If elected to the city’s top office, Hewton would see a warm meal program inside city hall and a glass encasement for Scarth Street to escape winter, among other visions.
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Nathaniel Hewton says there “isn’t any one thing” that made him decide to run for mayor of Regina.
“There’s a massive amount of reasons why it is I’ve decided to run for mayor,” he said in an interview with Regina Leader-Post.
“From the accountability problem to the fact that there’s overspending everywhere, to the fact that the stuff that is being quote-unquote ‘fixed’ isn’t stuff that needs to be fixed. . . it’s basic distraction versus necessity.”
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Hewton, one of 11 mayoral candidates on the ballot for the Nov. 13 municipal election, says he’s been campaigning for three years and hopes to unseat incumbent Sandra Masters.
In listing his reasons, Hewton pointed to $750 million in capital projects currently on the city’s radar, “none of which have anything to do with the infrastructure issues at hand, like the water piping or filtration systems.”
Hewton disagrees with the pitch for a new Central Library and describes all of the major projects explored by the city’s catalyst committee as “fallacies.”
Hewton says that certain organizations have “toxified downtown” and revitalization is being “stifled.” He also referred to alleged misuses of funds by officials and organizations, which he chose not to name.
Asked what he brings to the table as a candidate for mayor, Hewton said he offers the perspective of someone living on social services who is working to provide a leg up for those struggling “on the bottom,” which he would continue to do from the mayor’s office.
Hewton is the founder of InifiNATE Initiatives, which he describes very purposefully as “a private social services company.” Its flagship program is Soup After Dark, but Hewton says he has a book of 180 “global projects and programs and challenges” he’s working to further.
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Hewton started Soup After Dark in 2022 to feed people warm meals throughout the coldest months of the year. If elected mayor, he would move the program inside city hall’s cafeteria.
Hewton has plenty of other ideas to improve the city, such as keeping Scarth Street car free and putting a glass ceiling over top to make it a functional public space in winter.
“We are a winter city,” he said. “Everybody is going to scoff at me and think that’s crazy but, if you look at some of the other insane implemented ideas, this is actually a fairly cheap one that would give us something to brag about.”
Hewton also has “romanticization and revamp plans” for other parts of the city. He would pitch creating “grain vaults” in Regina as an emergency ration supply for the country, and also place a Deadpool statue in one of the city’s parks.
“I’m definitely a force to be reckoned with when it comes to my experiences and my passion,” he said. “I will not back down.”
As for why people should vote for him, Hewton replied: “They shouldn’t. People should vote for themselves.”
“You follow in your heart what you think is right, and you follow the person that you think is the best suited for this,” he continued. “If I’m that person, if what I say resonates with you, then I’m probably the guy for you. If not, there’s 10 other people.”
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In addition to Hewton and Masters, the other candidates vying for the city’s top seat are Ward 4 councillor Lori Bresciani, “Dancing” Bob Pearce, Bill Pratt, Shawn Sparvier, Kevin Kardash, Bevann Fox, Chad Bachynski, Melina Bushenlonga and Rod Williams.
In addition to election-day polls on Nov. 13, advance polls run Nov. 1 to Nov. 4 at select locations from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
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