it, building an indoor skatepark. Medican, a major sponsor fueled by an unmeasureable amount of volunteerism created a thriving place for people and small groups to connect. Since inception many different organizations have made the building home. GX dance studio, a boxing club, work out gym and Gas City Rollers to name a few. The collapse of this building will have a tragic impact to our community. Hopefully we can come together to rebuild or relocate.


Members of Medicine Hat’s Tourism Industry Group (TIG) are leading a project to identify a tourism brand which will attract more visitors to South East Alberta. Part of the plan is public engagement through the creation of a website designed to facilitate discussion about the finer points of Medicine Hat.

The idea behind the project is that tourism is an industry which has traditionally underperformed but has high growth potential. To get at what our brand is, it’s important to have a public forum and get a sense of what Hatters like about their city as well as opportunities that could be capitalized on.

To facilitate discussion, the website (www.whatismedicinehat.com) will ask one question each week for four weeks. The first question is “When you have visitors from out-of-town, where do you take them to have the definitive Medicine Hat experience (and why there)?”

So if there’s something you always do with visitors, please let us know by posting it on the website. Aside from the weekly questions, we’re leaving the conversation pretty wide open. These discussions will provide some direction for the survey (which will come out in February) and ensure that we’re not doing this work in a vacuum. The discussion policies are pretty straight forward – basically, just practice the Golden Rule.

If you want more information on the project, we have posted a lot on the site including the Project Charter, Request for Proposals, Workplan and contacts.

And finally, as an added incentive, we have a prize draw for comments which will take place every Friday. This week’s prize is 10 golf passes to Paradise Valley Par 3. Not bad, hey?

So go, comment and have your voice heard.


After a listener to CHOZ-FM in St. John’s, NL expressed concern over the playing of the unedited “Money for Nothing” by Dire Straits, the Canadian Broadcast Standards Council has ruled that the unedited song cannot play on the radio.

The song mentions the term “faggot” which takes on a totally different meaning in Canada compared to the UK where the band is from, causing one person to believe that it is discrimination towards homosexuals.

The ruling comes 25 years after the song was released. In a time where political correctness was less involved in society.

A caller to Edmonton’s “Classic Rock K-97” (CIRK-FM) said that in the United Kingdom the word means “dirty little jerk” compared to the “gay slur” in North America.

In order to stand up against this topic. K-97 has posted information on their rebel to the CBSC on their website.

What about Nickelback’s “Burn it to the Ground” or “Something In Your Mouth”, of course their songs would never be taken off, because then it would be a CanCon issue (30% of all music must be Canadian, for those unaware). I strongly believe that it is not, in any way, offensive, as the British meaning is completely different from the Canadian/US meaning.

CBC has posted an interview with the CBSC’s national chair online.


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