As city hall reporter, I am often asked how I manage to sit through St. Albert city council meetings on a regular basis.
They’re long and they swing between really boring or very interesting.
So how do I try and stay sharp during meetings? I’ve got a few techniques but awhile back, just for fun, I developed a St. Albert city council meeting drinking game borne of over-familiarity with council member’s verbal ticks and personal policy hobbyhorses.
And, while I can’t actually drink during the meetings (I attend in person and have to drive after), I’m offering my drinking game to you avid council watchers so you can play along at home, should you enjoy such shenanigans.
So grab your beverage of choice, settle in with the TV broadcast or the online livestream and get ready.
The rules are simple – there’s a drink trigger associated with each council member, as well as a few bonus shots.
One of the mayor’s hobbyhorses this term has been a drive to create policy. So if Mayor Nolan Crouse starts talking about how fill-in-the-blank should be enshrined in policy instead of another one-off, take a drink.
Coun. Cam MacKay often wants to know how he’s going to justify some motions (usually money-related ones) to the average citizen. If MacKay uses the terms “Joe Q. Public” or “common sense” take a drink.
Like all members of council, Coun. Gilles Prefontaine certainly has his passion points that he likes to try and move forward. If Prefontaine starts talking about sustainability or affordable housing, go ahead and take a drink.
Coun. Tim Osborne was elected on a platform with public consultation as a major plank. You have to give him this – he brings it up a lot. If Osborne starts talking about public consultation, have a drink.
Coun. Sheena Hughes does her homework and has her own passions. Sometimes this involves minding the details of the wording in a motion. If Hughes offers an amendment to a motion, take a drink.
Coun. Cathy Heron also likes to do her prep work, which seems to usually appear in terms of research on motions she’s passionate about. If Heron starts throwing out statistics that she found during her research, have another drink.
Coun. Wes Brodhead has his topics of interest too, and isn’t shy about bringing them up when he feels it’s necessary to keep things on track. If Brodhead talks about whistle cessation or transit, take a drink.
This should be enough to get you a couple shots in per meeting. However, if that’s not enough for your liver to process already, try adding these bonus triggers.
If Brodhead and Heron literally “ditto” each other, either by repeating almost exactly what the other just said or actually using the word “ditto,” have a shot.
If any member of council uses the term “motherhood and apple pie” about a motion, take two shots.
If the vote splits 5-2, take a shot.
If city manager Patrick Draper has to take the mike to defend his staff, take a shot.
Victoria Paterson is city hall reporter for the Gazette and doesn’t actually recommend playing this with real alcohol.
