Mayor’s BBQ still draws the crowds
By Lethbridge Herald on August 20, 2025.
Alejandra Pulido-Guzman
Lethbridge Herald
Mayor Blaine Hyggen had the opportunity to mingle with members of the community Tuesday afternoon after taking part of the Whoop-Up Days parade, during his fourth annual Mayor’s Barbecue outside of City Hall.
“I don’t get out as much as I would like to, so being able to come out here and walk up and down the lineup, meet folks and thank them for coming and for what they do to make our community so wonderful, it’s amazing,” said Hyggen.
He added he was glad to see the diversity of the population taking part of the celebrations, and that he had the opportunity to speak with a new Canadian who was very impressed by the event.
“We couldn’t ask for better weather, it’s absolutely amazing,” said Hyggen. “We are trying to make it as quickly as possible, but the lineup is pretty extensive, but we are getting folks through which is the important part.”
Last year the barbecue served more than 1,500 people and this year seemed a bit busier, so he believed maybe they would reach the 2,000 people mark this time around. After the barbecue was over, the count showed that they served a total of 1,637 people.
“Community events are amazing,” said Hyggen. “You may hear the negative things every now and again, but when you come to Whoop-Up Days and community events, people come together and have a great time.”
Multiple dignitaries attended the mayor’s barbecue, including Premier Danielle Smith, Opposition leader Naheed Nenshi, and MLAs Nathan Neudorf and Rob Miyashiro.
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The Mayor and I do not agree on some of the issues but as someone who has had the opportunity to get to know him, he loves to get out and meet the people and if he had time would sit and listen to each person’s concerns.
When people would come for a meeting with him at City Hall in the beginning, he physically came down to meet them, welcome them and then he escorted them up to his office . . . but he soon found he needed those several minutes to complete other business or make a quick phone call on other business and just could not do that anymore.
This event made him happy I am sure!