The main reason I bring this up is because, like me, a lot of people used Calgary as an alternate – and still continue to use it! Most of them probably don’t know about the new Medicine Hat network, so hopefully this post will spread the word.

Mad Jake's Pub & Grub

I’m a little bit late on posting this one, but the pub/bar previously known as Stillethos and Tantric recently had a promotional campaign entitled “Name Our Pub” which ran a contest to rename the business under the new management and owners, Ryan & Nola Besplug and Kary & Darcy Oshynko. They are no longer an adult-orientated bar and boast lower drink prices and a new selection of “grub”. Their original promotional site, aptly named, “NameOurPub.com” now just forwards you over to their new site here. The pub is now named “Mad Jake’s Pub & Grub”, as suggested by Shea Karcha. There was tons of choices as shown in the Facebook group post.

I’m more or less posting this here because it’s a great effort on the new owner’s part to try something like this. Being in the semi-traditional market that Medicine Hat is, this new form of marketing and advertising rarely shows up in this town. Most of the contest, discussion and promotional all happened on Facebook – something else we don’t see a lot of; people in this city embracing new (and free) media to their advantage. I also agree with the change from an adult/lingerie bar to a more neutral, classy place. I never was in Stillethos or Tantric before, but now, I will definitely stop in there in the near future.

Mad Jake’s Pub & Grub Website
Facebook Group

I could go on a long Facebook rant like I did a couple days ago about Twitter, but I’m pretty sure everybody knows what Facebook is, and most likely also know how they spend too much time on it. What you need to know is this: Facebook Connector has been implemented so that you can log in to Medicine Hat Media to comment through your Facebook login. What this means is that you can comment on the site and it will link back to your Facebook profile as well as take your current Facebook profile picture. This will only work if your privacy settings allow. For example, if you don’t have a public profile or public picture, they won’t be displayed – it doesn’t break any of your rules. You will also be able to do some other things like write status updates directly based on your comments or posts on the site. I’m sure I am missing other functions as well – I also seen a cool little Facebook overlay pop up on the site when I logged in via Facebook through Medicine Hat Media.

To log in using Facebook, click the “Facebook” login button above the comment submit section of every post. Normally though, it should log you in automatically if you are already logged into Facebook. Facebook and Medicine Hat Media now go together like bread and butter, and a hamburger between them, and maybe some BBQ sauce.

We will be providing updates for events happening in the Medicine Hat area stretching all the way into Southwestern Saskatchewan. Our duty is to be committed to you! If you have anything you want to post on the website feel free to do so and if you can’t drop me a line at Facebook or Twitter and I am sure you can contact me somehow through our main website.

We are providing local events, possibly local news coming soon, a blog, a chat to speak with other members who are online, groups for different communities/regions and more!

Please check us out at our main website, Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace

The city’s page includes events, news and other items of interest related to city services. Users of facebook.com can search for “City of Medicine Hat” to become a fan and join the city’s page or visit this direct link.

“The new Facebook page is part of the city’s plans to make communication with residents, businesses and potential newcomers as meaningful as possible by providing timely information and updates on city news, events, photos and much more,” says Jody Lamb, corporate communications manager. “Social networking sites like Facebook are becoming increasingly important in this day and age when people have more choices than ever to seek news and information.”

One of City Council’s main objectives is Communications and Community Relations. According to the city’s annual report, Council believes that because residents are interested in actions taken by their city government and their oath to serve the community, they owe it to residents to keep them informed about emerging issues and critical decisions.

“As part of this promise to keep residents informed and to initiate contact and attract younger people, Council identified some social media options to branch out and reach those supporters,” says Ray Barnard, chief administrative officer.

The City of Medicine Hat also has a Twitter account @medicinehatcity. You can link to the city’s Facebook page and Twitter account from www.medicinehat.ca.

“After launching a successful Twitter account earlier this year, the creation of a Facebook account was a natural second step for us,” adds Lamb. “In the short time the page has been active, we already have more than 350 ‘fans’”.

City of Medicine Hat @ Facebook
City of Medicine Hat @ Twitter

Through what I have been able to find out so many people have to hit “suggest a network” (anywhere from 10 to 25 people from what I’ve seen) and submit it for Facebook to create the network. But that seems like it would have already happened by now? There is even a group called “Hey Facebook. Make Medicine Hat a Network“.

Let’s try to get the ball rolling here, everybody go here and fill out the form: Suggest a New Network.

We were just waiting for a large enough user base before making it, and now it is made, so get more fur than any turtle ever had, be more awesome than any biker mice on Mars, be more noble than a pharaoh when Egyptians ruled the world, quit the quack attacks, and join the group. Too many 1990′s cartoon references?

Join the Medicine Hat Media Facebook group here

I’m going to try and post all of them even if they don’t have much business going on because if anybody is trying to sell something (especially fast), it would be easier to post on every one of these groups to get maximum coverage (granted the item is compliant with the group’s rules). Sorry about the length on this one, there’s so many (redundant) groups!

GARAGE SALE MEDICINE HAT

One of the largest, if not the largest Medicine Hat based groups out there. There is over 6000 members, thousands of items, hundreds of posts. There’s a lot of business going on here. Who needs real garage sales anymore? GARAGE SALE MEDICINE HAT

ANYTHING for sale in Medicine Hat

This group is another big one with close to 1000 photos listed. Plenty of users and discussions going on. As the title suggests, anything is allowed on here. ANYTHING for sale in Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat Moms Swap/Buy

This group is for children and baby items only. It is by far one of the largest groups of this type with almost 2000 members and over 800 items listed. Medicine Hat Moms Swap/Buy

Medicine Hat Buyers & Sellers

The master of all Medicine Hat buy and sell groups – tons of items and tons of members. This group is split up into several other groups for more categorization. Below is a list of all the different groups under the main Medicine Hat Buyers & Sellers group:

• Children’s Clothing
• Adult Clothing
• Vehicles
• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Home Decor
• A House/RV
• Movies/Music/Literature
• Miscellaneous

Medicine Hat Tech swap/buy

This one is only for technology related items – mostly computer stuff. There’s a few members and a few items posted. Medicine Hat Tech swap/buy

For Sale By Owner Medicine Hat!

All about selling your home without using areal estate agent. Not a unique concept, but nice integration within a Facebook environment since it’s free advertising for your home. For Sale By Owner Medicine Hat!

For sale by Owner and Garage Sale Items Medicine Hat

Another house selling group which also features garage sale items as well. This one has slightly more members than the one above. For sale by Owner and Garage Sale Items Medicine Hat

Medicine Hat / Redcliff / Area Virtual Garage Sale

Not many users but has quite a bit of photos listed. There is no limit to items posted of which type of items here. Medicine Hat / Redcliff / Area Virtual Garage Sale

Medicine Hat Craft Sale

A unique group all about buying and selling crafts in and outside of Medicine Hat. There’s quite a few members and items posted here. Medicine Hat Craft Sale

medicine hat game garage

This one is my favorite because it’s all about video games. The community in this one is kind of small but has a few items listed. medicine hat game garage

MEDICINE HAT Wedding Apparrel, Decorations, Services, etc Buy/Sell/Swap

Want to get rid of your old wedding dresses? Here’s a unique group for buying and selling old wedding clothing, decorations, and other things. Has a decent amount of users and plenty of wedding services advertised.  MEDICINE HAT Wedding Apparrel, Decorations, Services, etc Buy/Sell/Swap

Medicine Hat Free Stuff

Free stuff! This unique group is all about free stuff, no money involved with either getting rid of your stuff, or picking up somebody else’s stuff. Has a decent amount of members. Medicine Hat Free Stuff

Medicine Hat College Textbook Swap

Here’s another quite unique one all about buying, selling and trading old text books. There’s a decent amount of posts on here. Medicine Hat College Textbook Swap

Medicine Hat Maternity

Unlike the other baby and children buying and selling groups, this one deals specifically with women’s maternity clothes only. Fairly decent user base and a good number of posts. Medicine Hat Maternity

One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure

Another fairly generic buy and sell group in Medicine Hat. Any items are available to post. Has a fairly small user group. One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure

TREASURES 4 SALE FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS!!

Just another buy and sell group, although it does have quite a few items listed and a substantial user amount. TREASURES 4 SALE FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS!!

Medicine Hat & Area Hockey Buy / Sell / Swap

A very specific one dealing only with hockey related items. Very few members and nothing going on. Medicine Hat & Area Hockey Buy / Sell / Swap

Sports Swap Medicine Hat

Unlike the hockey one above, this one is less specific and features more members with quite a few items and postings. Sports Swap Medicine Hat

A Real Garage Sale…Medicine Hat

A fairly obscure group with a weird name. It also has weird rules: you can’t sell cars, pets (unless they are cheap?), houses, wedding dresses, or rings. There’s a few members with a decent amount of postings. A Real Garage Sale…Medicine Hat

Garage Sale Medicine Hat Phase 2

“Just another place to look for sale items” in the description pretty much sums this one up. Fairly small and not a lot of stuff going on. Garage Sale Medicine Hat Phase 2

MEDICINE HAT GARAGE SALE- CLOTHES ONLY GROUP!!

Warning! Extreme usage of caps lock. A decent amount of members and a decent amount of items; however, nothing that hasn’t been done before. MEDICINE HAT GARAGE SALE- CLOTHES ONLY GROUP!!

Medicine Hat Garage Sale – Toys / Books Only Group.

Another garage sale style group only about toys and books. Low amount of members and items. Medicine Hat Garage Sale – Toys / Books Only Group.

Medicine Hat Christmas Garage Sale!

This group is all about buying and selling Christmas decorations. Not a lot of members of items right now, but might heat up a bit during the holidays. Medicine Hat Christmas Garage Sale!

MEDICINE HAT COMMUNITY BUY + SELL

This one seems to fairly dead with almost no members and no posts of any kind. It is strictly for computers, electronics, stereo equipment and books only. MEDICINE HAT COMMUNITY BUY + SELL

Closing

Please note you will need a Facebook account to see any of this stuff. Also note that you do not actually have to join any of these groups to message the seller of the items to arrange for purchases/pick-ups; however, you will have to join if you are selling so that you can post. If I missed any, please submit them so I may add it to the list.

It looks as though the fire had started in the attic and since the building is fairly old, it did not have any “firewalls” which would normally impede fires – in this case, since  the fire spread so rapidly, firefighters could not salvage a lot of the building. Although, all that 40% alcohol probably didn’t help the haste of the fire, haha… not to make light of the situation of course. On that same note, surprisingly the Kensho-Kai Karate Club was hardly harmed at all – since it was located in the basement. Most of their equipment was unharmed besides any water damage that occured. The 30 or so students will be resume their classes and use the cleaned-up equipment at their new temporary location, the Medicine Hat Monumental warehouse. They still do not know the actual cause of the fire.

The Doghouse Beer Cooler - Photography from Facebook

The Doghouse has recently updated its site showcasing many links to all the news stories, but also links to a new Facebook group entitled “MAKE THE DOGHOUSE BIGGER AND BETTER” which already has 288 members. The Doghouse owner, Stig Gjerlaug is noted as saying (in a Medicine Hat News interview) that “We poured our hearts into that place, everything was going so well” and that he loves bringing entertainment to the community and he wants to continue. It really showed too, The Doghouse brought a lot of artists to Medicine Hat, that without The Doghouse probably would of never came here including bands like SNFU and A Wilhelm Scream to name a few. There was also a couple events that now have to be canceled or at least redirected including a perfomance by Priestess.

MAKE THE DOGHOUSE BIGGER AND BETTER Facebook Group