Queen City Digest

Regina's friendly local roundup Your positive, community-focused digest of what's happening in the Queen City

Wednesday, March 11, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

Welcome to the back half of winter, or at least that's what the calendar says. We're sitting right around the freezing mark today with a slight chance of flurries, so the big coat still stays out but spring is close enough to feel it. A few weeks of this and we're talking patio weather…right?

Lots going on this week. The Seniors Expo is happening tomorrow at Victoria Square, worth a trip for anyone with a senior in their life or perhaps you’re the senior in your life! The Pats are pushing hard toward a playoff spot. The Lion King hits Conexus Arts Centre on Friday and the City has some news worth knowing about, from recycling habits to a new grant program for neighbourhood playgrounds.

Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

Your Blue Cart Habit Could Be Costing the City Money

Here's something worth knowing before your next garbage day. The City is flagging a recycling problem that's been quietly getting worse and it's one residents can actually fix. Nearly one in five items landing in Regina blue carts right now doesn't belong there, putting the contamination rate at roughly three times the six per cent ceiling the city must stay under. If it stays that high, SK Recycles, the provincial non-profit that handles residential packaging and paper, can levy financial penalties against the City.

The fix isn't complicated. The single biggest habit to change: stop bagging your recyclables. Everything goes in loose. Beyond that, the items tripping up the most households are flexible plastics (chip bags, plastic wrap, frozen food packaging) and foam. Both belong in the brown cart, or dropped at SARCAN on your next bottle run. When wrong materials end up in the blue cart they can jam equipment and cause otherwise-recyclable material to be thrown out entirely, which defeats the whole point.

When in doubt, the City's full sorting guide is at Regina.ca/Waste.

New City Grant Could Fund Accessible Playgrounds in Your Neighbourhood

Non-profits looking to improve playgrounds in Regina just got a new tool to work with. The City has opened applications for a brand-new Accessible Playground Grant Program, aimed at helping community organizations build or replace outdoor play spaces that meet the City's accessibility design standards and are open to the public.

Grants cover up to 30 per cent of a project's total cost, with a cap of $80,000 per applicant. The City has set aside $160,000 for the program this year. To qualify, organizations need to be registered non-profits in good standing with the City, and must already have at least 40 per cent of their project funding secured at the time of applying. Any playground built through the program must be open to the public by June 1, 2028.

If your organization is thinking about applying, there's a free virtual info session happening March 12 at 6:00 PM. City staff will walk through eligibility requirements, design standards, and how the application works. The deadline to apply is April 9 at 4:00 PM. Everything you need is at Regina.ca/Grants.

Elvis Is Coming to a Regina Mall This Thursday — and It's Free

Victoria Square Shopping Centre has been quietly building a reputation as one of east Regina's most senior-friendly spaces, and this Thursday it's going all out. The mall's third annual Seniors Expo runs March 12 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. It is a full day built around entertainment, community connection, and over 30 vendor booths. Admission is free and everyone is welcome, though the whole event is designed with older adults in mind.

The day's lineup has some genuine highlights. Country fans can catch Brian Sklar and his Old Time All-Stars, and tribute artist Jesse Lamont will perform as Elvis for the afternoon crowd. Between sets there's bingo, a mini fashion show, morning coffee and snacks, and a wide range of community organizations and local businesses set up throughout the mall, including senior living communities like Victoria Park Care Community, Wintergreene Estates, Queen Victoria Estates, and Harbour Landing Village.

Getting there won't be a barrier for anyone: organizers have confirmed that both Regina Transit and Paratransit routes serve the venue.

Regina 25 Is Back — Who in Your Life Deserves the Spotlight?

Economic Development Regina is kicking off year two of the Regina 25 this spring, and nominations are open right now. The program recognizes people doing standout work across five categories: Growers, Game-Changers, Grassroots leaders, Quick Studies, and Mentors. Last year drew more than 150 nominations, and the 2026 class will be announced in May.

Anyone can nominate a colleague, a neighbour, a community volunteer, a business owner, or yourself. The only requirement is that they call Regina home. Nominations close March 29.

Think about the people in your corner of the city who show up consistently, who make things better just by being here. This is how we put them on the map.

Nominate at TheRegina25.com.

What's On in Regina — March 11, 12 & 13, 2026

Wednesday, March 11

🎹 Darke Hall — Michael Kaeshammer 7:30 PM | Darke Hall, 2205 College Ave. Award-winning jazz pianist and vocalist Michael Kaeshammer brings his signature mix of jazz, blues, and boogie-woogie to one of Regina's most beautiful rooms. A proper sit-down live music night. 🎟️ darkehall.ca

🎭 Globe Theatre — Winter Mainstage Production 7:30 PM | MacCorquodale Place, 1801 Scarth St. Disney’s Frozen - The Broadway Musical, wraps March 22nd, this is one of the last Wednesday performances. Tickets at globetheatrelive.com

🎬 RPL Film Theatre — Dust Bunny | Evening Screening 7:00 PM | Central Branch, 2311 12th Ave. World cinema, indie releases. Regina's most underrated night out. Schedule at reginalibrary.ca/film-theatre

🖼️ MacKenzie Art Gallery — Current Exhibitions 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM | T.C. Douglas Building, 3475 Albert St. Multiple long-running exhibitions on view. Free admission. Craft Services café open 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM. mackenzie.art

Thursday, March 12

🎶 Victoria Square Shopping Centre — Regina Seniors Expo ⭐ Don't miss 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM | Free admission, all welcome. Brian Sklar & Old Time All-Stars, Elvis tribute with Jesse Lamont, bingo, mini fashion show, 30+ vendors. Transit and Paratransit accessible.

🤠 Casino Regina Show Lounge — The Story of Waylon Jennings Doors 7:15 PM | Show 8:00 PM | 19+ | 1880 Saskatchewan Dr. A full multimedia tribute to country music's greatest outlaw — live performances, storytelling, and hits spanning six decades, from "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" to "Luckenbach Texas." Featuring vocalist Bill Hanson and Country Music Alberta Horizon Award winner Mariya Stokes. 🎟️ casinoregina.com/entertainment

🛝 Virtual (City of Regina) — Accessible Playground Grant Info Session 6:00 PM | Free. City staff walk through the grant program for non-profits. Register at Regina.ca/Grants

🎭 Globe Theatre — Winter Mainstage Production 7:30 PM | MacCorquodale Place. globetheatrelive.com

🎬 RPL Film Theatre — Big Bold Beautiful Journey | Afternoon Screening 1:00 PM | Natural Phenomenon | Evening Screening 7:00 PM | Central Branch. reginalibrary.ca/film-theatre

🖼️ MacKenzie Art Gallery — Current Exhibitions 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM | Free admission. mackenzie.art

📚 The Artesian on 13th — The Laundryman / Fireboy — Joint Book Launch Doors 7:00 PM | Readings & signings 7:30 PM | Free | 2215 13th Ave. Two Saskatchewan authors, two very different books, one great night at the Artesian. Dwayne Brenna launches The Laundryman — a historical murder mystery set in 1883 Prince Albert — while award-winning Regina author Edward Willett launches Fireboy, a middle-grade fantasy adventure. Expect readings, signings, appetizers, and bar service. All ages welcome. 📚 artesianon13th.ca

🎓 University of Regina — Woodrow Lloyd Lecture: The Knowledge Crisis 7:00 PM | Education Auditorium, U of R. A free public lecture digging into how misinformation spreads and how knowledge itself gets shaped in the modern world. Thought-provoking stuff, and open to everyone.
University of Regina - Woodrow Lloyd Lecture

Friday, March 13

🦁 Conexus Arts Centre — The Lion King Live In Concert ⭐ Don't miss 7:30 PM | 200 Lakeshore Drive. Disney's The Lion King screened with Hans Zimmer's Oscar-winning score performed live by the Regina Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Karl Hirzer. Saturday matinee also available at 2:00 PM. Tickets at conexusartscentre.ca

🎭 Globe Theatre — Winter Mainstage Production 7:30 PM | MacCorquodale Place. globetheatrelive.com

🎤 Casino Regina Show Lounge — Raquel Ra Brown 8:00 PM | 1880 Saskatchewan Drive. Live vocal performance at one of the most intimate rooms in the city. Tickets at casinoregina.com/entertainment

🎬 RPL Film Theatre — Ella McCay | Afternoon Screening | 4:00 PM | Running Man | Evening Screening 7:00 PM | Central Branch. reginalibrary.ca/film-theatre

🖼️ MacKenzie Art Gallery — Current Exhibitions 10:00 AM – 5:30 PM | Free admission. mackenzie.art

🎤 Casino Regina Show Lounge — Jully Black Doors 7:15 PM | Show 8:00 PM | 19+ | 1880 Saskatchewan Dr. | Canada's Queen of R&B Soul comes to the Show Lounge. Jully Black is a Juno Award winner, Canada Walk of Fame inductee, and one of CBC Music's 25 Greatest Canadian Singers Ever — a powerhouse live performer in one of Regina's most intimate rooms. 🎟️ casinoregina.com/entertainment

🪕 The Artesian on 13th — Old-Time vs Bluegrass: Battle of the String Bands Doors 7:00 PM | Show 8:00 PM | All ages | 2215 13th Ave. Saskatchewan's only 6-piece traditional bluegrass band (Hotdog! Bluegrass) squares off against Saskatoon's only old-time party band where every member is named Dave (5 Guys Named Dave). Driving rhythms, tight harmonies, and Appalachian roots music played two different ways — sponsored by the Northern Lights Bluegrass and Old-Time Music Society. Tickets $20 advance / $25 at the door. 🎟️ artesianon13th.ca

Which event would you hit this week in Regina?

Hit reply or find us on Instagram @QueenCityDigest - we'd love to know!

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Stay warm out there, and get out and enjoy the city this week - there's a lot happening.

🗓️ Next edition: Friday, March 13 (Friday the 13th!) for your full weekend guide.

- The QCD Team