Toronto’s mayor has decided to change up a tradition that dates to 1968 and hold a skating party on New Year’s Day.

John Tory’s skating event will run from 2pm to 3:30pm at Nathan Phillips Square.  There will be a family-friendly DJ, hot chocolate, apple cider, coffee and tea. The mayor will move between the outdoor skating rink and the city hall lobby, where he will mingle with Torontonians.  He’s eliminated the traditional levee receiving line.

A spokesperson for Mayor Tory says he’s a grandfather and wanted to make it more of a family event, with the hope that Nathan Phillips Square will be more of a destination for families on New Years Day.

The standard levee was a quiet affair during which residents stood in line in the lobby of Toronto city hall for a handshake and photo with the mayor and city councillors.

Mississauga’s new mayor Bonnie Crombie plans to hold a combination levee and skate on January 1st. Her skate begins at 10am.  The meet-and-greet will be at 2:15pm.  Brampton’s new mayor, Linda Jeffrey, will hold her first levee on January 10th at 1pm.