👑 A Regina novelist makes the Giller shortlist

Regina's friendly local roundup | Wednesday, October 7, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

Thanksgiving weekend is almost here, and the city is already in a giving mood. The Million Meal Challenge is back for the Regina Food Bank, Souls Harbour is roasting turkeys for hundreds, and a Regina novelist just landed on the Giller Prize shortlist.

We've also got flu shot bookings, charger tips for your Thanksgiving flight and a utility rate forecast to keep an eye on. Then it's a packed lineup, from Electric Elton to Oktoberfest at The Skuare and the Pats at home Friday. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

Tara Gereaux's novel Wild People Quiet made the 2026 Giller Prize shortlist on Monday, putting the Regina author among five finalists picked from more than 140 submissions. The book follows Florence, a woman in the 1940s who hides her Métis identity. Gereaux, a citizen of the Métis Nation-Saskatchewan, knew about a decade ago that she wanted to tell this story, but didn't start writing until 2019. Her first three drafts came together during the pandemic years.

The winner takes home $100,000 at a November 16 ceremony hosted by Rick Mercer and shown on CBC, and every finalist receives $10,000. Gereaux's earlier novel, Saltus, was shortlisted for the 2022 ReLit Novel Award and three Saskatchewan Book Awards. She writes in the early mornings before her day job, usually from 4 a.m., and counts 10 solid drafts of this book. While researching, she came across a photo of her own great-great-grandfather, Joseph LaRose, and his sons in a book about Métis soldiers of Saskatchewan.

A Regina writer in the Giller final five. Move this one to the top of your pile.

The 2026 Mosaic Million Meal Challenge kicked off Monday at the BMO Asahtowikamik Community Food Hub, aiming to raise $400,000 and provide one million meals by October 30. The Mosaic Company is putting up $75,000 in matching funds, so eligible donations are doubled until that total is reached. With the food bank's purchasing power, every dollar given can provide six meals. Now in its seventh year, the campaign has raised more than six million meals for Regina families since 2020.

Food bank president and CEO Mary Weimer said the organization feeds more than 17,000 people a month, and more than one in three are children. Household visits this summer were up more than 21 per cent over the same stretch last year. Canned meat, peanut butter, pasta, sauces, baked beans and canned stews are especially helpful, and you can drop them at participating grocery stores or the food bank itself. Money can be given at ReginaFoodBank.ca, where a meal tracker shows the progress, and businesses can join a Corporate Challenge on October 22.

Toss an extra can in the cart on your Thanksgiving grocery run. Every dollar is six meals.

Souls Harbour Rescue Mission is opening its doors Friday for its annual Thanksgiving community meal, serving a full turkey dinner from 3 to 6 p.m. The mission serves a hot supper every day, but Thanksgiving is one of three holidays a year, along with Christmas and Easter, when it hosts a bigger community celebration. Kathy Ingram, director of finance and development, said they're preparing for between 400 and 500 guests, with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie with whipped cream.

Cooking for a crowd that size means starting early, and food has been prepared in advance over several weeks. The community has pitched in too. Ingram said seven to nine volunteers usually help on a given day, and more will be on hand Friday. Anyone who wants to help can sign up to volunteer. Dinner runs until 6 p.m. or the food runs out, which has never happened.

Turkey, trimmings and a room full of neighbours. That's Thanksgiving.

Saskatchewan residents can now book this fall's influenza and COVID-19 vaccines, with appointments opening Tuesday. Both shots are free for everyone six months and older, and you can get them together in one appointment or separately. They're offered at public health clinics, participating pharmacies and some physician and nurse practitioner offices. Kids from six months up to age five can only be immunized at a Saskatchewan Health Authority public health clinic or office, or by a physician or nurse practitioner.

Seniors, people with chronic health conditions or compromised immune systems, children under five and pregnant women are among those most at risk, and high-risk groups are encouraged to book as soon as possible. You can book the whole family in one appointment or find a walk-in clinic at 4flu.ca, or call 1-833-727-5829 on weekdays during business hours.

Have a favourite pharmacy?

Book it now, before the turkey coma sets in.

It's Fire Prevention Week, running October 4 to 10, and this year's campaign, "Charge into Fire Safety: Safe Charging Is a Superpower," focuses on lithium-ion batteries. They power phones, laptops, portable chargers, e-bikes and plenty of toys, and they can overheat when damaged, charged incorrectly or paired with the wrong charger. Regina International Airport is using the week to remind travellers, with its fire department running a table of giveaways and safety information in the arrivals area.

Airport spokesperson Kyla Antonini suggests checking your airline's website for its allowances, since every carrier is different. CATSA's website also has a search bar to see whether an item can come on board. Lithium batteries always go in your carry-on. At home, the airport's fire department recommends using the right charger, charging on a hard, flat surface, not charging while you sleep or are away, and unplugging once devices are full. Watch for heat, smoke or a strange smell, and take old batteries to a recycling location instead of the garbage.

Charger in the carry-on, turkey on the table.

Regina's administration is forecasting a utility rate increase of 10.02 per cent for 2027, outlined in a report for council's final pre-budget information meeting on Tuesday. The forecast is $19.9 million above the 2026 budget, which administration says is needed to keep current services running and fund capital investments. The report stresses it isn't a formal request for funding or a rate increase yet. Instead, administration calls it a starting point for building a utility budget that balances service quality with affordability.

Six per cent of the increase is earmarked to maintain services. Most of that portion goes to transfers into reserve funds. The rest covers debt payments for the Northwest Regional Lift Station and the Westerra Lift Station, plus the third year of a five-year commitment to two reserves. The report also projects more than $806 million in utility capital spending over five years, with $153 million of it in 2027. A proposed budget is expected in November, and council deliberations are scheduled for December.

Not a done deal yet. Watch for the proposed budget in November.

October 7 to 9

🎤 The Story of Linda Ronstadt | Casino Regina Show Lounge, 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | 8:00 PM, doors 7:15 PM | $42 to $53 plus tax and fees, 19+ | A tribute to the voice behind "When Will I Be Loved" and plenty more.
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🛹 The Corps, Me The Guts, Route 99 and Passerby | The Club at The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Tickets required | Vancouver skatepunk headliners with Saskatoon's Me The Guts. All ages and licensed.
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🌪️ Stormbound in IMAX | Kramer IMAX Theatre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Opens tonight, 6:20 PM | Paid admission | Ride along with storm chaser Jeff Gammons into the heart of the world's most powerful hurricanes.
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🎬 Digger: The IMAX Experience | Kramer IMAX Theatre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | 12:30, 3:25 and 7:40 PM today, with daily screenings through at least October 11 | Paid admission | Tom Cruise stars in Alejandro G. Iñárritu's new film.
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🔬 Science Literacy Week | Saskatchewan Science Centre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Runs through October 11 | Included with general admission | A national celebration of curiosity, with this year's theme "Curiosity Unleashed."
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🔍 Crime Lab Forensics Experience | RCMP Heritage Centre, 5907 Dewdney Avenue | 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM | Paid experience | Step into the role of an investigator.
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🪕 Wednesday Night Folk | Bushwakker Brewpub, 2206 Dewdney Avenue | 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM | Free, no minors | Local and touring roots, bluegrass, alt-country and folk acts, every Wednesday.
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🎬 Supergirl | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 7:00 PM to 8:40 PM | Free admission | This week's Wednesday feature at Regina's library cinema.
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🪶 Culture Connect: Indigenous Teachings | Community Commons, Central Library | 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Free | An evening of learning and conversation.
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🌼 Pollinator Gardens | Albert Branch, Regina Public Library | 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM | Free, registration required | A library session all about pollinator gardens.
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🧱 LEGO Club | Sherwood Village Branch, Regina Public Library | 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Free | Bricks, imagination and a few friends.
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👵 Celebrate Seniors | Regent Place Branch, Regina Public Library | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Free | An afternoon gathering for older adults.
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🥕 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Free | The last Wednesday market of the season. The outdoor season wraps Saturday, October 10.
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🎹 Electric Elton: The Music & Legacy of Elton John | Capital Auto Theatre, Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive | 7:00 PM, doors 6:00 PM | $69 to $89, taxes and fees included | Sean Trombley leads a live band, dancers and dazzling costumes through Elton's 1970s hits, in the show's first Regina stop.
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🏅 Regina Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony | Queensbury Convention Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | Reception 7:30 PM, ceremony 8:15 PM | Tickets on Eventbrite | The 23rd annual ceremony honouring the hall's newest athletes, builders and teams. Business casual.
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🎸 Music at the Library: Robert Eddy | Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM | Free | The Regina guitarist and singer-songwriter blends folk, country, Americana and classic hits.
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🎬 The Invisible Man | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 7:00 PM | Free admission | Leigh Whannell's 2020 thriller, rated 14A.
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🎭 Mosque Heist | Globe Theatre, 1801 Scarth Street | Runs through October 18 | Paid admission | Zarqa Nawaz's comedy about a Regina caterer who plans a heist at a mosque on the Night of Destiny. Check the site for performance times.
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🏒 Regina Pats vs. Prince Albert Raiders | Brandt Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | 7:00 PM | Paid admission | The Pats are back home after Sunday's 7-2 win in Calgary.
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🥨 Oktoberfest at The Skuare | The Courts at The Skuare | 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM, also Saturday | Free, all ages | One last party before The Skuare closes for the season, with German beer and mocktails from The Cure, pretzels from The Frying Deutschmann food truck, plus games, music and contests.
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🎤 The Rod Show | Casino Regina Show Lounge, 1880 Saskatchewan Drive | 8:00 PM, doors 7:15 PM | $32 to $39.50 plus 11% tax and fees, 19+ | A tribute to Rod Stewart's hits featuring saxophonist Johnny Ferreira and members of the March Hare Band.
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🎧 Houseparty Presents: MVK11's HAUS | The Club at The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue | 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM | $10 online, $15 at the door | A night of house grooves and rolling basslines from MVK11 and friends.
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🎬 The Mask (3D) | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 7:00 PM | Free admission | A 1961 Canadian horror film about an archaeologist who believes an Aztec mask has cursed him. Rated 14A.
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🦇 Bats | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 4:30 PM | Free admission | A 1999 horror-thriller about a bat expert and a sheriff chasing genetically mutated bats. Rated 14A.
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🦃 Turkey, no debate
🍖 Ham all the way
🥧 I'm only here for the pie
🥡 Takeout, and nobody does dishes

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Drop a can in the food bank bin, book your flu shot, and we'll see you Friday.

🗓️ Next edition: Friday, October 9.

-QCD