Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is the second-largest city in the province, after Saskatoon. Regina is governed by the Regina City Council and is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Sherwood No. 159.

The city was originally called Wascana, but was renamed Regina in 1882 to honor Queen Victoria. Regina became the seat of government for the new province of Saskatchewan in 1905.

Wascana Centre, built around Wascana Lake, is one of Regina's main attractions. It includes the Provincial Legislative Building, the University of Regina, the First Nations University of Canada, the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, and several other cultural and educational sites. The city has important neighborhoods like Lakeview and The Crescents, as well as a growing warehouse district.

In 1912, a big storm known as the Regina Cyclone caused major damage. During the 1930s, Regina had tough times with the Great Depression. Later, under leaders like Tommy Douglas, Regina became known for its focus on public healthcare and cooperative movements. In recent years, Saskatchewan's resources have brought new economic growth to the area.

History

Main article: History of Regina, Saskatchewan

For a chronological guide, see Timeline of Regina history.

Early history (1882–1945)

Regina became the capital of the North-West Territories in 1882. It was chosen by Edgar Dewdney, the lieutenant-governor, who picked a spot called "Pile-of-Bones." This area had few trees and was far from water.

In 1885, Regina was important during the North-West Rebellion. Troops could travel by train to nearby Qu'Appelle before marching onward. The leader of the rebellion, Louis Riel, was later tried in Regina.

Regina became an official city in 1903 and was named the capital of the new province of Saskatchewan in 1906. A big tornado called the "Regina Cyclone" hit the city in 1912, causing damage.

Modern history (1945–present)

Over time, many older buildings in Regina were lost, but new developments brought people back to the city centre. Parks and historic areas, like Wascana Centre, became important for residents and visitors. Efforts to save older buildings have helped preserve parts of the city's past.

Geography

Regina is east of Moose Jaw on flat land. The city has many parks with trees, shrubs, and plants that people planted. Some trees called American elms got sick from a disease named Dutch elm disease. People are working to save the trees and plant new ones.

Climate

Regina has warm summers and cold winters. The temperature changes a lot during the year. The city gets about 389.7 millimetres (15.34 inches) of rain or snow each year, mostly from May to August. June is usually the warmest month. The average temperature for the whole year is 3.1 °C (37.6 °F). The coldest it has ever been was −50.0 °C (−58 °F) and the hottest was 43.9 °C (111 °F).

Cityscape

See also: List of neighbourhoods in Regina, Saskatchewan; List of tallest buildings in Regina; and Regina's historic buildings and precincts

Some interesting parts of Regina include:

1. The original town area between the CPR tracks and Wascana Lake
2. The downtown business district called "Market Square"
3. The Cathedral Area
4. The historic Crescents area near Wascana Creek
5. Germantown, once home to many continental Europeans
6. Lakeview, near important government buildings, with large homes built before and after World War I
7. The Warehouse District, which is changing from a place for storing goods into a nice area to live, eat, and shop

Since cars became common, many people from Regina have chosen to live in nearby towns and travel to the city for work. Towns like Fort Qu'Appelle, Indian Head, White City, and Emerald Park have become popular places to live. Regina Beach on Last Mountain Lake is a favorite spot for summer visits and also a place where some people now live year-round.

Culture

Main article: Culture in Regina

Regina has a rich cultural life with music, theatre, and dance. The University of Regina supports the arts with special programs for these activities. Famous artists, like the Regina Five, once studied here. The MacKenzie Art Gallery shows wonderful art in a big building near Albert Street.

The city holds many festivals each year. These include the Regina International Film Festival, the Regina Folk Festival, and Queen City Pride. The Regina Symphony Orchestra performs at the Conexus Arts Centre. Theatres like the Globe Theatre bring live shows to the community.

Parks and attractions

Regina has many parks and green spaces. Wascana Lake is a popular spot for boating and winter activities like skating. Victoria Park is in the downtown area and hosts many events.

The city has several places to visit, such as Wascana Centre, a large park with many buildings. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Saskatchewan Science Centre are great for learning. Visitors can also see beautiful cathedrals, the Hotel Saskatchewan, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police museum.

Sports

Regina is home to the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a beloved football team that plays at Mosaic Stadium. The team has won the Grey Cup several times. Other sports teams include the Regina Pats hockey team and the Regina Thunder football team.

The city is also known for its curling teams, including one led by Sandra Schmirler, an Olympic Gold medalist. Regina has hosted many games and competitions, making it a lively place for sports fans.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is a city in Saskatchewan, Canada. In 2021, 226,404 people lived there. This was 5.3% more than in 2016. The city covers 178.81 km².

The larger area around Regina, called the census metropolitan area, had 249,217 people in 2021. This was also a 5.3% increase from 2016. This area covers 4,323.66 km².

Many people in Regina were born in other countries. Some of these countries are the Philippines, India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, the United States of America, and Ukraine.

Ethnicity

Regina has many people from Aboriginal groups. In 2021, 15,685 people identified as Aboriginal. This was 8.3% of the city's population. Some were First Nations, Métis, or from other Aboriginal groups.

Religion

In 2021, the main religions in Regina were:

• Christianity
• Irreligion
• Islam
• Hinduism
• Sikhism
• Buddhism
• Indigenous Spirituality
• Judaism

Economy

Main article: Economy of Regina, Saskatchewan

See also: Regina industry and resources

Regina, as the capital of Saskatchewan, has many important government offices. Big companies also have their main offices here, such as those that work with energy, gaming, insurance, and communications.

The city's economy grows because of natural resources like oil, natural gas, and potash. Farming used to be very important, but now natural resources matter more.

One big company in Regina is EVRAZ, which makes steel. It started in 1956 and has grown since then.

Regina has had oil refineries, though some have closed. In the 1990s, some large companies moved their main offices to Regina, creating more jobs. In 2009, a large grain company moved its headquarters here, making Regina important for grain handling around the world.

The Mosaic Company has an office in Regina for its Potash Business Unit.

Education

Primary and secondary schooling

Main article: List of schools in Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina has many schools for children. The Regina Public School Board runs elementary and high schools with about 21,000 students. The Regina Catholic Schools Separate School Board also has schools for around 10,000 students. These schools have labs, gyms, and arts spaces. Some families teach their children at home with help from the school board. There are also special schools like Luther College and the Regina Huda School.

University of Regina

Main article: University of Regina

Regina has a big university called the University of Regina. It started as Regina College and became a university in 1974. Near the university is a research park where scientists study technology, oil, and the environment.

Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Main article: Saskatchewan Polytechnic

Next to the University of Regina is Saskatchewan Polytechnic. It used to be a hospital but now teaches skills for jobs in trades, technology, and professional fields.

RCMP Academy, Depot Division

Main article: RCMP Academy, Depot Division

On the west side of Regina is the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Academy. Regina was once home to the police force before it moved to Ottawa. The academy is a popular place to visit, with special events and a chapel that people can see.

Infrastructure

Regina gets its drinking water from Buffalo Pound Lake in the Qu'Appelle Valley. This lake is on the Qu'Appelle River. The water starts from Lake Diefenbaker behind the Gardiner Dam on the South Saskatchewan River. The city’s electricity comes from SaskPower. This company runs power lines all over the province. They make electricity from coal, natural gas, hydroelectric, and wind power.

Regina has three main hospitals: Regina General, Pasqua (formerly Grey Nuns), and Wascana Rehabilitation Centre. Doctors and nurses there help people stay healthy. The public healthcare system in Saskatchewan pays for their services.

Main article: Regina Police Service

Transportation

Public transportation

Regina Transit runs buses to help people travel around the city. The city used to have streetcars, but a fire destroyed most of them. Now, the city uses diesel buses.

Major roads in Regina include Ring Road. Lewvan Drive, which becomes Pasqua Street in the city's north end links to the Trans-Canada highway and Highway 11. The Regina Bypass goes around the city.

Inter-city transportation

You can reach Regina by road.

The Regina International Airport offers flights to Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg.

Bus services to other cities are provided by Rider Express. The Saskatchewan Transportation Company (STC) used to run bus services but stopped in 2017. Greyhound Canada also stopped its services in 2018.

Train services have not run in Regina since 1990. The old train station is now Casino Regina.

Media

Main article: Media of Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina has one main newspaper called The Leader-Post, which has been around since 1883 and is now owned by Postmedia Network. Another paper, The Regina Sun, used to be published on weekends but stopped in 2015.

There is also Prairie Dog, a free newspaper and blog started in 1993, and L'eau vive, a weekly French newspaper for people across Saskatchewan.

The city has thirteen radio stations, including CHBD-FM at 92.7 FM, CKRM at 620 AM, and CJME at 980 AM, among others.

Regina has four television channels: CKCK-TV (CTV), CBKT (CBC), CFRE-TV (Global), and CBKFT (SRC). There are also educational and community channels available.

Friendship and sister city relations

Regina has special friendships with cities in other countries. It works closely with Bucharest in Romania and Jinan in China. It also has a friendship agreement with Fujioka in Japan. These partnerships help share culture, education, and trade.

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is where many famous people live or grew up. They come from many different backgrounds and have done important things in many areas of the world.