Palliser region communities have many services available for residents to keep them safe and secure.  A diverse range of recreational facilities and places of worship provide families the opportunity to stay active and maintain spiritual well-being.  All Palliser communities have a library or are part of a library system. 

Emergency Services and Fire Protection

Policing – The Medicine Hat Police Service

Ambulance, Fire, Rescue – The Medicine Hat Fire Department operates three (3) stations. Ambulance services are provided through Alberta Health Services.  911 service throughout the City.

Justice Infrastructure

Provincial Court of Medicine Hat

Parks and Recreation

There are six indoor ice arenas in Medicine Hat:

• The Arena  - Tel: 403-529-8345
• Family Leisure Centre AEC Arena   - Tel: 403-529-8344
• Hockey Hounds Recreation Centre - Tel: 403-527-4171
• Kinplex I & Kinplex II  – Tel: 403-529-8344 or 403-502-8745
• Moose Recreation Centre  - Tel: 403-527-4170

Swimming pools in Medicine Hat include:

• Crestwood Recreation Centre
• Heald Pool
• Heights Pool
• Hill Pool
• Strathcona Pool
• Family Leisure Centre
• Echo Dale Regional Park

Recreation Centres in Medicine Hat  include:

• The Family Leisure Centre  is a state-of-the-art facility that includes a wave pool, swirl pool, steam room, fitness room, and water slide.
• Crestwood Recreation Centre
• South Ridge Recreation and Wellness Centre  The centre has a multi-purpose room for classes and/or meetings, weight room, walking/running track, cardio workout room, and field house gymnasium.

Other recreation facilities:

• Baseball Diamonds
• Waterslides
• Soccer Fields
• Skateboard Park
• BMX Track
• Auto Racing Oval
• Drag Racing Strip
• MotoCross Venue
• RV Campground

Medicine Hat has an extensive parks system with a number of facilities throughout the city.  The City’s park system encompasses approximately 1458 hectares of natural areas and 92 – kilometer trail system.

Lakes for fishing, boating, swimming in the area

Religious Services

There are more than 40 places of worship in the Medicine Hat.

Library

Medicine Hat Public Library

Residential property taxes are definitely a factor to consider when relocating. Although taxes vary depending on the community, Albertans pay low provincial and municipal taxes, overall, in Canada.

Mill Rates 2009

Residential: 6.9579
Non-Residential: 16.5093.
Includes school and municipal tax rates.

Mill rates are set by bylaws.

If you wish to obtain more information please phone 403.529.8114 or visit the City of Medicine Hat website at www.medicinehat.ca and click on Residents / Taxation.

Additional Information

Property tax is either provided as a percentage or as a millage rate.  A mill is one-thousandth of a dollar.  To calculate the property tax, the assessed value of property is multiplied by the mill rate and then divided by 1,000.  For example, property assessed at $100,000 located in a municipality with a mill rate of 20 mills would have a property tax bill of $2,000 per year.

Under the Canada Health Act, Alberta has a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and health care services.

All eligible Alberta residents are covered under the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) to access healthcare services.  An eligible resident of Alberta is a person who is:

• Legally entitled to be or to remain in Canada and makes his/her permanent home in Alberta;
• Committed to being physically present in Alberta for at least 183 days in a 12 month period;
• Not claiming residency or obtaining benefits under a claim of residency in another province, territory or country;
• Any other person deemed by the regulations to be a resident not including a tourist, transient or visitor to Alberta.

Effective January 1, 2009, Albertans are no longer required to pay AHCIP premiums.

An Alberta Health Care card gives you access to the public health care system including medical checkups and hospital visits. Private clinics exist, but are permitted to perform only elective services not included as part of the primary care available through our health care system.

Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.

The Medicine Hat region has acute care, continuing care and community health services. Medicine Hat has excellent health facilities, including the ultra-modern 325 bed Medicine Hat Regional Hospital. This hospital is an acute care facility, which also includes supportive rehab/transition beds. Core programs at the regional facility include surgical services, mental health, critical care, pediatrics, 24-hour emergency, ambulatory care, obstetrics, neonatal intensive care (Level 2), geriatric services, community health, home care, X-Ray and lab. Specialists and facilities in Calgary and Edmonton are also readily accessible by residents of the Palliser Region.

Medicine Hat Regional Hospital
666 5 Street SW
Medicine Hat, Alberta    T1A 4H6
Tel: 403-529-8000

A number of private and public nursing homes for the elderly and dependent are operational in the community.

Social services in Medicine Hat are provided through the Family and Social Services Department of the Provincial Government, the Social Work Department at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital and a number of voluntary agencies.

If you wish to obtain more information please call 403-528-5663.

For more information

• Alberta Health Care Insurance - The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan (AHCIP) is a publicly administered and funded health care system that guarantees Albertans receive universal access to medically necessary hospital and medical services. AHCIP forms, information on premium and drug assistance, answers to common questions and more are available at this site.
• Alberta Health and Wellness –  Alberta’s Health and Wellness provides information about Alberta’s health care system including the forms needed for registration.
• Service Alberta – The Health Care Professional section of this Service Alberta site provides information for the wide variety of health professionals in Alberta – doctors, nurses, ambulance operators, and many others who provide services for the maintenance and improvement of health.  Use this page to learn about Alberta Netcare, to look up Health Professionals, to find contact information for nursing homes and hospitals in Alberta, and much, much more.
• Alberta Health Services  – Alberta Health Services provides a patient-focused, quality health system that is accessible and sustainable for all Albertans.  Use this site to access information about specific health care facilities and to get the latest news relating to health care.
• Health Canada – The Health Canada site focuses on providing immigrants with information about health care coverage. It also contains good links to other helpful information on employment, health promotion, and more.

Community lifestyle is one of the most important factors when considering a move.  Sports, recreation, community involvement, cultural events, hospitality, and safety are just a few of the many reasons why people choose southeast Alberta as an excellent place to live.

Medicine Hat residents have more recreational facilities per capita than most other cities in Canada. The City offers superior recreational facilities, more than 92 kilometers (57 miles) of hiking/biking trails and 250 hectares of parks. There are six first-class golf courses, three indoor and four outdoor pools, six indoor ice arena's, indoor and outdoor waterslides, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, skateboard park, BMX, motocross and auto racing track. If you enjoy ice, water or sun, there's a sport for every season.

Major parks in Medicine Hat include

Echo Dale Park Regional Park  650 acre park with man-made swimming lake and boatinglake]
Strathcona Island Park [100 acre park designed for family activities]
Police Point Park [400 acre natural woodland park]
Kin Coulee Park [100 acre park designed for family activities]

For the avid hockey sports fan, Medicine Hat is home to the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Canada Junior Hockey League.

Three private campgrounds and one municipally operated campground provide a full range of facilities (224 camping sites). All of the campgrounds offer access to the regional trail system, the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1) and Highway #3 providing visitors with safe and easy access to many of the city's major parks, attractions and businesses.

Golf courses  in Medicine Hat include the Connaught Golf Club  , Medicine Hat Golf and Country Club , and  Cottonwood Coulee Golf Course.

Medicine Hat is 45 minutes from Cypress Hills Provincial Park. Cypress Hills is one of the few areas in the southeast untouched by the glacial period. The Park offers superb recreational amenities including boating, hiking and skiing. The park is a great place to spend a weekend camping!

Community Organizations

With over 312 organizations in Medicine Hat, there is a club to interest everyone. Visit the City of Medicine Hat's website at www.medicinehat.ca and follow the links under City Services/Community Development/Community Organizations, or call the City of Medicine Hat Community Development Department at 403- 529-8311 for a copy.

Religious Facilities

There are more than 40 places of worship in Medicine Hat, covering most denominations.

Special Annual Events & Attractions

• The Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre, a multi-million dollar project, officially brings together a museum, archives and art gallery, as well as adds a new performing arts theatre and discovery centre all under one roof.
• The award-winning Medicine Hat Cultural Centre on the Medicine Hat College  campus, houses the College's Conservatory of Music and Dance for students of all ages.
•  City Hall is home to a brick mural by local artist James Marshall which depicts one of the legends of Medicine Hat.
• The Police Point Nature Centre is located in a nature reserve and offers interpretive programs which explore the natural and historical aspects of the South Saskatchewan River Basin.




• The Medicine Hat Public Library also hosts art exhibits, concerts and public seminars.
• Downtown Historic Tour
• Saamis TeePee
• Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede Grounds

Annual Events

• The Spectrum Festival  - June
• Canada Day Celebration  - July 1
• Home & Garden Tradeshow - March
• Medicine Hat Exhibition & Stampede -  July/August
• Medicine Hat Indoor Pro Rodeo
• Medicine Hat College Rattler Run
• YMCA Fun Run
• Christmas Craft Tradeshow - November

Annual Cultural Events

• Jazz Festival  - June
• Junior Strings Camp
• Rotary Music Festival - March
• One Act Play Festival
• Musical Theatre
• Craft Co-Mingle - November
• Artisan's Fair - September

For more information

• Service Alberta helps caregivers by providing information on resources available for persons or organizations that care for individuals who need support due to age, or physical or mental illness or disability.
• Service Alberta has information for parents on topics such as Alberta Centennial Education Savings Plan, Bully Free Alberta, and Passports for Children.  There is even a day care look-up at this site.
• Rural residents can obtain information specific to their needs through Service Alberta.  Here, rural residents can look for links to information and publications about the Rural Development Initiative, water wells, the weekly Agri-News, hunting licenses and more.
• Seniors  can find links to the government information and services that apply to seniors, covering topics such as pensions, health care, retirement and more at this site.

Click here  to access the City of Medicine Hat business directory.