Medicine Hat, Alberta, is a city that shines with a rich history and an abundance of sunshine. Located in southeast Alberta, Canada, along the South Saskatchewan River, it is approximately 169 km east of Lethbridge and 295 km southeast of Calgary. This city, along with the adjacent Town of Redcliff, is nestled within Cypress County. As of 2016, Medicine Hat was the sixth-largest city in Alberta, boasting a population of 63,230. It also holds the title of the sunniest place in Canada, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada, with an average of 2,544 hours of sunshine per year.
The name "Medicine Hat" is an English interpretation of Saamis – the Blackfoot word for the eagle tail feather headdress worn by medicine men. The city's name is steeped in legends, including tales of a mythical mer-man river serpent named Soy-yee-daa-bee – the Creator – who bestowed mystical powers manifested in a special hat.
Medicine Hat has always been a gathering place due to its gently sloping valley, converging waterways, and hardy native cottonwood trees. These features attracted migratory bison herds and humans who hunted them. Before Europeans arrived, the historic Blackfoot, Cree, and Assiniboine nations used the area for hundreds of years.
In 1883, the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) reached Medicine Hat, establishing a town site named after the First Nations legends. The town was incorporated on October 31, 1898, and became a city on May 9, 1906. Today, Medicine Hat is a significant stop along the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) and the eastern terminus of the Crowsnest Highway (Highway 3).
Medicine Hat is rich in natural resources, including natural gas, coal, clay, and farmland. These resources led to the city's industrialization and earned it the nickname "the Pittsburgh of the West”. Today, Medicine Hat is home to a variety of industries, including chemical plants, a Goodyear tire and rubber plant, greenhouses, numerous oil and gas related companies, a foundry, and I-XL Industries, a brickworks dating from the 1880s.
The landscape of Medicine Hat is dominated by the South Saskatchewan River valley, with numerous cliffs and finger coulees throughout the city. Beyond the city and river valley, the land is flat to slightly rolling and is characterized by short-grass vegetation. The Badlands Guardian Geological Feature, a landscape formation taking the form of a head wearing a feathered headdress, lies about 40 km to the east of the city.
Medicine Hat is home to a variety of neighbourhoods, each with its unique charm. These include Cottonwood, Crescent Heights, Crestwood and Norwood, Hamptons, North Flats / River Flats, Park Meadows, Parkview, Ranchlands, River Heights, Riverside, Ross Glen, Saamis Heights, South Flats, South Ridge, South Vista Heights, Southeast Hill, Southlands, Southview, Southwest Hill, and more.
Medicine Hat has a semi-arid climate, with cold winters and warm to hot, dry summers. The city receives less precipitation annually than most other cities on the Canadian Prairies and is known as "The sunniest city in Canada", making it a popular retirement city.
As of the 2021 Census of Population conducted by Statistics Canada, the City of Medicine Hat had a population of 63,271. The city is diverse, with 85.9% of residents being white/European, 9.0% being visible minorities, and 5.1% being Indigenous.
Medicine Hat offers a variety of attractions, including the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District, The Esplanade, the Medicine Hat Family Leisure Centre, the Medicine Hat Drag Racing Association, and the Medicine Hat Public Library. The city is also home to the world's tallest teepee, the Saamis Tepee.
The city boasts over 100 km of walking trails and numerous parks, including Police Point Park, Strathcona Island Park, Kin Coulee Park, Echodale Regional Park, Central Park, Riverside Veterans' Memorial Park, and more.
Medicine Hat is served by the Medicine Hat Airport and Medicine Hat Transit. The city owns the gas production, gas distribution, electric generation, and electric distribution utilities that serve its citizens.
Medicine Hat is home to the South Alberta Light Horse (SALH), an army reserve unit. The city also houses Canadian Forces Base Suffield, which contributes C$120 million annually to the local economy.
In conclusion, Medicine Hat, Alberta, is a city that offers a unique blend of history, culture, and natural beauty. Whether you're a history buff, a nature lover, or just looking for a sunny place to retire, Medicine Hat has something for everyone.
