LECTURE CANCELLED: From the Odyssey to Q: 50 Years of 2SLGBTQ History in Regina

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Due to unforeseen circumstances, we’ve had to cancel our upcoming lecture “From the Odyssey to Q: 50 Years of 2SLGBTQ history in Regina.”
We look forward to welcoming Valerie Korinek back at a later date.

Heritage Regina 2026 Lecture Series

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Heritage Regina’s Lecture Series is back in 2026, covering a range of architectural and cultural topics. You won’t want to miss any of our five lectures between January and April. 

Join us on January 29 for “Sober Stories and Tipsy Tales from Regina’s Prohibition Era.” In what’s sure to be Heritage Regina’s driest lecture yet, you’ll experience the history, song, and story that brings the era of 1920s prohibition to life. 

Learn how early immigrants to Western Canada picked their dream homes by flipping pages with Heritage Regina board member John Robinson’s lecture, “House in a Box: Catalog Homes,” on March 5. 

Local personalities join Heritage Regina board member Rebecca Bend on March 26 to discuss both their favorite locations and community-nominated properties in “Heritage Huddle: Regina’s Most Beloved Buildings.” 

Finally, step back in time with historian Bill Waiser for “No Level Fields.” This lecture provides an examination of the homesteading experience in Saskatchewan and uncovers why only three out of five settlers succeeded. 

“Our Winter Lecture Series is one of the ways Heritage Regina brings people together to explore the stories that have shaped our city,” says Heritage Regina’s President, Jackie Schmidt. “Each lecture offers an opportunity to learn, reflect, and connect with Regina’s rich history, and we’re excited to welcome the community back for another season of thoughtful conversation and discovery.” 

Heritage Regina strives to preserve sites of historical, cultural, and architectural significance in Regina by creating an awareness of the community’s shared stories and of the importance of heritage in sustaining the culture and identity of the city. 

You can keep up with all news regarding the events on our Facebook Page: Facebook.com/HeritageRegina

Heritage Regina’s Letter To City Council Regarding Budget Deliberations
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This most recent set of budget deliberations provides an excellent opportunity to reflect on what truly makes a city worth living in. In Regina, we are fortunate to be surrounded by tireless arts workers and community advocates whose commitment to human connection makes our city more diverse, supportive, and resilient. Arts and community initiatives bring a richness to city life that cannot be replicated without the deep generosity these individuals offer their communities.

 

Beyond their cultural impact, these organisations deliver an extraordinary return on investment through thousands of hours of volunteerism—time, expertise, and leadership that far exceed the value of public dollars invested. Their work amplifies city resources, strengthens neighbourhoods, and builds social infrastructure that supports well being, safety, and economic vitality. Together, these organisations and their leaders create opportunities for reflection, empathy, and shared experience—the very qualities that make a city not just functional, but truly liveable.

 

You can read Heritage Regina’s full letter to city council which will be presented December 16th, 2025 here:

 

 
City Budget 2026 2.1

Heritage Regina Featured in Friends of Yamasaki Fall 2025 Newsletter

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The following article was featured in the fall 2025 Friends of Yamasaki newsletter. We are excited to partner with a great organisation in supporting and honouring Minoru Yamasaki’s architectural contributions to Regina’s heritage.

Friends of Yamasaki Logo

You can learn more about the Friends of Yamasaki and sign up for their newsletter so you don’t miss our next feature via their website here: Friends of Yamasaki

The following was retrieved from the Friends of Yamasaki Fall 2025 newsletter and was not altered by Heritage Regina in any form.

Celebrating Our Partner Organizations

In this and upcoming newsletters, we are featuring Partner Organizations who have joined our mission.  We are profoundly grateful for their invaluable support, starting with Heritage Regina and Friends of Mukai (see below.)

Heritage Regina Joins Friends of Yamasaki

Friends of Yamasaki is proud to partner with Heritage Regina, in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, celebrating Minoru Yamasaki’s remarkable sense of landscape design and architectural vision.  Heritage Regina’s mission is to preserve the city’s historic buildings and sites through stewardship, advocacy, research, public education, and collaboration.

Wascana Centre Sites and Attractions Map

Wascana Centre Sites and Attractions Map

In 1961, Yamasaki was commissioned to prepare a 100-year master plan for Wascana Centre, an urban park that surrounds Wascana Lake, immediately south of Regina’s downtown core.  The city of Regina was growing rapidly, and a vision was needed to protect the park from urban encroachment.  At the same time, plans were underway for an expanded university within Wascana Centre at the southeast end of the park.

As Jackie Schmidt, President of Heritage Regina explains “his (Yamasaki’s) vision integrated the University and the Provincial Legislature within a design that harmonized the natural landscape with the built environment.”  Wascana Centre is one of the largest urban parks in North America and includes the Saskatchewan Legislative Building (1913), Mackenzie Art Gallery, and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum.

Interior of Yamasaki’s Dr. John Archer Library, University of Regina

Interior of Yamasaki’s Dr. John Archer Library, University of Regina

Yamasaki was awarded contracts to design three buildings for the University which were built between 1963 and 1967: the Classroom Building, the Laboratory Building, and his revered architectural landmark, the Dr. John Archer Library.  As Schmidt affirms, “Regina is fortunate to be home to these enduring landmarks, which stand as a testament to the power of architecture to connect heritage, culture, and community in shaping a city’s identity.”

 

 

Heritage Regina’s response to City Council’s decision regarding Crédit Foncier.

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Heritage Regina acknowledges City Council’s decision to proceed with Option 1 for the Crédit Foncier Building, allowing the Tyndall stone façade to be dismantled and stored for potential reuse in the future. While this approach preserves the possibility of reconstruction or thoughtful incorporation into a future development, it falls short of the strongest heritage outcome—retaining the façade in place, as supported by the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District guidelines.
Council’s decision keeps a narrow path open for the façade’s return, even if that opportunity lies ten or more years ahead. This is important, as the Crédit Foncier Building remains a significant contributor to the historic character and cultural memory of Regina’s downtown.
However, this process has also made clear that Council has a long way to go in consistently upholding its own bylaws and heritage policies. The Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District was created to prevent exactly this kind of incremental loss, and the repeated erosion of its protected  places in  the district—and the city’s cultural identity—at constant  risk.
Heritage Regina will continue to advocate for stronger adherence to the City’s heritage bylaws, clearer processes, and decisions that honour both the spirit and the letter of Regina’s conservation commitments. We expect that the dismantling and storage of the Tyndall stone will be conducted to the highest standards, with full documentation and transparent oversight, so that future restoration remains a real and viable possibility.
We remain committed to working collaboratively with Administration, the property owner, and the broader community to ensure that the heritage value of this site is not lost but ultimately reintegrated into a revitalised and meaningful place within the downtown.

Heritage Regina Presents to City Council on Crédit Foncier

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The City of Regina City Council will be discussing the future of the Crédit Foncier building on corner of 12th Avenue and Cornwall St at their meeting today, December 3rd 2025.

Heritage Regina will be presenting to city council our request to preserve the heritage of the site.

Image of the Credit Foncier Building

Crédit Foncier Building, 1912

 

” Our request is clear and reasonable:
Retain and underpin the two Tyndall stone façades, allowing the remainder of the building to be removed or redeveloped as needed to accommodate the City’s proposed Skuare Park and the property owner’s long-term
plans”

 

You can read our full letter to City Council here:

Credit Foncier Dec 3rd final

Ed Staniowski shares information about his lecture

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Our speaker for Thursday’s lecture The Torch Be Ours: Honouring Military Service, Ed Staniowski, appeared on CTV Your Morning Saskatchewan today.

Ed discusses his connection to Regina and gives us a little preview of what to expect this Thursday, November 27 at the Artesian (2627 13th Ave).

The lecture starts at 7:00 PM and admission is free. A suggested donation of $10 per person helps Heritage Regina continue to present educational content like this lecture.

Check out the interview here:

CTV Your Morning Saskatchewan: The Torch Be Ours: Honouring Military Service

Support for Façade Preservation – Crédit Foncier Building, 2184 12th Avenue

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UPDATE:

A temporary relief for heritage properties downtown!

After our presentation, the City Planning Commission voted 8 to 1 to oppose the demolition of the Crédit Foncier.

The decision will be put forward to City Council on November 17 for a final decision.

Continue to give us feedback in the comments of our social media posts so we can make your voice heard as we advocate to save a downtown cornerstone.

ORIGINAL POST:

In response to a demolition request for the Crédit Foncier Building at 2184 12th Ave, Heritage Regina will be speaking to the City of Regina Planning Commission this afternoon about the site and their commitment to the Victoria Park Conservation District Policy. This policy is a piece of legislation the city created to recognize and protect the heritage of our historic downtown district.
We have written a full letter on the subject which addresses the Guidelines for the Conservation of Historic Places, the Victoria Park Heritage Conservation District Policies, and the professional recommendations sought by the City of Regina from Donald Luxton & Associates which you can read below:

Heritage Regina Welcomes New Program Coordinator!

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Heritage Regina is thrilled to introduce a new member of our team!
 
We are incredibly excited to welcome Tenille Bryan as our new Program Coordinator. Under the guidance of the board of directors, Tenille will lead the development of events and programming for the organization.
Tenille Bryan - Program CoordinatorMore on Tenille:
 
“Tenille Bryan is a heritage and museum professional with experience in community engagement, historical research, and public programming. She has supported projects ranging from exhibit development to digital storytelling, with a focus on preserving local history and making it accessible to diverse audiences. When she’s not immersed in local history, she can be found traveling, reading, exploring cultural practices, or cuddling with her cats.”
 
Please join us in giving Tenille a wonderful welcome to the Heritage Regina community!

Did you know? – Saskatchewan Roughriders History Hosting the CFL West Final

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Did you know that 2025 will only be the fourth time the Roughriders have hosted the CFL Western Final as we know it?

In 1973, the CFL implemented a change in their playoff format by introducing a single elimination conference final to decide which two teams would battle in the Grey Cup. Prior to 1973, the west and east finals were contested in a best of three series. The league experimented with changing the format in 1972 when the Riders beat the Bombers in the first single elimination final at Winnipeg. The CFL fully adopted the new format for both conferences for the 1973 season.
The George Reed and Ron Lancaster 1960s & 1970s era of the Roughriders were truly dominant. The team played in and hosted at least one game of a CFL West Final best of three series in each season from 1966 – 1971.
Kickoff of the CFL West Final Game 3 at Taylor Field.

Kickoff of the CFL West Final Game 3 at Taylor Field. (Photo sourced from a YouTube video of the game highlights published by Paul Woods)

In 1976, the Ron Lancaster-led Riders defeated the Edmonton Elks 23-13 in front of nearly 21,868 members of Riderville in Regina. The Green and White would go on to lose the 64th Grey Cup.
Ron Lancaster hands the ball off to George Reed

Ron Lancaster hands the ball off George Reed. Photo Sourced from the Canadian Press via CBC.ca

Fast forward 33 years later. The fondly remembered Darian Durant-led ‘Riders sent the Calgary Stampeders back to Alberta empty-handed by soundly winning 27-17. In a case of history repeating itself, the ‘Riders then lost the 97th Grey Cup to the Anthony Calvillo-led Alouettes.
2009 CFL WEST FINAL Darian Durant

QB Darian Durant and LB Kitwana Jones wave to Durant’s parents in the stands after defeating the Stampeders 27-14 (Photo sourced from TSN Broadcast)

Saskatchewan wouldn’t have to wait nearly as long for their third turn hosting the Western Final. In 2019, the Riders found an unexpected gem in short-yardage specialist turned breakout starting QB Cody Fajardo. The Fajardo-led Green and White hosted the Western Final at Mosaic Stadium. A last-second crossbar doink capped off a loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 20-13.
Cody Fajardo after losing the 2019 Western Conference Finals.

QB Cody Fajardo moments after doinking a pass of the field goal crossbar in a last second attempt to beat the Blue Bombers in the CFL 2019 West Final. (Screenshot Sourced from TSN Broadcast)

Tonight, the Riders host the Western Final for a fourth time—this turn only six years later. The BC Lions will be the fourth different team the ‘Riders face off against with a trip to the Grey Cup on the line. We can only hope the Green and White make it 3 out of 4 and move on to the 112th Grey Cup.