ARTICLES
Municipal Bylaw Enforcement
01.11.23
The Municipal Enforcement Section is a team of Community Peace Officers (CPO) appointed by the Alberta Solicitor General and Minister of Public Security. Working closely with the Medicine Hat Police Service, Municipal Bylaw Enforcement works to educate and ensure compliance with City Bylaws and select Provincial Statutes.
Municipal Enforcement is responsible for:
- Traffic Enforcement
- Parking Control
- Community Standards
- Domestic Animal and Pet Control
- Dangerous Snake Apprehension and Relocation
- Weed Control and Property Standards
- Homeless Encampment Control
- Noise Enforcement
- Found Property
- Oversize Load Escorts
- Subpoena and Summons Service
- Criminal Code Fingerprinting
Community Peace Officers are scheduled for various shifts through the week as well as weekends and statutory holidays. All calls are responded to in a timely manner, within 48 hours.
A proper investigation and follow-up will begin when you provide your name, address, contact information, as well as the needed information for the concern you have.
- Date/time/duration of the event
- What the event/concern is
- Location of the event/concern
- Specific information such as the description of the vehicle and a license plate, description of the animal (breed, colour), type of noise, etc.
At times, the investigating officer will need you to produce a signed statement and may need you to attend court. If this is the case, the officer will inform you and explain the process. Your personal information is essential to investigations and is kept in the strictest confidence. The Freedom of Information and Privacy Act (FOIP) governs the collecting and dissemination of all personal information. If you are required to be a witness in a court proceeding, your legal name may be released to the defendant. For more information about FOIP Act visit https://www.alberta.ca/freedom-of-information-and-protection-of-privacy
Hours of operation:
- Office hours: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
- Community Peace Officer hours: 7:00 am to 10:00 pm alternating shifts
Contact Information:
- Complaint Line 403-529-8481
- Supervisor Municipal Bylaw Enforcement 403-529-8436
To view information related to some of the common bylaws and access forms visit our Quick Links page.
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Officer Responsibilities and Public Rights
18.10.23Police Officers need to engage with members of the public if they are to learn about the communities they serve and understand neighbourhood problems. Conversations between a person and a police officer are important because they provide the Medicine Hat Police Service with that knowledge. Everyone has the right to feel safe during such interactions and both parties need to understand their rights and responsibilities.
When engaging with a police officer, a person is generally free to leave and continue on their way. This does not prevent a police officer from trying to speak with a person, but that person is always free to leave unless the police officer has a reason to arrest or detain them.
Police officers are trained to follow policies put into place to ensure fair and impartial policing. The collection of personal information during police interactions with a member of the public can only be conducted if there are clear grounds that it may further an investigation or prevent crime, disorder and victimization.
It’s important to know what your rights are, as well as what a police officer’s roles and responsibilities are when you’re interacting with them. The following is designed to provide you with general information about what an officer must do, what you do not have to do, and what you may wish to do in situations involving the police.
When an officer stops or approaches you to speak with you, they must:
- Identify themselves.
- Tell you why you have been stopped or why they want to talk to you.
- If you are arrested or detained, tell you what for.
- Advise you that you can talk to a lawyer if you are under arrest and provide you with an opportunity to do so in privacy and safety.
- Let you be on your way if you are not being arrested or detained.
When you are stopped or approached by an officer, you:
- Do not need to answer the questions of a police officer.
- Are required to identify yourself if you are breaking a law – including municipal bylaws and provincial laws that require a ticket be issued – or are under arrest. You are also required to provide your driver’s licence, car registration and insurance if you are stopped while driving.
- Can generally say, “No”, when police ask to search your belongings unless you are under arrest or being detained with safety concerns.
- May leave unless you are being detained or arrested.
- If you are arrested or detained, you have a right to speak with a lawyer as soon as officers can give you the privacy and safety to do so in your circumstances.
- Have a right to know a police officer’s name or badge number.
This information is intended to provide general information on the interactions of a person and a police officer. It is not a complete description of all of a person’s rights. This information does not replace the advice of a lawyer, who can give you advice specific to you and your situation. You should consult a lawyer for advice on your situation. If you are arrested, a police officer will read you your rights and give you a toll-free number for free legal advice as well as other resources you might find helpful.
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Community Support Unit
24.12.25The Medicine Hat Police Service Community Support Unit (CSU) consists of the School Resource Officer (SRO) program, the Call Centre, and is responsible for a variety of local special events and community engagement.
The SROs provide a visible police presence in some of our local schools and work with students, families, guardians, staff, support services, and administrators to provide a safe environment for everyone while building a positive relationship between youth and police.
For the 2025-2026 school year there are four SROs in Medicine Hat:
Cst. Taylor Olenic is assigned to Medicine Hat High School. Cst. Olenic can be reached by email at taylor.olenic@mhps.ca or by phone at 403-928-7580.
Cst. Mackenzie Kipta is assinged to assist the Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education, Alexandra Middle School and Dr. Roy Wilson Learning Center. Cst. Kipta and be reached by email at mackenzie.kipta@mhps.ca or Ph: 403-580-7041
Cst. Brent Bohrn is assigned to Crescent Heights High School. Cst. Bohrn can be reached by email at brent.bohrn@mhps.ca or Ph: 403-458-0209.
Cst. Chris Mueller is assigned to Monsignor McCoy High School, St. Mary's School and the Notre Dame Academy. Cst. Mueller can be reached by email at chris.mueller@mhps.ca or by phone at 403-682-7192.
Sgt. Adam Gregory is the supervisor of the CSU and is a liaison to all the schools within Medicine Hat. Further, Sgt. Gregory coordinates the Encouraging Positive Informed Choices (EPIC) program, police coverage for local special events, community engagement where resources allow, and extra duty events.
Sgt. Gregory can be reached at adam.gregory@mhps.ca or 403-529-8451.
Media Contact:
Sgt Adam Gregory
Community Support Unit
Medicine Hat Police Service
Ph: 403-529-8451
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Medicine Hat Safe Community Association
13.05.22The Medicine Hat Safe Community Association is seeking volunteers to join their board.
The Medicine Hat Safe Community Association coordinates the Chief Gord Earl Leadership Legacy Scholarship presentations/BBQ during the Medicine Hat Police Service Open House, organizes the KidFind programs at community events such as Canada Day and the Medicine Hat Exibition and Stampede, and raises funds to support the Encouraging Positive Informed Choices (EPIC) program delivered by members of the Medicine Hat Police Service to students in the local school districts.
If you would like to learn more about how you can participate email mhsassociation@gmail.com
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Land Acknowledgement
05.10.22The MHPS honors and acknowledges that we are situated on Treaty 7 and Treaty 4 territory, traditional lands of the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (blood), Pikani (Peigan), Stoney- Nakoda, and Tsuut`ina (Sarcee) as well as the Cree, Sioux and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples. We also honour and acknowledge that we are on the homelands of Métis Nation within District Two, Battle River Territory.
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EDI References
12.05.21EDI > EDI Definitions
Documents referenced to guide the development of the MHPS Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Plan include:
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Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan
21.11.25In the final report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls there are 11 “Calls for Police Services” (recommendations) and 21 related sub categories for Police Services and government bodies to implement. These can be found in the final report under Calls for Police Services Pages 190 - 218, paragraphs 9.1- 9.11.
Building Trust & Credibility with Alberta’s Indigenous People through Cultural Competency
Developing future strategies to build and improve trust between MHPS and the indigenous community of Medicine Hat is an important first step in the journey of reconciliation. Building cultural competency is an integral part of improving trust between MHPS and Medicine Hat’s indigenous community. A consequence of obtaining cultural competency will translate into effective policies that will improve MHPS service delivery when meeting needs of the local indigenous population.
Joint Statement - Police Chief & Police Commission Chairperson
We recognize that all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis families can raise their children in Medicine Hat with the same safety, security, and human rights that non-Indigenous families living in Medicine Hat do. When providing Police Services to all indigenous persons, we will recognize their distinctions and these distinctions will include self identification, regional specific information and the gendered lens of 2SLGBTQQIA.
Local History
The Medicine Hat area, including South Eastern Alberta, the Cypress Hills, and the South West Saskatchewan area, is rich in indigenous history such as First Nations cultures of the Blackfoot Confederacy, Nakoda/Assiniboine, Cree and Metis.
Medicine Hat’s Indigenous Population
According to the Stats Canada 2016 census the following makes up the indigenous population residing in Medicine Hat. According to the latest census the overall population is 62,935. Of this general population, the ‘Aboriginal Identity’ population according to the 2021 census is 3,225 citizens.
According to Stats Canada, ‘Aboriginal identity' includes persons who are First Nations (North American Indian), Métis or Inuk (Inuit) and/or those who are registered or Treaty Indians (that is, registered under the Indian Act of Canada) and/or those who have membership in a First Nation or Indian band. Aboriginal peoples of Canada are defined in the Constitution Act, 1982, section 35 (2) as including the Indian, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada.
According to the 2021 census the breakdown of the indigenous population in Medicine Hat is as follows:
First Nations (North American Indian) 1,020
Métis 2,065
Inuk (Inuit) 40
Multiple Indigenous responses 45
Indigenous response not included elsewhere 55
This action plan recognizes the influences of other indigenous persons who regularly visit, shop or live in Medicine Hat and travel here from other areas around South Eastern Alberta and South West Saskatchewan and who are not included in the enumerated census for the indigenous population of Medicine Hat.
The Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls Report (MMIWG)
The MMIWG report provides this action plan with several “Calls to Police Services” that provide a framework for MHPS to follow in the reconciliation journey. Several of the Calls for Police Services in the MMIWG report are either not applicable to MHPS as they fall to the jurisdiction of the Provincial and/or the Federal Government to action or because MHPS already follows the recommendation as a policing best practice.
Our Commitment to the Calls for Police Services
We will continue to build respectful working relationships with all Indigenous Peoples by creating an enhanced cultural understanding and by recognizing them as community members we serve.
Our Action Plan
Create a Chief’s Indigenous Advisory Committee and invite indigenous community leaders to meet and consider matters relating to policing services for Indigenous peoples in this community. The Committee will be made up of the Chief of Police, Chair of the Medicine Hat Police Commission, local Indigenous leaders, Métis Elders, as well as other MHPS staff.
Action Item: The committee will meet four times throughout the year, coinciding with the beginning of every new season, to connect and advise the police service on current issues relating to Indigenous and police relations within the community.
Status: Ongoing. The first meeting was held on June 23, 2021. This group helps to guide the MHPS by advising us on our path towards reconciliation efforts and ensuring we are meeting the needs of our local community. Meetings are held three to four times per year.
Action Item: Complete policy review through the lens of inclusiveness and understanding of Indigenous culture, values and norms and to ensure no barriers or implicit biases exist within policies or practices.
Status: Completed
The Blood Tribe Police Service conducted a review of all MHPS policies through an Indigenous lens.
The MHPS Police Indigenous Liason Officer (PILO) will lead the services’ efforts in community liaison work, community relationship building, and community crime-prevention programs within and for Indigenous people in Medicine Hat in a respectful way.
Action Item: Establish a PILO who will be responsible to identifying and liaising with any local elders and Indigenous organizations.
Status: Completed Cst. Lori Parasynchuk is the current MHPS PILO.
At a ceremony held on September 23, 2022 Cst. Parasynchuk was honoured with the name Naato Awo’taan Aakii, ‘Holy Shield Woman’ in recognition of her commitment to building relationships with the local Indigenous population. During the ceremony Elder Fox shared stories of survival in his lifetime, blessings he passed on to Cst. Parasynchuk before she received her new Blackfoot spirit name, then gently pushed her forward as a symbol of stepping into her new identity.
The MHPS Police Recruit Training Program to include anti-bias training and indigenous culture training. All training will be distinctions-based and relevant to the land and local Indigenous people being served.
Action Item: Indigenous People and Cultural Awareness training has been incorporated into the police recruit training program curriculum. This training is continually reviewed and updated, in partnership with the Blood Tribe Police Service, to ensure participants of the training understand and recognize local Indigenous history, culture, and the challenges facing Indigenous persons in contemporary society.
Status: Ongoing
Action Item: Administrative Services to develop policy to allow indigenous persons to use a sacred Eagle feather. The Eagle Feather is to be offered as an option for providing an oath swearing by a traditional Indigenous form of conscience binding. This will be offered in addition to the swearing on a religious text or making a non-religious affirmation.
Status: Completed. On June 25th,2021 the MHPS Executive Team along with RSM Fishley and the Indigenous Liaison Cst. Parasynchuk traveled to Standoff, AB to take part in a ceremony where the MHPS was gifted a sacred Eagle Feather. A gift from the Blackfoot community - the feather was transferred to the MHPS after being blessed in a smudging ceremony on Friday. The feather will be used as an option for newly hired police officers to use to promise their oath, or to provide culturally significant support to victims or witnesses. The feather was beaded specifically for the MHPS and it is a great honour for the organization to receive this gift.
Action Item: MHPS Administrative Services to develop a policy or practice to include local Indigenous land acknowledgment for all community boardroom meetings held by outside agencies and with outside agencies.
Status: Completed
Action Item: Renaming of the MHPS Community Boardroom
Status: Completed
On September 23, 2022 the MHPS, in collaboration with the Miywasin Friendship Centre, held a traditional Blackfoot naming ceremony. During the ceremony a Blackfoot name was bestowed upon the community space, to honor and acknowledge the Indigenous history of the land.
Medicine Hat is situated on Treaty 7 and Treaty 4 territory, traditional lands of the Siksika (Blackfoot), Kainai (blood), Pikani (Peigan), Stoney- Nakoda, and Tsuut`ina (Sarcee) as well as the Cree, Sioux and the Saulteaux bands of the Ojibwa peoples and is also on the Métis Nation within District Two, Battle River Territory. According to the most recently available census data (2021), Medicine Hat is currently home to approximately 3,225 residents who identify as Indigenous.
One of the goals of the MHPS Indigenous Reconciliation Action Plan developed in 2021, was to create a respectful working relationship with all Indigenous people and enhance cultural understanding. Working with members of the Chief’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, it was felt that renaming the boardroom would pay tribute to the history of this area being a traditional gathering spot for Indigenous communities.
During the ceremony the name, Aahkoinnimaan ni, was selected by Elder Charlie Fox of the Kainai Nation, a word that translates as the sacred pipe, a symbol of justice and peace that has a traditional role in the resolution of issues.
After the ceremony a come-and-go celebration was held to allow all community members an opportunity to attend and view a mural painted by local Métis artist, Ray-Al Hochman. The room also has four canvas art pieces installed that were created by JoLynn Parenteau, an Indigenous housing and homeless navigator with the Miywasin Friendship Centre and a member of the Chief’s Indigenous Advisory Committee. Each of the four paintings highlights the traditional language of the Blackfoot, Michif, Ojibwe and Plains Cree peoples.
The decision supports The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action report recommendation:
“17. We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.”
The Government of Alberta also waives the application fees for residential school Survivors and persons who were part of the Sixties Scoop that wish to reclaim their Indigenous name. Descendants such as children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and spouses/partners of residential school and Sixties Scoop Survivors are also eligible for name changes.
In Alberta, anyone requesting a legal name change requires both a criminal record check and fingerprints, and the payment for these services falls within the scope of Alberta policing agencies. To further remove barriers for all Indigenous people who wish to complete the name change process, there will be no charge from Alberta policing agencies for these services for those seeking to reclaim their Indigenous name.
The MHPS is committed to working collectively with other Alberta policing agencies and Indigenous people across the province on a path toward reconciliation. This work is ongoing and will strive towards restoring trust and confidence in policing among Indigenous people and in communities across the province.
We recognize that walking the journey together toward truth and reconciliation first requires us to understand truth. The truth is that for many Indigenous people, the reclaiming of their Indigenous names is but one step toward the reclamation of much more. As policing agencies across Alberta, seeking to remove barriers for this powerful reclamation is one way we can continue together toward truth and only then, reconciliation.
Way Forward
This action plan is a way forward that provides some initial concrete steps in recognizing the complexity of intergenerational trauma suffered by Indigenous Peoples and represents a commitment by MHPS and MHPC to work towards maintaining a mutual understanding and respect in the context of providing quality Police Services to all citizens of Medicine Hat.
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References:
- Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Census Profile, 2016 Census Medicine Hat Population. https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/
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EDI Key Principles
13.05.21EDI > EDI Key Principles
Key Principles
The MHPS is committed to the values of equity, diversity and inclusion and strives to be an employer of choice. Six key principles establish the framework for expected behavior and decision making in our strategy as follows:
1. Inclusive Work Culture:
We will build a fair and respectful workplace at every level where diversity is harnessed as a strength and where people are valued as individuals and are helped to flourish whatever their unique background or characteristics.
2. Legal Obligations
We will follow The Alberta Human Rights Act (AHR) which prohibits discrimination in employment based on the protected grounds. We will ensure all our relevant policies and practices reflect the intent of the AHR Act to ensure all employees are protected from discrimination, harassment and unfair treatment.
3. Moral and Ethical Obligations
The principles of equity, diversity and inclusion relate to social justice, fairness, human rights and equitable access to opportunities. The Office of the Chief is committed to ensuring all MHPS staff work towards these principles.
4. A Diverse Workforce
We will proactively cultivate a workforce that reflects the diversity of the community we serve. We believe that a workplace that embraces the diverse community it serves will help us to attract, retain and develop the best people from a broad range of backgrounds.
5. Inclusive Practices
We will continue to develop and embed inclusive policies, processes and practices at every level in the Police Service. We believe inclusive and diverse teams bring variety of thought, innovation and creativity that will help us better understand the needs of our staff and community.
6. Community Engagement
We need to know and understand our community and customize our services to meet their diverse needs through engagement and consultation. We always aim to provide a fair and equitable services to anyone who interacts with us irrespective of their background or personal circumstances.
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