Regina Minute: Voter Registration, New Mural, and Alternative Response Officers

Regina Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Regina politics

This Week In Regina:

• The 2024 Municipal Election is coming up, and you can pre-register to vote until October 22nd. Advance polls will run from November 1st to 4th at multiple locations. Free transit passes will be available on Election Day, which is November 13th. More information is available on the City’s website.
  
  
• A new unit of the Regina Police Service is now operational. The Alternative Response Officers (ARO) team, comprising seven special constables, aims to address the complex needs of downtown Regina. After completing five weeks of training, the ARO members will collaborate with existing police officers in the area. The ARO will also work with the Regina Street Team and local business owners.
  
  
• The City is reminding people who may still have a Transit R-Card to transfer the balance to a new Umo account before November 1st. More information on the new system can be found online.

Last Week In Regina:

• Regina announced a new shopping and dining destination called The Skuare, located just north of Victoria Park, in the former Burns Hanley site. This project, which will use old shipping containers for construction, aims to create a vibrant space for festivals, events, and local entrepreneurs, with an anticipated opening in summer 2025. The Skuare will feature an 11,000-square-foot area that includes a beer garden, food truck spaces, and performance areas, all intended to encourage after-work socializing and nightlife in the downtown area. Efforts will be made to preserve the site's historical significance related to Louis Riel, and Heritage Regina plans to share the site's history through a commemorative mural and plaque.
  
  
• Councillor Shanon Zachidniak received the 2025 Clean50 Award for her environmental advocacy and efforts to promote sustainability initiatives. She was recognized for her work in championing free transit for youth and co-chairing the Energy and Sustainability Framework. Zachidniak said there is a need for continued investment and commitment to the framework to avoid falling behind on sustainability objectives. She believes Regina has a responsibility to serve as a model for other municipalities in climate action.
  
  
• A new mural titled “365 Days of Home” was unveiled in Victoria Park, across from the Regina Public Library's central location. It showcases Regina’s skyline across all four seasons. Created by local artist Harley Sinclair, the mural spans 50 feet and required over 300 hours to complete, utilizing 13 gallons of paint. Sinclair said he hopes the artwork inspires residents to appreciate the beauty of their city.