Strong Towns Community Action Lab
Keeping Medicine Hat financially strong. Today and tomorrow.
The Community Action Lab is:
A two-year project that the City of Medicine Hat is taking part in. It will introduce Strong Towns ideas to City staff and to the public, and then show how to implement these ideas to ensure Medicine Hat has a prosperous future and remains a great, livable community.
Learn more about the Community Action Lab in the FAQ section, or watch our FAQ video.
Follow our progress throughout the Community Action Lab in "Our Strong Towns Journey".
Want to learn along with us throughout the Community Action Lab? Enroll at the Medicine Hat - Strong Towns Academy to study lessons.
Why it's a big deal:
The City of Medicine Hat is one of four communities, and the only Canadian city, selected from nearly two dozen applicants to participate in the inaugural Strong Towns Community Action Lab.
Strong Towns is:
A non-profit group based in Minnesota. The goal of the organization is to help change the way communities develop, advocating for good city planning in all realms including transportation, neighbourhoods, and city infrastructure – all with a focus on fiscal sustainability and overall community well-being.
Examples of grassroots projects started by community members.
(Photo credit Bike Medicine Hat, Pop Up Parks Medicine Hat and Porchfest Medicine Hat)
4 ways you can get involved:
1 - Join Strong Towns at the upcoming free public events
Strong Towns - Local Conversation Meetup
June 13th, 2023, 7-10pm @ The Yard - 619 3st Street SE
Event and registration details here
Strong Towns - Curbside Chat
June 14th, 2023, 1-2:30pm @ Medicine Hat Public Library - 619 3st Street SE
Event and registration details here
2 - Enroll at the Medicine Hat - Strong Towns Academy
Join the Strong Towns movement, and learn how you can make a difference in your community!
3 - Start a grassroots project
Learn the 5 steps to becoming a Strong Community Citizen, how to get inspired, how access City of Medicine Hat micro-grants and more.
4 - Join local conversations
Connect online with other Hatters about community topics that matter to you by joining Strong Towns Local Conversations.
"Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody."
- Jane Jacobs, urbanist, activist.
Videos
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Shawn, Senior Planner with the City of Medicine Hat, provides answers in plain language to all the common questions about Strong Towns principles, and the Community Action Lab that the City is participating in through 2023 and 2024.
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In this presentation from the Esplanade, Strong Towns founder and president Chuck Marohn explains how so many communities have found themselves in decline after decades of “growth.” The presentation shows how active citizens, local officials and design professionals can change the negative trajectory in their towns and help them to become more resilient - no matter what challenges lie ahead.
Thank you to Shaw Spotlight for capturing the event and producing this video.
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The founder of Strong Towns, Chuck Marohn, offers a welcome to Medicine Hat, as one of 5 cities in North America selected to take part in the Community Action Lab.
Photo gallery
Document library
Who's Listening
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Email shacha@medicinehat.ca -
