Medicine Hat, Alberta

The section on the design and adoption of the city flag from the city protocol is as follows:

3.01 History

On September 17, 1973 it was requested, then moved and passed in Council that the City approve a "Flag Contest" with a view to adopting a suitable flag for the City of Medicine Hat. The contest closed on December 14, 1973 and a panel of judges consisting of: Alderman Lucille Moyer, Chairman; Alderman Peter Simpson, David Cormier, Economic Development Advisor, Donna MacLean, and W. A. Keith, City Clerk, was selected to decide the winning entry. The panel chose four winners, judged to be equally excellent on the basis of originality, relevance, colour and presentation. The best overall designs came from: Leslie Bischoff, Suzanne Faure, Emily Nott and Barry Shakeshaft. Mr. Cormier then prepared sketches of possible combinations of the four winning entries and Council chose the blue flag with the Indian Head centred on it. On April 1, 1974 City Council resolved to accept that flag upon receipt of registration information. Permission was asked and received from the Medicine Hat News for use of their copyrighted 'Indian Head' on the City flag.

The City Flag was first officially used at the opening of the Maple Avenue Bridge on November 15, 1974. That flag, one of the first two Medicine Hat flags, now stands in City Council Chambers. Mayor Grimm and former Mayor Veiner each have one side of the second original; those flags being specially silk-screened and pieced together for the Bridge opening. Notice of the Flag's origin and use was published in the Trade Marks Journal on February 19, 1975 and shortly thereafter (April 7, 1975) the City Police Boys Band was given permission to reproduce the flag providing it was of good quality.

3.02 Colours and Emblem

City of Medicine Hat Flag. The City of Medicine Hat flag on a blue background shows the visage of the Cree Medicine Man surrounded by a white circle which contains the words: Medicine Hat, Alberta.

The protocol document also includes information on the Canadian Flag, and etiquette information apparently taken straight from the Canadian Government's flag protocol brochure. The letterhead on the top of each page uses a logo of a gas light with the title: Medicine Hat The Gas City, the "Indian Head" is not used as the logo.

"The Hat" is in southeastern Alberta and is probably best known to most Canadians as home of the Medicine Hat Tigers junior hockey team, which has produced future NHL pros like Lanny McDonald and Trevor Linden.
Dean McGee, 2 September 2005