Regina
Regina is a city of exceptionally hospitable people who welcome visitors with open arms, especially those making a homecoming after a lengthy absence. Drawing on its pioneering heritage, people there have a helpful and neighbourly spirit that is evident everywhere. Perhaps it is a holdover from its earliest citizens who were housed in a tent city named Pile O’ Bones. Indeed there was a mountain of buffalo bones, and that was the highest structure for miles around.
Today the provincial capital has more trees than it does citizens, an extensive park system, major attractions, colourful heritage and a serenity that is refreshing. One famous claim to fame is that Regina is the home base of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police training centre since the time of the Northwest Mounted Police in the late 1800s. Each year about 1000 cadets become temporary citizens of Regina. Its close affiliation with the world’s most respected police force is documented in the RCMP Centennial Museum, located at the academy. More recently construction of the $30 million RCMP Heritage Centre has begun and the Arthur Eriksson designed building will occupy a 14 acre site.
Wascana Centre, a man-made marvel of forested hills, lake, island and even a waterfall, replaced the bone pile as Regina’s focal point. At 930-hectares in the heart of Regina, the park is more than twice the size of Vancouver’s Stanley Park. It features six distinct parks plus a number of popular attractions – Saskatchewan Science Centre/IMAX Theatre, Royal Saskatchewan Museum and MacKenzie Art Gallery. Regina is also noted for its massive Casino in the historic CPR Union Center and draws more local visitors than any other attraction. International visitors, however, flock to the RCMP Centennial Museum and the RCMP Sunset Ceremony has been named one of Canada’s Top 20 Events and one of the Top 100 of North America by the American Bus Association.
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building – the “Marble Palace” is the largest of all the Legislative Buildings in Canada. Another anomaly, the 370 metre Albert Street Bridge which spans a mere 37 metres of water is listed in “Ripley’s Believe It or Not” as one of the longest bridges over the shortest expanse of water.
Contrary to Winnipeg’s claim to be the food capital of Canada, Regina beats it hands down in terms of restaurants per capita.
Regina-born people consider themselves to be “greatest football fans on earth.” “Rider Pride” is so strong and its fans are so loyal that the Regina Roughriders is the only CFL team that has its fans as shareholders in the club. In 2003 Regina played host to the most successful Grey Cup in CFL history.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum is home to “Scotty”, one of only twelve known T-Rex dinosaurs in the world. Another amazing statistic stems from the Regina Dragon Boat Festival. It has the highest number of teams, per capita, of any dragon boat festival in the world. It is also the only one to be presented with a permanent trophy from the Hong Kong Government.