Successful seacan applicants

🆕 Five groups were successful in their applications to repurpose sea cans for the benefit of the community. To date, four of the eight sea cans have been relocated, with the remaining four scheduled for transport in the near future.

Alexandra Middle School
• 2 sea cans
• Used for storing sports equipment and providing changing space for student athletes.

Homestead Market
• 3 sea cans
• Transformed into an outdoor market.

Park Meadows
• 1 sea can
• Storage for a community-wide Christmas display.

Liquid Concert and Events
• 1 sea can
• Converted into a concession stand for outdoor events.

Medicine Hat Speed Skating
• 1 sea can
• Used to store large mats required for speed skating activities.

The successful applicants represent a diverse mix of sectors—including non-profits, businesses, and educational institutions—each aiming to enhance different aspects of community life through their projects.

The total financial return to the City from this initiative is $9,200. It is important to note that this amount does not represent a net gain on the asset, rather it offsets the costs associated with decommissioning electrical connections and relocating the sea cans from Towne Square.

Seacan repurposing process

🆕 The repurposing of the sea cans followed a multi-step process:

1. Community Engagement
   Input was gathered through Shape Your City to explore potential community uses for the sea cans. Read the What We Heard report for information about the initial input suggested by the community.
2. Call for Applications
   A public call invited proposals that demonstrated community benefit and included a financial contribution to the City of Medicine Hat. View the application guidelines here. Applications were accepted online until Friday, February 21, 2025 at 3 p.m.
3. Application Review and Scoring
   Submissions were evaluated to ensure a positive impact for both taxpayers and the wider community.
4. Development and Permitting
   Successful applicants proceeded through development and building permit approvals.
5. Relocation
   Sea cans were moved from Towne Square to their new sites.
6. Community Integration
   Proponents are now in the process adapting sea cans for their intended purposes, such as setting up markets, preparing storage areas, and launching programs.

Seacan contact list

Community organizations who signed up for the seacan contact list have been notified.

Background

On Monday, November 18, 2024 Council approved the removal of the seacans to revert the Towne Square area to a public programming area. Administration moved the seacans offsite in late November and requested public input into how the seacans could benefit the community.

The City has formalized a submission process to accept and evaluate proposals to repurpose the seacans previously located downtown. Individuals, businesses, organizations, and community groups are invited to propose innovative and impactful ways to transform these seacans into valuable community assets. A rubric has been developed to evaluate community benefit and value to the tax payer.

Proposals for these seacans must highlight a balance of community benefit and taxpayer value, which could include financial compensation to aid in cost recovery.