👑 Game day is almost here

Regina's friendly local roundup | Friday, June 12, 2026

Happy Friday, Regina! 👋

The countdown is officially on. Tomorrow afternoon, Mosaic Stadium turns green for the home opener, and our Grey Cup champions return to the field with a brand new banner waiting to go up. After a long winter of celebrating that title, it finally gets made permanent in front of the people who earned it right alongside the team.

The weather is shaping up nicely for a weekend outdoors, the outdoor pools are open, and there is plenty happening across the city. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

It does not get much bigger than this. The Saskatchewan Roughriders host the B.C. Lions tomorrow at Mosaic Stadium in the team's 2026 home opener, and before kickoff the 2025 Grey Cup Championship Banner will be raised to its permanent home. Fans will get a close look at the cup, and a Canadian Armed Forces flyover is part of the pre-game celebration marking the club's fifth championship.

Kickoff is set for 5 p.m., and there is a lot to take in this year. The first legal Coors Light Tailgate opens five hours before the game, and the family-friendly Security Building Supplies Riderland Park welcomes fans at Confederation Park three hours before kickoff. Whether you have tickets or you are watching from a patio somewhere in the city, tomorrow is a day for Rider Nation to come together.

Regina is getting ready to host football's biggest party again. City council has approved $1.5 million to support the Roughriders in hosting the 2027 Grey Cup Festival, the multi-day celebration that surrounds the championship game and draws visitors from across the country to the host city.

Supporters point to the chance to showcase Mosaic Stadium and the city itself on a national stage, building on Regina's experience hosting the Grey Cup in 2013 and 2022. A festival of this scale brings a meaningful boost to local hotels, restaurants, and businesses, and gives the city a marquee event to rally around. More planning details are expected as the date draws closer.

One player who cannot wait for tomorrow is returner James Letcher Jr., who joins the Riders after winning a title with Montreal, the very team Saskatchewan beat to claim the Grey Cup. The 5-foot-7 returner has a knack for the spectacular: he led the CFL in all-purpose yards in 2024 and has a highlight reel full of long punt and missed field goal returns, including a memorable one at Mosaic Stadium.

Rested through the pre-season, Letcher Jr. says he has been counting down the days, even photographing the locker room countdown clock each time he walks past it. Head coach Corey Mace says everyone is ready to see what he can do once the games count. For fans, his debut adds one more reason to keep an eye on special teams tomorrow afternoon.

A Regina forum is putting a spotlight on one of health care's quieter challenges: nursing turnover, and the significant costs that come with it when experienced staff leave and new hires need training. Organizers are framing it as a sizeable problem for the province, but the tone is solutions-focused rather than discouraging.

The goal, organizers say, is to move from conversation to concrete action, bringing together people who understand the issue and want to improve how the system supports and retains nurses. It is the kind of practical, roll-up-your-sleeves gathering that can lead to real change, and a reminder that the people caring for us need good support too.

Summer is officially here in the best way: the outdoor pools are open. Wascana Pool led things off earlier this week, and Buffalo Meadows, Maple Leaf, Massey, and Regent pools have now joined it for the season, weather permitting.

It is the perfect time to plan a visit to your neighbourhood pool, cool off in the sun, and let the kids burn off some energy. Schedules can shift with the weather, so it is worth checking ahead before you pack the towels. A refreshing afternoon is just around the corner.

Outdoor Swimming Pools and Spray Pads (includes schedule for drop-in activities)

June 12 - 14

🤝 CareCon 2026: The Caring Conference — Darke Hall & The Cultivator, 2255 College Avenue | 8:45 AM to 4:15 PM | Paid registration A full-day gathering for nonprofit and community-minded professionals across the Prairies, featuring three keynotes, panels, and the Great Saskatchewan Marketing Pitch. Details

🎬 Birdy — RPL Film Theatre, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 4:30 PM | Free Alan Parker's 1984 drama screens free at the Film Theatre. Rated 18A. Details

🎬 Paris is Burning — RPL Film Theatre, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Free The landmark 1990 documentary, free admission. Rated 14A. Details

💃 Martin School of Dance: A Celebration of Dance & Baton — Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive | 7:00 PM | $33.50 A showcase of dance and baton from the Martin School of Dance. Tickets

🙏 Look Up Celebration with Will Graham — Brandt Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | 7:00 PM | Free A free community faith gathering and outreach event running June 12 and 13. Details

🎸 Ten02, Creek, Trout — The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue | Doors 7:00 PM A live local lineup at The Exchange. Tickets & info

🖼️ Kssááhkom Áássksinima'tstohki: The Land is our Teacher — Dunlop Art Gallery, Central Library | Gallery hours | Free Guest curated by Star Crop Eared Wolf, this exhibition runs through June 17. Details

🏈 Roughriders vs. B.C. Lions (Home Opener) — Mosaic Stadium, 1734 Elphinstone Street | 5:00 PM | Paid admission The big one. Grey Cup banner unveiling, tailgate, and a Canadian Armed Forces flyover. Tailgate opens five hours before kickoff. Tickets & info

🛒 Regina Farmers' Market — City Square Plaza (Pat Fiacco Plaza), 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Free admission Local produce, baked goods, honey, and handmade goods from Saskatchewan producers. Market info

🎨 Opening Reception & Artist Talk — Bruce Anderson: Herd-Bound — Dunlop Art Gallery, Sherwood Village Branch | 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM | Free Meet Regina-based artist Bruce Anderson for a talk and reception opening his new exhibition, curated by Alexander Rondeau. Details

💃 Martin School of Dance: A Celebration of Dance & Baton — Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive | 7:00 PM | $33.50 The second night of the Martin School of Dance showcase of dance and baton. Tickets

🎶 Black Tea Album Release Party w/ Brothers G & Tiny — The Exchange, 2431 8th Avenue | Doors 7:00 PM Black Tea celebrates the release of Now That You're Here. Tickets & info

🎸 Ukulele Workshop — Central Adult, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Free Ages 8 and up. Learn the basics, play, sing, or just listen. No experience needed. Details

🌱 Start Your Own Pollinator Patch — George Bothwell Branch, Regina Public Library | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Free Learn about native plants with Nature Regina volunteers and take home your own seedlings. Registration required. Details

🎬 Kung Fu Panda 2 — RPL Film Theatre, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 1:00 PM | Free A free family matinee. Rated PG. Details

🎬 Lorne — RPL Film Theatre, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 4:30 PM | Free Morgan Neville's 2026 film, free admission. Rated PG. Details

🎬 The Bride! — RPL Film Theatre, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 7:00 PM | Free Maggie Gyllenhaal's 2026 feature, free admission. Rated 14A. Details

🪩 Living Skies Irish Dance Recital: On the Big Screen — Darke Hall, 2255 College Avenue | 6:00 PM | Paid admission Prairie Gael School of Irish Dance celebrates its dancers with an evening of music and movement inspired by movies and stage. Tickets

🎮 Smash Sundays — George Bothwell Branch, Regina Public Library | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Free Ages 7 to 14. A friendly Super Smash Bros. session. Details

🧘 Meditation Yoga — Glen Elm Branch, Regina Public Library | 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Free Guided meditation and techniques to find calm and balance. Details

🖼️ Bruce Anderson: Herd-Bound — Dunlop Art Gallery, Sherwood Village Branch | Gallery hours | Free The new exhibition by Regina artist Bruce Anderson, on view through October 14. Details

🎭 Arsenic and Old Lace — Globe Theatre, MacCorquodale Place | Various times | Paid admission Audiences are raving about the Globe's production of Joseph Kesselring's classic comedy. Runs through June 28. Tickets

🎬 Disclosure Day: The IMAX Experience — Kramer IMAX Theatre, Saskatchewan Science Centre | Showtimes vary | Paid admission Now playing on the giant screen through June 18. Showtimes

The home opener is here. What's your game-day plan?

Hit reply to let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. It's a big weekend for the city, so get out there, soak up the sun, and let's give the champs a welcome worth remembering.

Next edition: Monday, June 15.

-QCD