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In 1882, the Canadian Pacific Railway construction workers began to build a wooden trestle bridge to cross the South Saskatchewan River. The settlement surrounding the few businesses and inhabitants surrounding this construction would eventually become what is now the City of Medicine Hat. In 1888 the first incorporated hospital in the North West Territory was built in this location and in 1898, Medicine Hat was incorporated as a Town with W.B. Marshall being elected the first mayor.
In the year 1899, the Town Council along with the citizens of Medicine Hat, District of Assiniboia, Northwest Territories, were becoming increasingly concerned by the increase of crime brought on by the flood of persons travelling west on the CPR. The town was flooded by hobos and vagrants nearly all of whom existed by robbing and pillaging. The North West Mounted Police had only five members in the detachment and were heavily tasked to keep law and order in their surrounding area, let alone the Town itself. On January 13, 1899, the Town Council passed by-law #8, which created the position of Inspector, Health Officer and Policeman.
Since gaining status as the City of Medicine Hat on May 9 1906, Medicine Hat continued to grow as a modern and vibrant city in Southeast Alberta. The Medicine Hat Police Service is proud to have served the citizens of this community for the past 100 years. During the centennial year, numerous projects were undertaken which would celebrate this century of service. 1999 saw the culmination of a myriad of projects to mark the occasion of our 100th year of service to the community.
 Beginning in February of 1998, the Service unveiled a centennial logo that would symbolize the Police Service centennial. It was proudly displayed on the police vehicles, office stationary and on a variety of centennial memorabilia. The Police Service applied for and was granted a new police service badge, through the Canadian Heraldic Authority. In addition, the Service was also granted a Police Service Banner through this government body. Our Police Service is the first agency in the Province of Alberta to have been granted an official service badge, and the first police service in Canada, to have been granted a Police Service Banner. Both badge and banner were presented to the Police Service by the Lieutenant Governor of the Province of Alberta.
On our anniversary date of January 13 1999, the Service formally received our Service Banner from Mayor Grimm after it was suitably blessed and consecrated. It will be flown and paraded at all official police functions in which the Service participates. The Service also received Canadian and Alberta flags which flew in the House of Commons in Ottawa and the Alberta Legislature on January 13, 1999 in honour of our 100th birthday. We were indeed fortunate to also receive the flag that flew atop the Peace Tower of the Canadian parliament from the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Honourable Gilbert Parent. This flag now hangs in the lobby of the Police Service building.
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B. Fisk © MHPS |
As a focal point to the centennial celebrations, the Police Service commissioned local artist James Marshall to create a brick mural depicting our 100 years of service. The mural was created from actual photographs of service personnel and activities over the past century. From this mural, limited edition prints were created as a means of sharing this project with members of the Service and the community.
As well, the Gideon Society presented each person in the Police Service with a bible with the Service's crest embossed on the front cover. Again, we were the first police service in Canada to have this honour. In the lobby of the police station you will see a Canadian Coat of Arms. This article was originally displayed in an old Service building and was found, refurbished and again is displayed as a reminder of this great country we live in. In addition to the mural and Coat of Arms, you will note in the lobby the placing of a time capsule. This project saw several letters, documents and artifacts placed within a sealed capsule and dedicated to our colleagues who will open the capsule on the occasion of our second century of service in the year 2099. Below we have listed the events which have taken place over this special year, as a means of celebrating 100 years of "serving and protecting our community with pride."
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