Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina is the capital city of the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. It is the second-largest city in the province, after Saskatoon. As of the 2021 census, Regina had a city population of 226,404 and a metropolitan area population of 249,217. The city is governed by the Regina City Council and is surrounded by the Rural Municipality of Sherwood No. 159.

The city was originally called Wascana, meaning "Buffalo Bones" in Cree, but was renamed Regina in 1882 to honor Queen Victoria. This name was suggested by her daughter, Princess Louise, who was the wife of the Governor General of Canada, the Marquess of Lorne. 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 residential 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 experienced tough times with the Great Depression, leading to the Regina Riot. In response, the CCF party created the Regina Manifesto in 1933, which helped shape new ways of thinking about economics and healthcare. 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, unlike other places that seemed better for a city.

In 1885, Regina became important during a big uprising called the North-West Rebellion. Troops could travel by train to nearby Qu'Appelle before marching onward. The leader of the uprising, Louis Riel, was later tried and faced serious consequences in Regina, which brought more attention to the young city.

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 major damage and many difficulties for the people living there.

Modern history (1945–present)

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

Geography

Regina is located east of Moose Jaw on a flat, open plain. The city has many parks and green spaces, with around 300,000 trees, shrubs, and plants that were carefully planted by people. In past years, many homes and main streets had American elms, but a disease called Dutch elm disease has been affecting these trees. Efforts are being made to protect the trees and plant new kinds that are not affected by the disease.

Climate

Regina has warm summers and cold, dry winters, with temperatures that can change a lot throughout the year. On average, the city gets about 389.7 millimetres (15.34 inches) of rain or snow each year, mostly from May through August. The warmest month is usually June, with about 75 millimetres (2.95 inches) of precipitation. 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) on January 1, 1885, and the hottest was 43.9 °C (111 °F) on July 5, 1937.

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 faculties dedicated to these fields. Famous artists, like the Regina Five, once studied here. The MacKenzie Art Gallery, now in a big building near Albert Street, shows wonderful art.

The city hosts many festivals throughout the year. These include the Regina International Film Festival, the Regina Folk Festival, and Queen City Pride. The Regina Symphony Orchestra, one of Canada’s oldest, performs at the Conexus Arts Centre. Theatres like the Globe Theatre bring live performances 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 and facilities. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum and the Saskatchewan Science Centre are great for learning. Visitors can also enjoy the 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

The city of Regina, in Saskatchewan, Canada, had a population of 226,404 in 2021, according to the census. This was a 5.3% increase from 2016. The city covers an area of 178.81 km², with a population density of 1,266.2 people per square kilometer.

In the larger area around Regina, called the census metropolitan area, there were 249,217 people living in 2021, also a 5.3% increase from 2016. This area covers 4,323.66 km², with a population density of 57.6 people per square kilometer.

Many people living in Regina were born in other countries. The top countries of origin for these immigrants were the Philippines, India, China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Vietnam, the United Kingdom, Bangladesh, the United States of America, and Ukraine.

Ethnicity

Regina has a notable Aboriginal population, with 15,685 people identifying as Aboriginal, making up 8.3% of the city's total population. Among them, 9,200 were First Nations, 5,990 were Métis, and 495 were from other Aboriginal groups.

Religion

According to the 2021 census, the main religious groups in Regina were:

• Christianity (117,905 persons or 52.9%)
• Irreligion (79,020 persons or 35.4%)
• Islam (10,360 persons or 4.6%)
• Hinduism (6,565 persons or 2.9%)
• Sikhism (4,305 persons or 1.9%)
• Buddhism (1,790 persons or 0.8%)
• Indigenous Spirituality (1,210 persons or 0.5%)
• Judaism (365 persons or 0.2%)
• Other (1,555 persons or 0.7%)

Economy

Main article: Economy of Regina, Saskatchewan

See also: Regina industry and resources

Regina, as the capital of Saskatchewan, is home to many important government offices and organizations. It is also where several big companies have their main offices, including groups that manage energy, gaming, insurance, and communications.

The city's economy benefits greatly from natural resources like oil, natural gas, and potash. Farming and agriculture used to be the main driver of growth, but today, natural resources play a bigger role.

One major company in Regina is EVRAZ, which makes steel products. It started in 1956 and has grown over the years.

Regina has also had oil refineries, though some have closed down over time. In the 1990s, some big companies moved their main offices to Regina, bringing more jobs to the area. In 2009, a large grain company moved its headquarters to Regina, making it a key place for grain handling around the world.

The Mosaic Company has an office in Regina, serving as the headquarters for the company's Potash Business Unit.

Education

Primary and secondary schooling

Main article: List of schools in Regina, Saskatchewan

In Regina, there are many schools for children. The Regina Public School Board runs 45 elementary schools and 9 high schools with about 21,000 students. The Regina Catholic Schools Separate School Board runs 25 elementary schools and 4 high schools with around 10,000 students. These schools have modern labs, gyms, and arts facilities. Some families choose to teach their children at home with support 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. Before this university was built, there was a school called Regina College. Over time, it grew into the University of Regina in 1974. Near the university, there is a research park where scientists work on 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 used to be the home of the police force before it moved to Ottawa. The academy is a big attraction, with special events and a chapel that visitors can see.

Infrastructure

Regina gets its drinking water from Buffalo Pound Lake in the Qu'Appelle Valley, a large lake made by people on the Qu'Appelle River. The water comes from Lake Diefenbaker behind the Gardiner Dam on the South Saskatchewan River. The city’s electricity comes from SaskPower, a company that 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, and the public healthcare system in Saskatchewan pays for their services.

Main article: Regina Police Service

Transportation

Public transportation

Regina Transit runs 110 buses on 17 routes and 4 express routes. The buses work every day and help people travel around the city. Regina used to have many streetcars, but a big fire in 1949 destroyed most of them. Now, the city uses diesel buses instead.

Major roads in Regina include Ring Road, which connects the east and northwest parts of the city. 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 using the Trans-Canada Highway and several provincial highways.

The Regina International Airport offers flights to Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto, Vancouver, and Winnipeg. There are also seasonal flights to Montreal and some places in the United States and Mexico.

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

Notable people

Main article: List of people from Regina, Saskatchewan

Regina has been home to many famous people who have made their mark in different fields. These individuals come from all walks of life and have contributed in many ways to the world from this city in Saskatchewan.