Mayoral, council candidates come together at Prayer in the Park Thursday evening

Roughly 60 people gathered in prayer in Galt Gardens Thursday evening. Amazing Grace Community Church hosted the Prayer in the Park, which saw a large number of municipal candidates attend. Organizer, Colette Aikema, says it was important to connect the Christian community with potential candidates ahead of the fall election. 

Councillor Candidate, Kelti Baird was in attendance, she says she was apprehensive about attending, but thought it was important to support everyone. 

The event began with each candidate giving a two minute speech and a group prayer before breaking off into smaller groups to meet one another personally.

Organizers say rather than holding a forum for everyone to meet one another, they thought prayer would be a great alternative. The work for Prayer In The Park began in June. AGCC Pastor Rohan Crown invited church and community leaders, while Aikema was busy arranging meetings with every city council and mayoral candidate.

Mayoral candidates, Blaine Hyggen and Bridget Mearns, say it was important to attend the prayer as a way to build community support, while building community support. 

Member of Amazing Grace Community Church, Erika Kok, says she was happy to come out and meet the potential candidates, while praying over them as they head into the election.

The municipal election is on October 18.