Medicine Hat's Big Marble Go Centre earns first sensory-inclusive rec centre status in Alberta
The certification arrives days before the facility hosts events for the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games.
Why it matters
The certification aims to make a major public facility more welcoming for residents and visitors with sensory sensitivities, including athletes at the upcoming Special Olympics Games.
The Big Marble Go Centre in Medicine Hat has become the first recreation centre in Alberta to receive KultureCity's Sensory Inclusive certification, a designation meant to improve accessibility for people with sensory sensitivities. The announcement comes five days ahead of the 2026 Special Olympics Canada Summer Games, running Aug. 11 to 15, which will bring athletes and visitors to the facility and other venues.
To earn the certification, 85 staff members completed specialized training developed by medical and neurodivergent professionals to help them recognize and respond to sensory overload. The City of Medicine Hat says further staff training will continue.
The centre has also added sensory bags, available for borrowing at the customer service desk, containing noise-cancelling headphones, fidget tools, verbal cue cards and weighted lap pads. Visitors can use the free KultureCity app to check available sensory supports and view a Social Story outlining what to expect before arriving.
Interim recreation manager William Percy said the achievement is an important step toward making the facility more inclusive for the thousands of guests it welcomes each year. Big Marble Go Centre is the third City of Medicine Hat facility to receive the certification, following Co-op Place and the Esplanade Arts and Heritage Centre in February 2025.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.