This prairie capital city is home to Wascana Centre, a vast urban park, and the passionate Saskatchewan Roughriders football fans. Winters are cold, with temperatures dropping to -40°C.
Regina, the capital of Saskatchewan, is a prairie city with over 226,000 residents. Known as the "Queen City," Regina has much to offer visitors. You can walk through the 930-hectare Wascana Centre park, admire the architecture of the Legislative Building, or examine fossils at the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. For a taste of local culture, join Saskatchewan Roughriders fans at a CFL game in Mosaic Stadium, where a sea of green-clad supporters cheer on their team.
Location and Size
Regina sits in south-central Saskatchewan, surrounded by prairie farmland. As the province's capital and second largest city, Regina has a population of 226,404 as of 2021. The city covers an area of 118.4 square kilometers and serves as an important commercial and distribution center for southern Saskatchewan.
Wascana Centre
At the heart of Regina is Wascana Centre, a 930-hectare urban park built around Wascana Lake. This large green space contains government buildings, museums, a university campus, and recreational areas. You can stroll or cycle along lakeside paths, rent canoes and paddleboats in summer, or go skating on the lake in winter. The park hosts many of Regina's festivals and events throughout the year.
Museums and Culture
Regina has several museums that explore the region's past and present. The Royal Saskatchewan Museum displays exhibits on natural history and Indigenous cultures of the province. At the RCMP Heritage Centre, you can learn about the history of Canada's iconic mounted police force. The MacKenzie Art Gallery houses a collection of Canadian art. For live performances, you can attend shows at the Globe Theatre or Conexus Arts Centre.
Sports
Sports play a significant role in Regina's culture, especially Canadian football. The Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL have a dedicated local following, with games at Mosaic Stadium drawing large crowds dressed in green. Regina also has a junior ice hockey team, the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League. The city hosts many amateur sporting events and has numerous sports facilities for residents, including swimming pools, ice rinks, and sports fields.
Education
Regina is home to the University of Regina, a public research university with over 15,000 students. The campus in Wascana Centre includes several affiliated colleges. Saskatchewan Polytechnic also has a campus in Regina offering technical and vocational programs. The city has public, Catholic, and French-language school systems for primary and secondary education.
Economy and Industry
Regina's economy is based on natural resources, agriculture, manufacturing, and government services. Major employers include the provincial government, Crown corporations like SaskTel, and private companies in sectors such as steel fabrication and agricultural equipment. The oil and gas industry plays an important role. Regina's unemployment rate is typically lower than the national average.
Climate
Regina has a humid continental climate with warm summers and very cold winters. Summer daytime highs average around 26°C (79°F) in July, with occasional heat waves pushing temperatures above 30°C (86°F). Winters are long and cold, with January highs around -10°C (14°F) and lows of -20°C (-4°F). Extreme cold snaps can drop temperatures below -40°C (-40°F). Regina receives about 390 mm (15.4 inches) of precipitation annually, with most falling as rain in summer. Winter brings an average of 100 cm (39 inches) of snow. The city averages 2,338 hours of sunshine per year, among the highest in Canada.
