👑 Stuff the Bus fills up for Thanksgiving

Regina's friendly local roundup | Friday, October 9, 2026

Happy Friday, Regina! 👋

It's Thanksgiving long weekend, and the Queen City showed up in a big way this week. Stuff the Bus packed a city bus for the food bank, a 16-year-old Pat scored his first WHL hat trick, and the Riders head to Montreal on Monday knowing exactly what they need to do.

We've also got two ways to have your say at City Hall, then a weekend lineup with an anime convention, a holiday market, the last outdoor Farmers' Market of the season and Oktoberfest downtown. Let's get into it.

In today's edition:

A packed city bus is usually bad news for transit riders, but on Thursday it was great news for the Regina & District Food Bank. The Jack 94.5 Stuff the Bus campaign brought in $108,636 in cash and 9,977 pounds of food, which the food bank estimates will provide about 335,885 meals for families in need. This was the campaign's seventh year, and since it began, Stuff the Bus has provided more than 910,000 meals in Regina.

The campaign supports the roughly 16,000 clients the food bank serves each month, 38 per cent of them children. CEO Mary Weimer said Stuff the Bus helps kick off the holiday season, and she thanked Rawlco and Sherwood Co-op, along with Mosaic for matching every cash donation this month. Jack 94.5 morning hosts Sheri and Woody called it a case of neighbours feeding neighbours, adding that "Regina came through in a big way."

Almost 10,000 pounds of food on one bus. Well done, Regina.

Regina Pats forward Liam Pue found the net three times in Sunday's 7-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen, the first hat trick of his WHL career. The 16-year-old now has four goals and three assists through the Pats' first five games, and Regina is 2-2-0-1 so far. Pue said it "felt pretty good," made better by the fact that the team got the win too.

Pue and fellow top prospect Maddox Schultz won gold with Team Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. As 15-year-olds last season, both were limited in how many WHL games they could play and split time with the Regina Pat Canadians, but this year they can focus on the Pats. Pue said the room has "a winning vibe," and he's hoping fans come out to support the team, starting tonight when Regina hosts the Prince Albert Raiders in its second home game of the season.

Go see the kid live. Puck drops at 7.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders have three games left in the regular season, and they control their own destiny for a playoff spot. The next chance comes Thanksgiving Monday in Montreal against the Alouettes, with kickoff at 11 a.m. and the Rider Broadcast Network pregame show starting at 8 a.m. Quarterback Trevor Harris said Thursday was "probably the best practice of the year," and that the mood around the team is great despite the pressure.

Saskatchewan will likely be without receiver KeeSean Johnson, who has 101 catches for 1,243 yards this season and hurt his ankle last week against Calgary. He was on the field Thursday but not in equipment. Harris said the team has confidence in the group behind him, naming Daniel Wiebe, Dhel Duncan-Busby, Johnny Johnson III and Shemar Bridges.

Set an alarm, get the turkey in early, and wear your green.

Have thoughts on this year's orange cones? The City of Regina is asking residents, businesses and the construction industry how it can improve the way projects are planned and delivered. An online survey is open until November 4, and the city will also meet with associations and groups affected by construction. Topics include co-ordination, traffic impacts, public notification, tendering and procurement, and trade-offs between project costs, timelines and community impacts.

Mayor Chad Bachynski said in a statement that construction is essential to keeping up the infrastructure the city relies on, while acknowledging it creates challenges for residents, businesses and commuters. Kurtis Doney, the city's deputy city manager for operations, said continuous improvement "requires listening and learning." The findings are expected to go to council early next year.

You can take the survey at beheard.regina.ca.

Survived another season of detours? Here's your chance to weigh in.

Regina is on track to replace all of its lead service connections by 2036, but some councillors want the work done sooner. Executive Committee agreed Wednesday to send council a report recommending hydro-vac investigations to confirm how many lead connections are still in use. Ward 3 Coun. David Froh, whose ward includes the Cathedral neighbourhood and its 659 city-owned lead connections, about 15 per cent of the total, wants the city to rework its capital plan to finish in seven years or less.

The Get the Lead Out Community Action Group has been pushing for a five-year timeline, but administration's report says that pace might not be achievable even with more funding, pointing to contractor availability, equipment delays and traffic impacts. Council and administration hope a $5,000 cap on what property owners pay to replace their side of a connection will give people the push to do it. Buffalo Pound Water Treatment Corp. also expects to start adding orthophosphate, which coats pipes and reduces corrosion, by the end of 2027.

Living in an older home, or renting one? Ask whether you're on a lead line.

October 9 to 11

🏒 Regina Pats vs. Prince Albert Raiders | Brandt Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | 7:00 PM | Paid admission | Liam Pue and the Pats play their second home game of the season.
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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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🔍 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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🦇 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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🎬 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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🎭 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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🌪️ Stormbound in IMAX | Kramer IMAX Theatre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Playing through December 31, check showtimes | Paid admission | Ride along with storm chaser Jeff Gammons into the heart of the world's most powerful hurricanes.
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🎌 SoraCon | Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM, also Sunday | $25 plus tax day pass, $40 plus tax weekend pass, free for 12 and under | An all-ages anime convention run by current and former U of R Cosplay Club members, with panels, a cosplay contest, a games room and local artists and vendors. Tara St. Michel plays a concert Saturday at 5 PM.
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🎄 Candy Cane Lane Market | Hall B, Bunge International Trade Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM, also Sunday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Tickets on Eventbrite, free parking | A pop-up market of local small and home-based businesses to get a head start on holiday shopping. The first 100 adults each day get a free swag bag.
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🥕 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM | Free | The final outdoor market of the 2026 season. Grab your Thanksgiving veggies and say goodbye until next year.
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🐈 YQR Cat Tour 2026 | Starts at Excalipurr Cat Cafe, 2156 Albert Street | Check-in 12:15 PM, tour leaves at 1:00 PM | Tickets on Eventbrite, all proceeds to SCRAPS Moose Jaw | A two-hour, rain-or-shine walk through the Cathedral neighbourhood to meet community cats. Cat attire encouraged, no dogs.
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💃 SHE: The Strength Within | Shu-Box Theatre, University of Regina | 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM | $10 | Nirvana Dance Creations explores women's courage and strength through dance, movement and storytelling inspired by mythology.
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🥨 Oktoberfest at The Skuare | The Courts at The Skuare | 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM | Free, all ages | Night two of German beer, pretzels, games and music before The Skuare closes for the season.
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🎸 Ukulele Workshop | Prairie Sage Room, Central Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | In person, bring a uke if you have one | Ages 8 and over. Queen City Ukes teaches the basics, from ukulele anatomy to a few chords. No experience needed.
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🧩 Games and Puzzles for Families | Central Children's Library, 2311 12th Avenue | 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Drop-in | Drop in for a board game or a puzzle. Supplies provided.
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🦄 Legend | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 4:30 PM | Free admission | Ridley Scott's 1985 fantasy, screening in memory of Tim Curry. Rated PG.
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🍽️ The Invite | RPL Film Theatre, Central Library | 7:00 PM | Free admission | Olivia Wilde's 2026 film about a couple whose dinner party with their upstairs neighbours spirals into unexpected places. Rated 14A.
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🎌 SoraCon, Day 2 | Conexus Arts Centre, 200 Lakeshore Drive | 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM | $25 plus tax day pass, free for 12 and under | Panels, cosplay and vendors for every kind of anime fan.
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🎄 Candy Cane Lane Market, Day 2 | Hall B, Bunge International Trade Centre, 1700 Elphinstone Street | 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM | Tickets on Eventbrite | Your last chance to shop the pop-up this weekend.
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🎨 Weekly We Make: Window Portal | MacKenzie Art Gallery, 3475 Albert Street | 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Free, materials provided | Make a small glowing portal out of coloured cellophane to hang in your window, inspired by the exhibition Wake Windows: Circle Time.
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🔬 Science Literacy Week, final day | Saskatchewan Science Centre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Until 6:00 PM | Included with general admission | The last day of a national celebration of curiosity.
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🚀 Journey to Space | Saskatchewan Science Centre, 2903 Powerhouse Drive | Closes Monday, October 12 | General admission | Find out how astronauts live and work in space before this visiting exhibit leaves.
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🦃 Big family dinner, all the trimmings
🏈 Riders at 11, turkey after
🎌 SoraCon, in full cosplay
🛋️ Couch, leftovers, repeat

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. From all of us, happy Thanksgiving, Regina. We're grateful you're here.

🗓️ Next edition: Monday, October 12.

-QCD