Who should represent Hamilton at the Grey Cup?
Bob Bratina's last day in office is Grey Cup Sunday
Hamilton likely won't have a mayor to represent it this weekend in Vancouver as the Tiger-Cats take their second trip to the Grey Cup in two years.
Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi has already announced he will be in Vancouver on Sunday as his city's Stampeders take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
But as it stands, Hamilton — sandwiched between two council terms — won't have the same.
The last day of Mayor Bob Bratina’s term is Nov. 30, the same day as the Grey Cup. Bratina is not planning to make the trip to Vancouver, and mayor-elect Fred Eisenberger is on vacation.
Bratina will represent Hamilton at the Vanier Cup on Saturday as the McMaster Marauders take on the Montreal Carabins.
Then the avid train fan will spend his last night as mayor at the CP Holiday Train ceremonies in Gage Park. Bratina will take part in the ceremonies, which drum up donations for Hamilton Food Share.
Bratina may change his mind about attending and will weigh his options, said Peggy Chapman, his chief of staff. But it would be difficult for him to back out of the holiday train ceremonies.
As it stands, "he’ll be back in Hamilton in time to watch the Grey Cup, and then he is committed to the holiday train."
Eisenberger, who becomes Hamilton’s mayor on Dec. 1, is not due back in Canada until Saturday.
The political timing also makes for an awkward situation around the traditional bet between competing city's mayors. Nenshi told CBC Calgary he expects to tweet later this week about a bet with Hamilton's mayor. But which mayor?
If he makes a bet with Bratina, it will be Eisenberger who who would have to live up the terms, should the Ticats lose.
Bratina attended last year’s Grey Cup in Saskatchewan, where he was photographed with Martin Short and Tom Hanks. He also wore a Saskatchewan Roughriders jersey in the council chambers after the Ticats lost as part of a bet with Regina’s mayor.
The mayor's trip cost taxpayers $2,733.91, including $971 for the plane ticket and $105.95 in food.
The city is finalizing its Grey Cup plans, including who will represent Hamilton in Vancouver, spokesperson Mike Kirkopoulos said.
That includes, he said, "how we can support and energize the community as we head into Grey Cup weekend."