“This is our forever home.” - James Kiess.

James Kiess and his wife Korrie moved to Medicine Hat from Ontario in 2017 when he accepted a job opportunity in the city. 

The pair and their two children enjoy their walks in the local parks, like Central Park, Kin Coulee Park and Police Point Park with an ice cream in hand and wildlife in sight.

During their second year in Medicine Hat, they witnessed a moose with its children as the family walked along the coulees. It was a sight the Kiess family was excited about, and they also adore when they see deer on their front lawn nibbling the grass or laying to rest. 

“It’s so much fun to have the wildlife here with children,” he says. “I think I even get a little more excited about it than they do.”

Kiess says he feels a sense of freedom and stability in Medicine Hat, and his family has strengthened mentally and financially since they packed their bags to move to the city.

He’s a family man and is grateful that Medicine Hat and Alberta allow him to have strong family values, as well as encourage it.

“I have never in my life met so many friendly and caring people,” he says. “The people here are so laid-back and wonderful.”

Along with their walks in the park, Kiess extremely appreciates the long golf season in Medicine Hat, as well as the courses that are available throughout the city.

“They’ve built the courses to go along the land and the coulees and it’s absolutely gorgeous,” he says. 

Kiess looks forward to watching his wife grow in her journey as a hairstylist, to raise their children in the family-orientated community, to grow his career in welding and to grow overall as a family.

“I really love Alberta and I look forward to more years here in the Hat,” he says. “This is our forever home.”