Chalk Trials and Closed Meetings: Graffiti Bylaw Back on Agenda
MEDICINE HAT – After five months of no progress the Governance Committee has finally put the graffiti bylaw back on the agenda. They meet tomorrow to talk about it.
They want to do it behind closed doors because apparently, fixing a bylaw that treats chalk the same as spray paint is top secret information.
What The MGA Says
The Municipal Government Act is very clear about closed meetings. Section 197 says councils and committees must hold their meetings in public unless the topic fits one of a few narrow exceptions, like legal advice or personnel issues. Even then, they can only close part of the meeting.
But this council has been treating "advice from officials" like a get-out-of-jail-free card. They have used it to hide budget talks, facility updates, and shelter discussions. That is not how the law works.
Then there is the voting thing. Section 197(3) is crystal clear: no resolutions or bylaws can be passed in a closed meeting. The only vote allowed behind closed doors is a vote to reopen the meeting to the public. That is it.
Now, the motion back on March 10 was a motion arising from the closed session.
That part was legal. Councillor Mohammed moved that the committee recommend council direct administration to bring forward suggested amendments to the graffiti bylaw. That motion passed.
We did not get to see what the suggested amendments were. We figured we would find out when it went to the regular city council meeting but it never got there.
Somehow, without any motion or resolution to do so, it got kicked back to committee.
The Owl has checked all of the available meeting minutes and it does not appear on any of them.
The original motion was for this to go to Council, it never got there. It cannot go back to committee without a vote to do so but we have not had a public vote.
Five months later, "Graffiti Bylaw Changes"is on the closed agenda once again.
Let us be honest here. There is no way a graffiti bylaw needs to be discussed behind closed doors unless they are worried that it will affect the pending trials.
The trials for chalk.
Interesting Timing
File photo - Owl News Nov 2025
Monday, August 17, Geraldine has two trials one for each graffiti ticket. She got them for using chalk on the clock tower at City Hall Plaza last November.
The city’s lawyer has been in court with Geraldine multiple times.
July 20 the city’s lawyer asked to push the second trial back until August 17.
Interesting timing indeed.
The Chalk Circus
Geraldine leads the Niitsitapi Kookums. They feed people downtown every single day. Snow, rain, wind, blazing sun. They do not stop.
She got the chalk tickets for drawing on the clock tower at City Hall Plaza. The graffiti bylaw was written back in 2006. It defines graffiti as "words, figures, letters or drawings scribbled, scratched, painted, sprayed, written, drawn, or otherwise applied on Premises without consent".
It does not say anything about permanency. Under this law, chalk is legally the same as spray paint.
Real Offensive Graffiti Sits for Weeks
While the city spends money chasing a woman with chalk for posting messages of love and peace, actual permanent offensive graffiti has been sitting on city property for more than a week.
These garbage cans are all at one intersection, one on each corner. They all have graffiti. One says "Jills vagina" with an arrow pointing to the hole. Another has the word "asshole" written on it with "jazz mouth" pointing again to the hole.
The top row was taken July 29, the bottom row taken August 9.
Classy stuff.
The city's bylaw says property owners must remove graffiti within seven days of getting written notice from a bylaw enforcement officer but the city owns these garbage cans.
Who is going to give the city written notice?
Special Olympics in Town
This week, Medicine Hat is hosting the Special Olympics Canada Summer Games. More than 1,700 athletes are here. Coaches. Family members. The Governor General of Canada is also in town.
These are people we want to impress. People we want to move here or visit again. And what do they see when they come downtown? Garbage cans covered in graffiti about vaginas and assholes.
Great first impression.
What Happens Next?
August 11 - the Governance Committee meets, the public won't get to hear what they say.
August 17 - Morning - Geraldine goes to trial for both chalk tickets.
August 17 - Evening - Council's next regular meeting
Will the city withdraw the tickets?
Will the city ask for another delay?
Or will they go ahead with the trial?
The Owl will keep watching. Because apparently, someone has to.
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