City of St. Thomas
St. Thomas Mayor Connects with the Community Through a Weekly Facebook Live Stream
About the Art
Like this initiative, the pop art movement embraced mass media to engage a wider audience. This pop art-inspired collage references comic and cel shading styles of pop culture. The Mayor and City Hall are cast in bold, striking colours to reflect the dynamic nature of social media.
Digital artwork by Amy Jiao of Surface Impression. No AI was used in the creation of these original artworks.
“Mayor’s Update,” a weekly live stream hosted by St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston on Facebook, brings city news and decisions directly to residents in an engaging and accessible way.
Every Tuesday night, St. Thomas Mayor Joe Preston hosts a live open forum on Facebook to discuss what is happening in the city. The show is advertised on social media, and recordings are shared afterward on the city’s social media channels, for those who missed the live event. Mayor Preston answers questions in real-time, providing immediate feedback and fostering a sense of connection with the community.
Transcript
Mayor’s Update, St. Thomas with Mayor Joe and Grayden Laing from Establish Media.
Our weekly online forum show now in its fifth year, over 250 episodes. Live questions and answers of all things. City of St. Thomas. Online, live, and after show archive saved for all to see.
Now, also played on Roger’s local cable channel. Repeated many times weekly. A great place to hear about council decisions, local construction, special events of all types and hot topics, transparent display of local governance. With all questions answered. Fun facts with that personal touch.
The show covers a wide range of topics, and the tone is light, but also highly informative, making complex topics approachable. It is a forum for sharing updates on city council decisions and their impact on the community, and other elected officials are included, promoting political transparency and open dialogue. Co-hosted by Grayden Laing of St. Thomas-based Establish Media, the livestream also highlights various community events, local and new businesses, artists, and charities, and features diverse local talents and personalities.
This initiative leverages a highly popular social media platform to connect directly and regularly with the community of St. Thomas. By making community news and information more accessible and engaging, it helps to better communicate municipal decisions to those affected by them. It also allows people who might otherwise feel unheard to give their feedback directly, with fewer barriers. This approach enhances public knowledge of municipal affairs, generates a sense of unity and pride, and fosters a more informed and engaged community.
All accompanying materials available in English.
