Queen City Digest

Your friendly, positive roundup of what's happening in Regina
March 23, 2026

Happy Monday, Regina! 👋
Spring is officially here, the Pats just punched their playoff ticket, and the city had a genuinely feel-good weekend across the board. Wildlife, culture, community, and the first ice cream lineup of the season. That is quite a combination for a Monday morning.

Whether you are still catching up on the weekend's news or just looking for what is happening in the city this week, you are in the right place.

In today's edition:

🏒 Pats clinch a playoff spot for the first time since 2023
🦅 Salthaven West opens a brand-new wildlife rehabilitation facility
🌻 Tavria Ukrainian Dance Festival comes to Regina
🐾 Regina Humane Society wraps a heartwarming telethon weekend
📊 Saskatchewan keeps its AA low credit rating with stable trends
🍦 Community Spotlight: Milky Way Ice Cream turns 70
📅 Your full event guide for March 23 to 25

It took a little help from the out-of-town scoreboard, but the result is the same: the Regina Pats have qualified for the 2026 WHL Playoffs. The Pats lost their regular-season finale 4-2 to the Brandon Wheat Kings on Saturday night in Brandon, but a simultaneous 4-1 Moose Jaw Warriors loss to Swift Current sealed the deal. Regina is back in the postseason for the first time since 2023, when Connor Bedard was leading the Pats' attack.

The best-of-seven first-round series gets underway Friday, March 27 at Co-op Place in Medicine Hat. The two teams will head to the Queen City for Games 3 and 4 on Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1. Regina finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and will take on the Medicine Hat Tigers. It is a tough draw, but this is playoff hockey in the Queen City, and the Brandt Centre faithful will be loud.

📣 Ticket information for both season ticket holders and the general public begins rolling out today, Monday, March 23. Fans should check the Regina Pats website, inboxes, and social channels for full details.

Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre celebrated the opening of a brand-new facility just outside Regina this week, and it is a genuinely wonderful thing for the city and the animals that call this region home. The expanded centre significantly increases their capacity to care for injured local wildlife, meaning more birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians can get the professional help they need before being returned to the wild where they belong.

Salthaven has long been one of those quiet community gems that does extraordinary work without much fanfare. If you have ever found an injured animal on your property or out on a trail and wondered who to call, now you know who just got a whole lot more room to help. This kind of investment in local wildlife rehabilitation reflects exactly what makes this community special.

Salthaven West Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Centre

The Tavria Ukrainian Dance Festival came to Regina this past weekend, filling the room with colour, movement, and meaning. The festival served as both a vibrant celebration of Ukrainian culture and a heartfelt tribute to those who have been lost or are still fighting in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Regina's Ukrainian community has deep roots in this province, and events like Tavria are a powerful reminder of how culture keeps people connected across distance and hardship.

If you were there, you know how moving it was. If you missed it, keep an eye out for future performances. Supporting Ukrainian arts and culture in Regina right now is one of the most tangible ways this community can show up for people who need to feel seen.

The 38th Annual Regina Humane Society Telethon, presented by Access Communications, aired Sunday evening on Access Now TV and YouTube. The annual broadcast has been a community tradition for nearly four decades, raising funds to support the animals at the RHS Animal Community Centre in Harbour Landing.

If you missed the telethon but still want to help, the RHS has dogs, cats, and small animals looking for loving homes year-round. The Animal Community Centre remains one of the best-known facilities of its kind in the province, and support for the organization is easy to find online any time of year.

Regina Humane Society

A new Morningstar DBRS report reaffirmed Saskatchewan's AA (low) credit rating with stable trends, and recent coverage described the province's economy as resilient thanks to its strong resource base. For Regina, that kind of outside confidence matters. It signals that the province's long-term fundamentals are being taken seriously, even as the conversation around deficits and public spending continues.

It is not a reason to stop thinking critically about public finances, but it is a meaningful sign that Saskatchewan's broader economic position remains strong enough to earn stability from a major ratings agency.

A Regina spring tradition made it official on Thursday: Milky Way Ice Cream swung open its doors for year 70. Lois Sugai, a neighbour and devoted regular, was waiting at the front of the line just as she has been for years, keeping watch from her window until the moment arrived. Co-owner Darren Boldt said the loyalty of customers like Sugai never gets old, and that the goal is always simple: great product, genuine smile.

Boldt has spent four and a half decades with the business, and the family is already thinking about what comes next. Milky Way has also been quietly expanding its reach beyond the shop window, with its products now available at a handful of locally owned stores including Lakeview Fine Foods and Farmer John's Local Market in White City.

Seven decades in, the lineup is still there. That says everything.

Drop in for a scoop (or 2 or 3) and let them know QCD sent you! :)

Milky Way on Facebook

March 23 to 25, 2026
Spring has arrived. Here is how to get out and enjoy it this week.

🏒 WHL Playoff Ticket Details Begin Rolling Out
Ticket information for the Regina Pats first-round playoff series against the Medicine Hat Tigers begins rolling out today. Games 3 and 4 return to the Brandt Centre on Tuesday, March 31 and Wednesday, April 1. Keep an eye on official Pats channels for full details.
👉 reginapats.com

🐾 Regina Humane Society: Adoption and Support
Coming off a big telethon weekend, the RHS is a good local cause to keep on your radar this week. The Animal Community Centre is at 4900 Parliament Avenue, and adoptable animals can be viewed online any time.
👉 reginahumanesociety.ca

📚 RPL: Toddler Time & Stay and Play — 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM — FREE
Toddler Time runs 10:00 to 10:30 AM followed by Stay and Play until 11:30 AM at the Sherwood Village Branch. Mainly Mother Goose also runs 11:00 to 11:30 AM at the George Bothwell Branch. A great Monday morning out for little ones.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🪶 Smudge in the Commons — 12:00 to 1:00 PM — FREE
A welcoming cultural gathering at the Regina Public Library Community Commons. Open to all.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🕺 Dancing with Parkinson's — 3:00 to 4:00 PM — FREE
A joyful and supportive movement session at the RPL Sunrise Branch. Open to participants and caregivers alike.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🏫 Project of Heart: Healthcare and the Children of the Qu'Appelle Industrial School — 5:30 to 7:00 PM — FREE
A thoughtful evening event at Luther College at the University of Regina. An important piece of local history, told with care.
👉 uregina.ca

🎵 Optimist Band Festival — Conexus Arts Centre — March 23 to 27
The annual multi-day band festival kicks off today at Conexus Arts Centre. A wonderful showcase of young musicians from across the region.
👉 conexusartscentre.ca

🚀 Saskatchewan Science Centre and IMAX — Daily Screenings
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone at 11:15 AM and 12:30 PM, Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels 3D at 1:40 PM, and Project Hail Mary: The IMAX Experience at 2:55 PM, 6:15 PM, and 9:35 PM. A great option for families this week.
👉 sasksciencecentre.ca

🎨 MacKenzie Art Gallery: Regular Gallery Hours — 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Take a midweek art break at Saskatchewan's oldest public gallery. Multiple rotating exhibitions, Craft Services by Café Français for coffee and lunch, and the MacKenzie Shop for locally made goods.
👉 mackenzie.art

🍦 Milky Way Ice Cream: Open for the Season
The 70-year-old lineup institution is back. Find out the daily soft-serve flavour and settle in. Worth the wait, always.
👉 milkywayicecream.com

📚 RODS Newcomer Community Fair — 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM — FREE
A welcoming resource fair at 2314 11th Avenue connecting newcomers to community services and supports. A great event to share with anyone new to the city.
👉 rrlip.ca

🌿 Beginner birding & Local Spring Birds - 6:30 PM - FREE (Online)
Join LeeAnn Latremouille from Birds Canada to discover essential birding tools, ID basics, and common spring birds in Saskatchewan and the Canadian Prairies.. Sign up through the RPL website.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🎤 SGI Solstice Speaker Series: Lisa LaFlamme and Creeson Agecoutay — 7:00 to 8:30 PM
A highly anticipated evening at Darke Hall featuring two prominent Canadian journalists. The event is sold out, but a waitlist is available.
👉 royalsaskmuseum.ca

🎮 Big Screen Video Games — 7:00 to 8:00 PM — FREE
Games on the big screen at the RPL Central Children's branch. A fun Tuesday night option for kids.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🚀 Saskatchewan Science Centre and IMAX — Daily Screenings
Superhuman Body: World of Medical Marvels 3D at 10:00 AM, Lost Wolves of Yellowstone at 11:45 AM and 1:40 PM, and Project Hail Mary: The IMAX Experience at 2:55 PM, 6:15 PM, and 9:35 PM.
👉 sasksciencecentre.ca

🎨 MacKenzie Art Gallery: Regular Gallery Hours — 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
Open today with all current exhibitions on view. Note that Thursday brings extended hours until 9:00 PM if you want an after-work art evening.
👉 mackenzie.art

🎓 Health and Safety Expo — 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM — FREE
Taking place at the Research and Innovation Centre Atrium at the University of Regina, this is a practical midday stop for anyone interested in workplace and community safety.
👉 uregina.ca

💼 Regina Career Fair and Training Expo — 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM — FREE
Taking place at the Queensbury Convention Centre in the REAL District. Whether you are job hunting or just curious about what is out there, it is worth a walk through.
👉 realdistrict.ca

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: Wildhood — 7:00 PM — FREE
Tonight's free screening at the RPL Film Theatre is Wildhood, a celebrated Canadian film. Free admission makes this one of the best Wednesday evening plans in the city.
👉 reginalibrary.ca/film-theatre

🪡 Culture Connect: Indigenous Teachings — 6:00 to 8:00 PM — FREE
A welcoming and enriching evening at the RPL Community Commons. Open to all who want to learn and connect.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🎵 Music on the Mezzanine: Rhonda Gallant-Morari — 7:00 PM — FREE
Live music in the beautiful Central Library mezzanine. One of Regina's most charming free weekly events.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🔍 Murder By The Book — 7:00 to 9:00 PM — FREE
An interactive murder mystery event at the RPL Central Library. Great fun for mystery lovers.
👉 reginalibrary.ca

🎤 Word Up Open Mic Night featuring Cat Abenstein — 7:00 to 9:00 PM
A spoken word open mic night at The Artesian on 13th, featuring Cat Abenstein. $5 or pay what you can at the door. One of the most welcoming stages in the city.
👉 artesianon13th.ca

🎸 Hairball — 8:00 PM — Casino Regina Show Lounge — 19+
The ultimate arena rock tribute show, doors at 7:15 PM. If you love the big guitar anthems of the 80s and 90s, this one is for you.
👉 casinoregina.com

🚀 Saskatchewan Science Centre and IMAX — Daily Screenings
Lost Wolves of Yellowstone at 11:45 AM, Train Time at 1:00 PM, and Project Hail Mary: The IMAX Experience at 2:55 PM, 6:15 PM, and 9:35 PM.
👉 sasksciencecentre.ca

🎵 Optimist Band Festival — Continues at Conexus Arts Centre
The multi-day festival continues through Friday, March 27. Check the Conexus Arts Centre website for the day's schedule.
👉 conexusartscentre.ca

🖼️ Ongoing Exhibitions Worth Visiting
Several exceptional exhibitions are on view around the city right now:

The 2025 Governor General's Awards in Visual and Media Arts at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, on view through May 3

Art to Art at the Dunlop Art Gallery, Central Library — final days, closes March 25

The Thread of the Wish at the Art Gallery of Regina, on view through March 28

Casey Koyczan: raven, tatsǫ́ at the Dunlop Art Gallery, Sherwood Village Branch, on view through May 27

Art Realities Exhibit at the Provincial Archives of Saskatchewan, Monday to Friday, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, on view through July 31

The Regina Spring Home Show runs March 27 to 29 at the Bunge International Trade Centre, REAL District. With hundreds of exhibitors covering home improvement, landscaping, and outdoor living, it is the official start of renovation season. Advance tickets are $12, regular admission is $16 during the show or at the door, parking is included, and kids 12 and under are free.
👉 reginaspringhomeshow.com

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Playoff hockey is coming to the Brandt Centre, the ice cream shop is open, a brand-new wildlife centre just opened its doors, and spring is finally feeling like it means it. Enjoy the week, Regina.

📣 Want to reach thousands of local Reginans? Reply to this email to learn about advertising opportunities with QCD.

🗓️ Next edition: Wednesday, March 25

- The QCD Team