The Rotary Club welcomed Honorary Member, Medicine Hat Mayor Ted Clugston to the podium today. Ted was introduced by Mike Christie, who spoke briefly about Ted's history. Mayor Ted had recently given his annual, formal "State of the City" address and he paid us a visit to give us the "Coles Notes" version. Ted has been a council member since 2007 and Mayor since 2013.
Ted began by speaking about the "team" at City Hall...both his fellow Council members, the Executive and all the staff. He is extremely proud of the performance of the organization and as shown in a recent article in the New York Times, as a community we "punch way above our weight class". He spoke about the difference in municipal politics, and how everything is not as bad as it seems in the media. He spoke of recent success, of the challenges with the recent Aurora Cannabis announcements (he expects 6 of the 36 production bays to be planted this year, with at least 50 - 100 jobs). That facility is the largest "Controlled Agricultural Environment" in the country, over 1.6 Million sq ft.
Mayor Ted spoke about the challenges in the home building sector, although commercial building is very healthy. He spoke about the accomplishments of this Council including the completion of the flood protective berms and the work associated with transforming the "Gas City" with the abandonment of many of the oil and gas assets due to the expected prices. He mentioned expansions at Cancarb and the success of Qinetiq as reasons for optimism in the community.
Ted thanked the Rotary Club for the Rotary Music Festival, he credits it with helping a shy child blossom and finished his presentation with a poem titled "Invictus"...or "the unconquered". Well done Mayor Ted.
Mayor Ted was thanked by President Margie Booyens, who spoke about the need to know the needs of the community, what issues are going unresolved or unaddressed and where can Rotary make a big impact. Our club is reviewing those things now and hopefully will be coming up with local community service projects with the biggest "needs" in mind.