Queen City Digest

Happy Friday, Regina! 👋

What a week! After a surprisingly mild stretch that had February feeling more like early April, the days are finally getting noticeably longer, and the weekend is here with plenty to do. Tonight the RSO is at Conexus, families can catch the free Star Stories Night event celebrating Indigenous Storytelling Month across three venues, the Pats are back home tomorrow night for a big Saskatchewan rivalry game, and Globe Theatre's Frozen run continues through Sunday. There's also a vinyl pop-up, a live show at The Exchange, and a Beach Boys tribute Sunday for good measure.

Before all that, here are five fresh stories worth your Friday morning read.

In today's edition:

City council passed a major update to Regina's Official Community Plan this week, a unanimous vote and the first big revision since 2013. The new target: 370,000 people by 2051, with 57,000 new homes and 68,000 jobs to match. Smarter this time too: new neighbourhoods get approved based on wastewater capacity, so infrastructure leads growth instead of scrambling to catch up.

"This takes the entire community into consideration and not just one developer," said Mayor Chad Bachynski. Regina is building toward something big, and now it's on paper.

Three U of R research teams just received a combined $459,095 from Innovation Saskatchewan, with matching federal dollars effectively doubling the impact. Dr. Kerri Finlay is expanding water quality monitoring to 100+ southern Saskatchewan lakes. Dr. Kelvin Tsun Wai Ng is building smarter plastic waste systems for municipalities. And Dr. Omar El-Halfawy is tackling antimicrobial resistance, which kills roughly 14,000 Canadians annually. All three projects have already produced patent applications and spin-off companies. Quiet, impactful work happening right here in Regina.

The Regina Pats trailed heading into the third period Wednesday and rallied with three unanswered goals to beat the Prince George Cougars 4–2. The Pats sit at 21-27-6-1 (49 points), seventh in the East, with the playoff push firmly alive. Caden Brown leads with 28 goals on the season. Up next: tonight they're in Brandon, then home Saturday vs. the Saskatoon Blades at 6:00 PM, always a great atmosphere at the Brandt Centre.

🏒 Fri Feb 27: Pats at Brandon, 7:00 PM (away) 🏒 Sat Feb 28: Pats vs. Saskatoon Blades, 6:00 PM at the Brandt Centre 🏒 Tue Mar 3: Pats vs. Medicine Hat, 7:00 PM at the Brandt Centre

The defending Grey Cup champs have a season worth planning around. The big one: for the first time since 1991, the Riders are playing in Saskatoon, a pre-season game vs. the Blue Bombers at Griffiths Stadium on May 23. The regular season brings 10 home games at Mosaic (one more than usual), a Grey Cup banner ceremony at the June 13 home opener, five Saturday home dates, the Labour Day Classic September 6, and the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary on November 15. Season tickets at riderville.com.

A new University of Regina survey has a finding worth sitting with: more than 80% of Regina residents trust their neighbours and believe people in their community help each other out. The same 2025 Community Perceptions Survey found 65–85% of residents trust and have confidence in the Regina Police Service, with service interactions scoring 3.95/5. Researchers called the results "pretty outstanding." Chief Lorilee Davies says it gives RPS a clear roadmap and proof they're doing a lot of things right.

Looking for something special to do with the family tonight? Star Stories Night is a free, multi-venue event running Friday, February 27 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM, celebrating Indigenous Storytelling Month. Brought to you by the City of Regina, Regina Public Library, and the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

Three stops, one free shuttle departing every 30 minutes between them:

The Saskatchewan Science Centre has stargazing through the observatory telescope. The Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre features storytelling inside a star dome. And at the RPL Albert Branch and mâmawêyatitân centre, catch the Rabbit and Bear Paws puppet show, an Indigenous star story about courage and community. Plus the Kawacatoose Boyz Singers and Dancers, constellation window art, pony beaded star keychains with artist Courtney Kirkness, and more family activities throughout the evening.

Free admission, prizes, and refreshments. A genuinely special Friday night out.

📍 Hop-on shuttle connects all three locations | Free | All ages | Full details →

February 27 to March 1, 2026

📍 Conexus Arts Centre - 200A Lakeshore Drive

FRI FEB 27 — RSO Classics: Auroras of the Heart | 7:30 PM | Gordon Gerrard conducts. Saint-Saëns' Organ Symphony with guest organist Jean-Willy Kunz. A spectacular night of live orchestral music. Tickets & Info →

📍Revival Music Room - 2224 Dewdney Avenue

FRI FEB 27 — Bingo Dance Party – 80s & 90s Edition | 7:00 PM | Bingo meets dance party. It's exactly what it sounds like, and it's going to be a great Friday night.

📍 Regina Performing Arts Centre / Various

FRI FEB 27 – SAT FEB 28 — The Deaf Tempest | A breathtaking, text-free reimagining of Shakespeare's The Tempest rooted in Deaf aesthetics — told entirely through movement, puppetry, mask, Visual Vernacular, and projection. Written and directed by Chrystene Ells, it's fully accessible to Deaf and hearing audiences alike and unlike anything else on a Regina stage this season.

📍 Brandt Centre - 1700 Elphinstone Street

SAT FEB 28 — Regina Pats vs. Saskatoon Blades (WHL) | 6:00 PM | Cross-province rivalry in the thick of the playoff push. Great night for the whole family. Tickets →

📍 The Exchange - 2431 8th Avenue

SAT FEB 28 — Rock is Dead | Doors 7:00 PM, Show 7:30 PM | Tribute show for music legends, raising funds for Mobile Crisis Services. Good music for a great cause. theexchangelive.ca →

📍 Rebellion Brewing - 1901 Dewdney Ave

SAT FEB 28 — Pop-Up Vinyl Sale | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | 10+ vendors, crate digging, cold beer. Perfect Saturday morning.

📍 Regina Farmers' Market — Banner Hall, REAL District

SAT FEB 28 — Indoor Winter Market | 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM | Local produce, baked goods, preserves, honey. reginafarmersmarket.ca →

📍 Christ Lutheran Church, Regina - 4825 Dewdney Avenue

SAT FEB 28 — Ablaze VAE & Ignite CC Annual Fundraiser Concert | 7:00 PM | "I Have Had Singing: Songs of Building Community" — a choral fundraiser celebrating community through music.

📍 Turvey Convention Centre - 100 Armour Road

SAT FEB 28 — Wedding Feature 2026 | Regina's bridal show — vendors, inspiration, and everything you need if wedding planning is on the agenda this year.

SUN MAR 1 — Sunday Creative Drop-In | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Inspired by Joi T. Arcand's Cultivate series, make a memory with the whole family. Admission by donation. mackenzie.art →📊 This Week's Poll

📍 Casino Regina - 1880 Saskatchewan Drive

SUN MAR 1 — The Ultimate Beach Boys Tribute | 6:30 PM | Because February needs a little "Good Vibrations." Casino Regina →

📍 Globe Theatre - 1801 Scarth Street

FRI FEB 27 — Disney's Frozen: The Broadway Musical | 7:30 PM

SAT FEB 28 — Disney’s Frozen | 2:00 PM matinee & 7:30 PM evening

SUN MAR 1 — Disney’s Frozen | 2:00 PM Sunday matinee

Running until March 8. Pay-what-you-can options available. Shows & Tickets →

Which Riders news has you most excited for 2026?

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Have a great weekend, Regina 🙂

🗓️ Next edition: Monday, March 2, your start-of-week roundup.

-The QCD Team 👑