A comment made by a popular late-night television host has prompted an official response by the city’s mayor.

Last week, Mayor Mark Gerretsen posted a light-hearted letter to social media addressing comments made by Stephen Colbert, star of the satirical news show The Colbert Report.

On Nov. 28, Colbert poked fun at a story that made national and international headlines about the arrest of a 24-year-old man during Kingston’s Santa Claus Parade.

The man was arrested after police received a complaint that someone was walking along the parade route telling children that Santa Claus doesn’t exist.

Colbert, who didn’t actually mention the city by name, said that Santa Claus was no longer real to Canadians.

He went on to say that Santa Claus remains real south of the border — flying past Canada on his way to the U.S. and only occasionally stopping in Canada to land at a Tim Hortons for his reindeer to use the bathroom.

In his letter, addressed to Colbert’s studio in New York, Gerretsen made an attempt to re-assure Colbert that despite the incident during the parade, the holiday spirit remains in Kingston.

“As Santa’s closest neighbours and inevitably his first and favourite stop on the way through to America, we wanted to assure you and Colbert Nation that Kingstonians and Canadians everywhere very much believe in the big guy and in the spirit of Christmas!” the letter said.

“Sure, every now and then a disgruntled Canadian walks through our Santa Claus parade wearing an anti-beaver t-shirt with plans to ruin our Canadian cheer … but does that mean we just give up our holiday spirit, turn off Hockey Night in Canada and only have one double-double from Tims (that’s the short-from for “Tim Hortons” by the way!) Surely not!”

Gerretsen called himself a “devoted fan” and a “member of the Colbert Nation,” pointing to a picture of a recent visit to Colbert’s studio where he wore a T-shirt with the host’s face on it.

As a Canadian, I can, most times, tolerate your attempts to defame the great nation I call home,” Gerretsen wrote. “But this time, sir, you have gone too far! Sincerely, Mark Gerretsen, Mayor of Kingston.”

— The Whig-Standard