Independence gained in
CORE kitchen Things are great downtown cont.
“My kids come home from school and they’re able to hang out down in the shop and do their homework with me, otherwise I’d be putting in long days and not be seeing them until after supper,” she said. “Plus, it’s nice to have a two- minute commute down the stairs. It’s my favourite part.”
Downtowns in other cities are stereotyped as being filled with crime, but it doesn’t seem to be the case for downtown Medicine Hat. The Dynes can only remember one incident years ago, and Cochrane has had no issues.
“I’m completely surprised,” said Cochrane. “I was a little bit leery about coming home in the dark at night, and I’ve never had any issues or seen anything that’s worried me. My kids are completely comfortable too.”
“I probably had more problems at our old house than downtown,” said Bruce.
However, both the Dynes and Cochrane do have a few minor complaints about living downtown.
“Because we live in a commercial district, we lose the opportunity that you may have in a residential district,” said Jan. “I think the thing I miss the most about my old house was my hot tub.”
“I do miss having a garage,” said Bruce.
“I wish there was a small grocery store downtown, so I can just walk to it and don’t
have to drive in my car when I have to get a few things,” said Cochrane.
Despite the presence of these businesses, empty storefronts with cardboard in the windows and a lack of pedestrian activity characterize downtown Medicine Hat today. Downtown revitalization crops up as a topic a few times a year at city council and is a conversation the residents and business owners have regularly. One item gets repeated: If people are living downtown, it could start thriving again.
“The more people who live downtown, either in regular housing, in an apartment or above their shops, definitely will revitalize the downtown,” said Bruce. “The more people we can get to live downtown, the more need they’re going to have for different services.”
“I believe the city needs to build apartment buildings or high-end condos that would bring people to live downtown,” said Cochrane.-
Both the Dynes and Cochrane believe there is a potential for downtown to be revitalized, but note it will take a concerted effort to do so.
“As long as the people are down here, people will hang out and shop where they live,” said Cochrane. “There’s lots of potential.”
“It’s a difficult situation,” says Bruce. “In a certain way, without neglecting the provincial building codes, the city needs to ease up on how they read them. There are ways of allowing development without the absolute strict code. I believe safety is necessary, but there is some leeway into how these codes are enforced.”
“I think they need to have a more open feeling to development downtown. I believe there are ways the city can encourage development. I’ve heard from more than one developer that Medicine Hat is one of the more difficult places to build in Alberta.”
Bruce and Jan Dynes, owners of the Clay Trade/Framing and Arts Centre in downtown Medicine Hat, have lived above their business for more than a decade.
50 | 2013 REPORT ON SOUTHEAST ALBERTA
“I think what the city needs to do is develop a vision of what they want their downtown to look like and share that with their community,” said Jan. “That’s what needs to be done. I’m an eternal optimist, and I can see it definitely developing.” ■
By GILLIAN SLADE
People working in offices in downtown Medicine Hat know where to turn for delicious food and the source of that food is also a training ground for people with developmental disabilities.
CORE Association clients volunteer for kitchen duty, often gain independence and self-esteem along the way.
“Hands-on training is geared to help individuals gain skills that could lead to greater independence and even jobs,” said Elaine Fitzsimmons, team leader for CORE’s food services.
Those who are busy in the kitchen have big smiles as they describe their tasks.
“Setting up for lunch is the best past,” said Mason Kreutzer, 20, enthusiastically as he washed dishes. “My favourite is making sandwiches and asking them (customers) if they want white or brown bread. I also love making apple muffins.”
Fitzsimmons says some of the food their kitchen produces is legendary in the community, such as the in-demand puff-wheat squares.
Nicole Boser, 43 says her task in the kitchen is chopping vegetables for the hot food such as soup made fresh every day.
“I like cutting them nice and small,” said Boser. “It makes me feel happy to see people enjoying the food we’ve made.”
Nobody is placed on kitchen duty but there are normally plenty of volunteers who enjoy the work.
“One of our volunteers went from needing one-on-one training assistance in the kitchen to becoming totally independent,” said Fitzsimmons. “She is amazing and every peanut butter ball cookie she makes is exactly the same size and tastes awesome.”
CORE’s kitchen has been operating since they moved to their Third Street location downtown. The income derived from the program helps to pay for the program, said Brad Connauton, manager of community service. The restaurant is open to the public Monday to Friday for coffee and muffins in the morning. Lunch often includes a tuna, ham or egg sandwich for $3 and a bowl of soup for $2. On Fridays they have a hot lunch special such as hamburgers or tacos-in-a-bag.
The kitchen also prepares and dispatches what they call “snack baskets” containing muffins, fruit and vegetable sticks, to a number of offices, in close proximity, that have a standing order.
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