Freezin' for a Season: A Year-Long Stand Against Smith
February 2025 - Pink Slip rally outside Premier Smith’s satellite office in Medicine Hat - credit Kelly Allard
In Medicine Hat, where a bitter wind chill of minus 33C can freeze protest signs in minutes, a political cold war is intensifying.
For nearly a year, a dedicated group has been Freezin' for a Reason either outside the constituency office of MLA Justin Wright or Premier Danielle Smith’s satellite constituency office in Medicine Hat demonstrating against the Alberta government’s policies.
Their resolve has now hardened into a recall campaign targeting both Wright and Smith—a mission meeting fierce resistance. With threats of violence from extreme UCP supporters circulating online, only one local business, a bakery owned by Brendan Hillson, has dared to offer a warm, safe space for signature collection.
The movement, however, is gaining ground. From a core of a few dozen, it has swelled in recent weeks, with a warm-weather protest drawing about 60 supporters. What began as a frigid vigil is now a growing political insurgency, facing down both the Alberta winter and a climate of intimidation.
Today, even with windchills of -30C, there was still a core group of about 10 protestors out there for an hour including Hillson himself.
This reporter witnessed a number of people today who pulled up in the parking lot to sign the petitions. Because Medicine Hat is divide into two constituencies, organizers thought it best to have canvassers from each recall petition present.
Holly Turnbull is the petition applicant for the Justin Wright recall campaign - she said in the application:
“I request a recall petition because Justin Wright has failed to represent constituents. He remained silent on eastern slopes coal mining despite significant risks to water and agriculture. He supported use of the notwithstanding clause to remove Charter rights from Albertans without consultation. He shared a story in the Legislature later contradicted by RCMP information and did not clarify it, while ignoring widespread opposition to a provincial police force. He has dismissed constituent concerns and failed to meaningfully address lack of access to health care and rising costs affecting families. Water is life.”
