NEWS PHOTO MO CRANKER
Mayor Ted Clugston chats with Rielen Anton and Kaitlyn Weatherhead during his Afternoon With the Mayor event at Police Point Park on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018.
mcranker@medicinehatnews.com @MHNmocranker
Mayor Ted Clugston spent his Saturday afternoon at one of his favourite parks catching up with Hatters of all ages.
The event launched a new tradition, An Afternoon in the Park, taking place instead of the New Year’s Levee that usually took place every year on Jan. 1.
“The New Year’s Levee was going fine, but there’s so many events going on around Christmas and around January so I thought we’d try something a little different this year,” said Clugston. “I wanted this year’s event to be more reflective of me, and what better way to do that than hold it in a park I go to every day?”
Clugston says getting younger Hatters out for the event was a priority.
“At the levee it was a suit-and-tie event,” he said. “That’s not much fun for kids to go to, so holding it here in this beautiful park is our way of trying to get more people out here.
“It’s a free event and there’s snacks and drinks.”
Though he was unsure of what people may want to talk about Saturday afternoon, Clugston says he was open to just about anything.
“I think it’s very important for all politicians to be accessible,” he said. “I’m not expecting anything too groundbreaking today, but if people have some suggestions on how they think the park could be improved or how the city could be improved, I’m here and willing to listen and talk to anyone.”