State of the Region: Mayors hammer home need to collaborate

By BRENDAN MILLER on May 15, 2026.

Mayor Linnsie Clark speaks Thursday at The Beveridge about strengthening collaborative efforts throughout the region during the inaugural State of the Region luncheon held by the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce.--NEWS PHOTO BRENDAN MILLER

bmiller@medicinehatnews.com

“When we present as a united front, we are so much stronger if we allow ourselves to be divided … We are stronger together,” said Mayor Linnsie Clark on Thursday during her speech at the inaugural 2026 State of the Region event.

The Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce-sponsored event replaces the annual State of the City luncheon, better reflecting the broader scope of the expanded business group.

Clark joined Mayor Dan Hamilton of Cypress County and Redcliff Mayor Chris Czember to speak at the inaugural event and luncheon Thursday to discuss strategic priorities and visions moving forward, highlighting economic development, infrastructure investments and local amenities.

The dominant topic of the day was strengthening regional collaboration between Medicine Hat, Cypress County, Redcliff, Foremost, Bow Island, Brooks, County of Newell and the County of Forty Mile.

“One of the things we are really focused on is ensuring that we are working as a region so that our municipalities can benefit from that bigger pull when we have that larger area and draw,” said Clark. “Each has our own competitive advantages, and figuring out how to work better together and what things we can co-operate on to attract industry to our area.

“And the recognition that if one wins, we all win.”

Stressing as a group the importance of working together to enhance economic and social wellbeing, elected officials mentioned several action items in the works to move toward common goals.

During her speech Clark spoke about ongoing regional development sessions and planning underway, saying there is heavy focus right now on improving and growing the local aerospace and defence sector, in collaboration with CFB Suffield.

Clark jokingly referred to the growing sector as the “Belle of Ball” in terms of economic development for southeast Alberta.

“We need to continue to get our face out there, because all of a sudden, when there’s billions of dollars flooded into a particular area of industry, everyone becomes an expert, everyone becomes a hub. We’re the aerospace hub now. We truly have an advantage in this area where we might need to push a little more, it’s just getting out people to be in front of those politicians, to actively promote our city and our region and to help them understand why we are where it’s at.”

Clark says stakeholders will organize a group room at this summer’s Stampede to be used for regional delegation and a site for municipalities to present as a united front.

Clark also spoke on developing and implementing a governance-level enterprise risk architecture framework that incorporates data and defines acceptable risk tolerance to give staff more ability to “calculate risks.”

“So this will actually help us to define what our risk tolerance is in various areas,” said Clark. “So our staff are empowered to take calculated risks and we are giving them permission to do that, so we’re going to continue to work with our regional partners and continue to advocate for industry to come here.”

Clark also said elected officials throughout the region continue working on development of a regional economic opportunity.

“So that’s an effort to align our goals and values,” she said.

This September, Cypress County will host a three-day networking event hosted by SiteLink aimed at promoting the county’s agriculture, industry and residential growth to potential companies and businesses by welcoming representatives and stakeholders to the region.

“It’s a big one that only two places in Canada actually have this SiteLink come every year,” explained Hamilton. “They pick certain areas, they bring industry in, they bring people in that are looking for a place to build, develop and move forward.”

The chamber says the inaugural event was inspired by the need to work and support regional collaboration moving forward

“(We wanted to show) that the area is united in growth and working together in partnership,” said Aaron Flemming, president of the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce. “And that was the goal of what the chamber wanted to have happen, was that the business community sees that region as a whole.

“What’s good for the region is good for the city, is good for the town of Redcliff, is good for Cypress County … It’s good to grow this corner of the province, so that’s what we need to look at.”

Online link: https://medicinehatnews.com/news/local-news/2026/05/15/state-of-the-region-mayors-hammer-home-need-to-collaborate/