Medicine Hat, Alberta

Encyclopedia : M : ME : MED : Medicine Hat, Alberta

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Medicine Hat, known to locals as "the Hat," is a city of 56,048 (according to the 2005 municipal census) and is located in the southeastern part of the province of Alberta, Canada. It is situated on the Trans-Canada Highway, the eastern terminus of the Crowsnest Highway, and the South Saskatchewan River. Nearby towns considered part of the Medicine Hat area include Dunmore, Seven Persons, Redcliff, and Irvine. Its major claim to fame is Rudyard Kipling's famous line "all hell for a basement" referring to the vast reserves of natural gas beneath it.

The Medicine Hat landscape is dominated by the South Saskatchewan River valley. In addition, to this major river both the Seven Persons Creek and Ross Creek empty into the South Saskatchewan River within the City of Medicine Hat boundary. The presence of these water bodies provide for a dramatic valley landscape 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 Cypress Hills (including Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park) is a relatively short distance (by car) to the southeast of the city. Medicine Hat has a dry, continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. However, the winter cold is occasionally ameliorated by mild and dry chinook winds blowing from the west, and hot summer daytime temperatures are made tolerable by low humidity and rapid cooling in the evening hours. Medicine Hat receives less precipitation annually than other cities on the Canadian prairies.

The city is served by the Medicine Hat Airport.

Origin of name

The name "Medicine Hat" is the English translation of 'Saamis' (SA-AH-UMP-SIN)- the Blackfoot word for the eagle tail feather headress worn by medicine men - or 'Medicine Hat'. This particular 'Medicine Hat' finds its origins from Aboriginal legends about a battle long ago between the Blackfoot and the Cree Indian tribes in which a retreating "Medicine Man" lost his headdress in the South Saskatchewan River.

Early residents considered changing the name to something more 'normal', but visiting writer Rudyard Kipling convinced locals it would be truly unique and never imitated should they keep it. Medicine Hat is also known as "The Gas City" due to its tremendous wealth of natural gas beneath it. This inspired Kipling to say Medicine Hat was born lucky . . . You people in this district seem to have all Hell for a basement.

This quote in turn inspired Big Sugar's hit single "All Hell for a Basement", a song about the lead singer's hometown.

Medicine Hat residents are often referred to as 'Hatters'

Tourist attractions

The Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District

The Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District is a living, working museum that offers a unique and extensive experience through collections, exhibits, interpretation, guided tours and educational and artistic programming. The Medalta Potteries and Hycroft China Factory Complexes are the focal points in this 150 acre region. This nationally recognized industrial historic district is a cultural initiative of the Friends of Medalta Society with Federal, Provincial, Municipal and Private support. Restoration, preservation and cultural development of the Medicine Hat Clay Industries National Historic District for the purpose of education and public enjoyment is ongoing. For more information, visit our website at [medalta.org].

The World's Tallest Teepee

Just south of the Trans-Canada Highway and overlooking the Blackfoot buffalo jump, is the world's tallest teepee, the "Saamis Teepee". Designed for the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary as a symbol of Canada's Aboriginal heritage, it was moved to Medicine Hat in 1991. It stands over 20 stories high and was designed to withstand extreme temperatures and winds up to 240 km/h (150 mph).

The Esplanade

In downtown Medicine Hat, The Esplanade serves as a wealth of cultural arts etc.

Parks

• Police Point Park was an early North West Mounted Police outpost, and the park is now a nature-lovers' dream with shale paths next to the South Saskatchewan River.
• Strathcona Island Park
• Kin Coulee Park
• Echodale Park is a 650 acre (2.6 km²) park that includes an artificial swimming lake and boating lake.
• Central Park, located in the Southeast Hill neighborhood is surrounded by large cottonwood trees and, on the northside, a row of cedar trees. It also has playstructures and a spraydeck. It is across the street from Central Park School.

Post-secondary education

The first students were accepted to Medicine Hat College in 1965. Now with over 2,500 students and 2 campuses, the college has grown into an integral part of the community.

Military

The South Alberta Light Horse

Medicine Hat is home to The South Alberta Light Horse (SALH), an army reserve unit. The SALH is one of Alberta's oldest and most prestigious army reserve units. The SALH dates back to 1885 when it took part in the North-West Rebellion. Since then it has gained battle honours in the First and Second World Wars and today its members continue to serve overseas on UN and NATO missions. Currently the SALH has members serving in Afghanistan.

Canadian Forces Base Suffield

CFB Suffield is located 50 km west of the City. It is estimated that the base contributes $120 million annually to the local economy, principally through its two lodger units: British Army Training Unit Suffield, and Defence R&D Canada -- Suffield (DRDC).

Local Media

Medicine Hat has several radio and television stations broadcasting from it, as well as receiving radio stations from Calgary.

Radio

• FM 94.5: CHAT, (country)
• FM 96.1: CFMY "My 96" (Hot AC)
• FM 97.3: CKUA-FM-3 (variety)
• FM 98.3: CBRM (CBC Radio One)
• FM 99.5: CJLT "Alive 99.5" (Christian)
• FM 100.5: CHFA-FM-8 (La Première Chaîne)

Television

• CHAT 6 (CBC)
• CFCN-8 8 (CTV)
• CBXFT-11 34 (SRC)

P.O.W camps

During the Second World War, Medicine Hat held one of the largest P.O.W. camps in Canada. On June 26, 1946, Sergeant Berner Swab was hanged for the murder of August Plazik, both men former P.O.W's.

On December 18, 1946, five P.O.W. men, Willy Mueller, Hienrich Bush, Bruno Parnisowski, and Walter Wolf were sentenced and hanged for the murder of Karl Lehmann. All the men were placed in unmarked graves they had dug themselves. Their remains were moved to Kitchener, Ontario to a memorial grave. The RCMP investigated both cases and all of the accused were tried separately in Medicine Hat. The trials were held in civil rather than military courts, and the executions at Lethbridge Jail were also a civil responsibility.[link]

Famous Medicine Hatters

• Terri Clark -- country singer
• Gordon Clinton -- Mayor of Seattle 1956-1964
• Murray Craven -- hockey player
• Glen Edwards -- test pilot, namesake of Edwards Air Force Base
• Kevin Foreman -- Software executive
• Bruno Gerussi -- Actor
• Gordie Johnson -- Lead singer of "Big Sugar" rock band
• Trevor Linden -- hockey player
• Chris Osgood -- hockey player
• Kalan Porter -- Canadian Idol
• Richard Edward Taylor -- co-recipient of the 1990 Nobel Prize for Physics

Coincidentially, Murray Craven, Kevin Foreman, and Gordie Johnson all graduated from Crescent Heights High School in the same class (Class of 1982).

North West: Calgary	North: Redcliff
West: Bow Island	Medicine Hat	East: Maple Creek
	South: Havre

See also

• Richardson family murders

 

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