Queen City Digest
Regina's friendly local roundup | Monday, May 11, 2026
Happy Monday, Regina! 👋
Spring is settling in and it feels like this week is going to deliver. There is a chance of showers today, but Tuesday comes in sunny and warm at 21°C, and Wednesday looks downright spectacular with temperatures climbing to 28°C. The patios are open, the park is getting new trees, and the city feels like it has turned a corner. Summer is no longer a rumour.
There is a lot to get excited about this week. Local students made their city proud at the Saskatchewan Science Centre on Saturday. Summer recreation registration opens tomorrow morning. And from Monday through Wednesday, the event lineup is stacked from Cathedral District to the Casino to the Kramer IMAX. Let's go.
In today's edition:
🤖 Nanan Academy students brought the house down at the Science Centre STEM Showcase
🍺 Patio season is officially back in Regina
🏊 The City's 2026 Summer Leisure Guide is out with 1,199 programs and registration opens tomorrow
🐦 The U of R led a beautiful celebration of birds in Regina over the weekend
🌳 Victoria Park is getting 19 new trees this week
🎵 Zachary Lucky, the Bellamy Brothers' 50th Anniversary Tour, Top Gun in IMAX, and much more
📅 Your full events guide: May 11, 12, and 13
📰 News & Community
🤖 EDUCATION & YOUTH
Local Students Brought Robots and Big Ideas to the Saskatchewan Science Centre
Nanan Academy hosted a STEM showcase at the Saskatchewan Science Centre on Saturday, giving local students a platform to show off their work in robotics, 3D design, and video game creation. The room was filled with proud parents, curious visitors, and students who had clearly put real heart and hard work into what they built.
It is a good reminder that Regina is raising a generation of builders, coders, and problem-solvers, and they are doing it right here in the Queen City. The Saskatchewan Science Centre continues to punch above its weight as a community hub, and the Nanan Academy team deserves a proper round of applause.
More information : Nanan Academy
🍺 LOCAL BUSINESS
Patio Season Is Back, and Regina's Restaurants Are Ready for Every Warm Evening
Two Regina businesses, Earl's Kitchen and Bar and Copperhead Brewing Co., are among those opening their patios this week to welcome customers who want a side of sunshine with their order. Copperhead has had great success with its new Fuzzy Peach Sour Beer and is installing turf and adding patio games to set itself apart, while Earl's has added fresh sushi dishes and new drinks for the summer rush.
With NHL playoff hockey running strong and temperatures climbing through the week, both spots are expecting big crowds on big game nights. Whether you are cheering on a team, catching up with friends, or simply making the most of the long evenings ahead, this is the week to get out and sit outside. Show your favourite local spots some love while the sun is shining.
🏊 COMMUNITY
The City's 2026 Summer Leisure Guide Is Live with a Record 1,199 Programs
The City of Regina has released its 2026 Summer Leisure Guide, and the lineup is the largest in recent memory. A total of 1,199 registered programs are on offer this summer, including swimming lessons, badminton, basketball, pickleball, and a fresh batch of new offerings like group singing for adults, copper tooling, Lego engineering and robotics for kids ages 6 to 13, and free drop-in fun spots in neighbourhoods across the city. The return of Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre after last summer's maintenance closure is a big part of the increase.
Registration for Regina residents opens tomorrow, Tuesday, May 12, at 7 a.m. at Regina.ca/Recreation or by calling 306-777-PLAY (7529). You will need to verify your address as a resident before registering to access early registration and resident pricing. Non-residents can register starting May 19. This is your sign to get your summer sorted out.
🐦 ENVIRONMENT
Regina Celebrated Its Birds in a Big Way This Weekend
The University of Regina hosted "Fragile Flight: Bird Conservation in Human Spaces" on May 8 at the Dr. John Archer Library, bringing together community partners to talk about the risks birds face in built environments and what residents can do to help. The event focused on window collisions and other urban hazards, with art, educational displays, and the launch of a new on-campus bird conservation initiative. The next day, Nature Saskatchewan hosted a free World Migratory Bird Day event beside the Saskatchewan Science Centre, complete with expert birding walks, games, crafts, a free BBQ, and a tipi raising by Roland Kaye to open the day in a good way.
Regina is already one of the only Bird Friendly Certified cities in Saskatchewan, and weekends like this one show why that designation means something here. The shorebirds are arriving at Wascana, the peregrine falcons are back at City Hall, and the lake is coming alive. If you have not taken a walk along the marsh in the last couple of weeks, this week's warm weather is your invitation.
🌳 CITY
Victoria Park Is Getting 19 New Trees This Week
City horticulture crews are planting 19 trees throughout the green spaces in Victoria Park on Monday and Tuesday as part of the city's ongoing urban greening efforts. The park will remain fully open during planting, so there is no reason not to walk through and watch the work happen. Victoria Park is already one of the gems of downtown Regina, and every tree added makes it a little better.
It is a small story on the surface and a meaningful one underneath. Urban tree planting reduces summer heat, supports birds and pollinators, cleans the air, and makes a downtown park that much more worth visiting. If you are downtown today or tomorrow, take a stroll through and see what's new.
📅 What's On in Regina
MONDAY, MAY 11
🖼️ Kssááhkom Áássksinima'tstohki: The Land is our Teacher | Dunlop Art Gallery, Central Library Regular gallery hours | 2311 12th Avenue | Free | An Indigenous land-based exhibition at the Dunlop Art Gallery. Running through June 17. Details
🐦 Casey Koyczan: raven; tatsǫ́ | Dunlop Art Gallery, RPL Sherwood Village Branch Regular gallery hours | 2:15 Rochdale Boulevard | Free | Tlicho Dene interdisciplinary artist Casey Koyczan fills the gallery with immersive mixed-media sculpture and projected animation, exploring themes of grief, transformation, and the trickster spirit through the lens of the raven. Running through May 27. Details
🎭 Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer | Globe Theatre, MacCorquodale Place 7:30 PM | 1077 Angus Street | Paid admission | Written by Governor General Award winner Kevin Loring of the Nlaka'pamux Nation. Described as a "satirical farce meets spicy rom-com." Running until May 17. Tickets and info
🔬 Saskatchewan Science Centre | Open Daily 9 AM to 5 PM | 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Paid admission | Over 185 hands-on exhibits, hourly stage shows, and the Kramer IMAX Theatre. Visit info
🚔 RCMP Heritage Centre | Regular Hours 5907 Dewdney Avenue | Paid admission | More than a century of RCMP history with interactive exhibits and augmented reality. Visit info
TUESDAY, MAY 12
🏙️ City of Regina Summer Leisure Registration Opens for Residents 7:00 AM online | 1,199 programs available this summer. Resident early registration begins at 7 a.m. Register at Regina.ca/Recreation or call 306-777-7529.
🎵 Zachary Lucky | The Artesian on 13th 7:30 PM | 2627 13th Avenue | Paid admission | Saskatchewan country troubadour Zachary Lucky brings his warm, road-worn songwriting back to one of the best small rooms in the city. All-ages and wheelchair accessible. Tickets and info
🎭 Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer | Globe Theatre, MacCorquodale Place 7:30 PM | 1077 Angus Street | Paid admission | Tickets and info
🤠 The Bellamy Brothers: 50th Anniversary Love Still Flows Tour | Casino Regina 8:00 PM | 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | Tickets from $92 | With 20 No. 1 hits and 25 Top 10 singles, the Original Hippie Cowboys bring their full classic catalogue to the Casino Show Lounge. Expect "Redneck Girl," "Let Your Love Flow," "Old Hippie," and more. Tickets
🔬 Saskatchewan Science Centre | Open Daily 9 AM to 5 PM | 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Visit info
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13
🌿 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza (City Square) 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | 2190 12th Avenue | Free admission | The outdoor market is back downtown this season after years away. Fresh local produce, baked goods, and handmade Saskatchewan goods right in the heart of the city. Running Wednesdays and Saturdays through October 10. reginafarmersmarket.ca
🎬 Top Gun 40th Anniversary in IMAX | Kramer IMAX Theatre 6:30 PM | 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Paid admission | The 1986 original hits the province's only giant screen in IMAX for the very first time, paired back-to-back with Top Gun: Maverick for a one-week-only event. Running through May 19. Tickets
🎸 Parabolous: Tool Tribute | The Exchange 6:30 PM | 2431 8th Avenue | From $56 | A powerful tribute to one of rock's most complex and celebrated catalogues. Tickets
🎭 Conservatory Musical Theatre Showcase | Darke Hall 6:30 PM | 2255 College Avenue | $16.80 advance / $21.00 at door | Students from the U of R Conservatory of Performing Arts perform Oliver! JR. and Mary Poppins JR. Rush seating. Tickets and info
🎬 RPL Film Theatre | Central Library 7:00 PM | 2311 12th Avenue | Paid admission | New films open each Wednesday at Regina's best independent cinema. Check the current schedule at reginalibrary.ca/film-theatre for this week's feature.
🎭 Little Red Warrior and His Lawyer | Globe Theatre, MacCorquodale Place 7:30 PM | 1077 Angus Street | Paid admission | Tickets and info
🕺 The Michael Jackson HIStory Show | Casino Regina 8:00 PM | 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | From $58 | A theatrical celebration of Michael Jackson's music and legacy. Tickets
🖌️ Watercolour Workshop: Flowers in Bloom | MacKenzie Art Gallery All day (runs May 13 and 14) | 3475 Albert Street | $25 | Learn three creative approaches to painting flowers in watercolour. A relaxed workshop for all skill levels. Details and registration
🔬 Saskatchewan Science Centre | Open Daily 9 AM to 5 PM | 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Visit info
📊 This Week's Poll
Patio season is back in Regina. How are you celebrating?
🍺 Posted up at a local brewery patio
🌮 Dinner out with a view of the sunshine
🌳 Walking along Wascana park
☀️ Waiting for Wednesday's 28°C day first
Hit reply to let us know, or find us on Facebook and Instagram @QueenCityDigest
Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. It is a good week to be in this city. Get outside, support local, and enjoy every bit of the warmth heading your way. 😄
Next edition: Wednesday, May 13.
-QCD