MP Thomas meets with constituents at Christmas Open House

By Justin Seward - Lethbridge Herald on December 13, 2022.

Herald photo by Justin Seward MP Rachael Thomas chats with visitors at her Christmas Open House on Saturday at PiP International.

MP Rachael Thomas hosted a Christmas Open House for her constituents at PIP International on Saturday.

Hundreds of attendees could listen to Christmas classics from the Lethbridge Community Band, visit with Santa, decorate cookies, roast marshmallows and ask Thomas about concerns they may have.

“It’s an opportunity for me to connect with constituents from all types of backgrounds and just to be able to wish them a Merry Christmas and provide some really fun activities for them to do,” said Thomas.

In hosting an annual open house, Thomas felt it was important because she believes that she has to represent the people that put her in Ottawa.

“And representation starts with listening, followed by action,” said Thomas. “I have to find those spaces where I can listen and that’s sometimes events that are planned in the community, sometimes it means creating events myself. This is just a really nice environment where people can come and they can come talk to me, if they have concerns they can bring them up. If they just wish to decorate a cookie or roast a marshmallow on the fire, listen to the live music that’s here, then that’s great.”

Thomas heard from constituents about the cost of living, the carbon tax, persons with disabilities and supports that are being offered to them, discussion about seniors and CPP, and grocery bills and the fact that people are finding it difficult to make ends meet.

Harold Pereverseff is a federal Conservative Party member and a has done many years of volunteering.

“I believe that this isn’t a political meeting at all or anything like that,” he said. “It’s just a family get together, like you said. We’ve got some smores going on out there and cookies, the hot chocolate and lots of kids and that’s what it’s all about.”

Pereverseff said attendance at the open house had been steady.

“There’s probably been close to 500-600 people that have gone through here,” he said.