Regina's friendly local roundup | Wednesday, August 5, 2026

Happy Wednesday, Regina! 👋

The long weekend dust has settled and the WestJet strike that snarled travel plans across the country is over, so if you've got flights booked this week, things should be getting back on track. The Roughriders are home Friday for a country-themed showdown with Ottawa, and a Regina Little League team is chasing a national title out east this week too.

Five stories to catch you up, then your full events guide for Wednesday through Friday. Let's go.

In today's edition:

The WestJet flight attendants' strike that disrupted travel across the country over the long weekend is over, after the airline and the union representing about 4,400 cabin crew reached a tentative deal early Monday morning. Regina Airport Authority CEO James Bogusz said roughly 20 WestJet flights were cancelled at YQR over the weekend, affecting close to 2,500 passengers, and flights only began resuming Monday and Tuesday as the airline worked through its recovery.

There is good news buried in the update too: WestJet is adding a new non-stop route to Cabo San Lucas starting in December, running Mondays through the end of March. Its lone weekly non-stop to Las Vegas is being dropped due to falling demand, though Calgary, Denver and Vancouver connections will still get you there. If you're flying WestJet this week, Bogusz recommends checking your full itinerary and travelling with some extra patience.

Regina's Fall 2026 Leisure Guide is out, with more than 1,500 arts, wellness, adapted and recreation programs on offer for residents of all ages. "With more than 1,500 arts, adapted, wellness and recreation programs available this fall, we're making it easier than ever for residents to get moving, learn something new and build healthy habits," said Diana Burton, the city's director of recreation and cultural services. New this season: Learn to Lift at the Fieldhouse, an early-morning Rise and Grind drop-in class, and a Preschool Engineering Makers program at the Neil Balkwill Civic Arts Centre.

A free six-week beginner wheelchair curling program also starts this week at the Caledonian Curling Club. Verified Regina residents get earlier registration access and lower fees, and you can verify your address at any city leisure facility or at this Wednesday's Regina Farmers' Market pop-up. Registration opens August 11 for verified residents and August 18 for everyone else.

City council has given final approval to transfer Orange Buffalo Lodge, a 30-unit affordable supportive housing project on 5th Avenue, to YWCA Regina. Mayor Chad Bachynski called it a "great partnership opportunity" following the vote, praising YWCA Regina CEO Melissa Coomber-Bendtsen and the organization's track record. The building is intended as a resource for Indigenous women and their families, with at least 17 of its units reserved for Indigenous clients, combining supportive housing with family reunification services.

Construction began in 2023 using $6.6 million in federal housing funding, but cost overruns led the city to contribute up to $3 million more in 2025 to finish the job. The city became the building's owner earlier this year after YWCA Regina was chosen from four finalists competing to operate it. Any leftover accelerator funding will go toward completing a planned community space on the main floor.

The North Regina Major AAA All-Stars are representing Saskatchewan at the Canadian Little League Championships this week in Glace Bay, Nova Scotia, after winning the right to compete for the province. Their flights were booked for the Sunday before the tournament's Monday start, right as the WestJet strike threatened to ground the airline's long weekend schedule.

With that strike now resolved, the All-Stars made it out east and are underway in round-robin play against teams from across the country. It's a big week for a program that has sent teams to this stage before, and it's worth cheering them on from home while they battle it out on the national diamond.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are back home at Mosaic Stadium Friday night to host the Ottawa Redblacks, with kickoff at 7 p.m. as part of the club's country-themed Rider Farm Show, presented by Young's Equipment. It's the Riders' first home game since their July 23 loss to Edmonton, and comes on the heels of last Saturday's 28-26 road win over the Elks that evened that season series. Saskatchewan sits at 5-2 on the year, tied for the CFL's best road record.

Dust off your boots for this one: expect country-themed game day festivities to go along with the football, including a Country Duo Pack offering two tickets for $59 plus tax. Tickets are available through riderville.com. If you can't make it out, catch the game on TSN and 980 CJME.

August 5 to 7

🛒 Regina Farmers' Market | Pat Fiacco Plaza, 2190 12th Avenue | 9:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free admission | Back downtown for the 2026 season, with local produce, baked goods and more. Details →

⚾ Red Sox vs. Weyburn Beavers (doubleheader) | Currie Field | 6:00 PM & 8:30 PM | The Red Sox close out their regular season at home against Weyburn. Tickets →

💃 Country Swing in the Park | Pat Fiacco Plaza | 6:30–8:30 PM | Free | Beginner country swing lesson followed by social dancing under the summer sky, presented by Collective Studios and Regina Downtown BID. Details →

🍺 Wednesday Night Folk | Bushwakker Brewpub, 2206 Dewdney Ave | 7:30–9:00 PM | Free | Live folk, roots, bluegrass and alt-country. Details →

🍺 Monthly ALES Homebrewing Meeting | Bushwakker Brewpub Basement Clubroom | 7:00 PM | First Wednesday of the month, new members welcome. Details →

🌸 Art in the Park: Flower Weavings | Victoria Park | 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | Free | Learn the basics of weaving and create a flower fibre artwork. All ages welcome. Details →

🔬 STEAM Lab | Albert Branch, Regina Public Library | 2:00–3:00 PM | Free | Drop-in science, technology, engineering, art and math activities for ages 8–12. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Mysterious Castle in the Carpathians | Central Library | 7:00–8:40 PM | Free admission | Czechoslovakia, 1981. Details →

🚣 Family Fun Thursdays in Wascana | Wascana Centre, 2900 Wascana Dr | 6:00–8:00 PM | $5 boat tours plus free lawn games and weekly crafts on the QEII West Lawn. Details →

🦉 Night Owl Market | Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 2445 Albert St | 5:30–8:00 PM | Admission by donation | The museum stays open late, with a live owl visit from the Saskatchewan Burrowing Owl Interpretation Centre at 6 PM plus local vendors. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Christophers | Central Library | 1:00–2:40 PM | Free admission. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Talented Mr. Ripley | Central Library | 7:00–9:20 PM | Free admission. Details →

🏈 Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Ottawa Redblacks (Rider Farm Show) | Mosaic Stadium | 7:00 PM | Paid admission | Country-themed game day festivities for the Riders' first home game since July 23. Tickets →

🍺 First Firkin Football Friday | Bushwakker Brewpub | 5:30–9:00 PM | Free | Decades-old monthly tradition: a piper leads a keg of special ale through the pub for a ceremonial tapping, this month's a Melonhead Lager. Details →

🎸 Bleeker, Blu Beach Band & Cheap Heat (Exchange Folk Fest Kick Off Party) | The Exchange, 2431 8th Ave | Doors 7:30 PM | $25 advance / $30 door, all ages & licensed | Toronto alt-rock act Bleeker headlines with Regina's own Blu Beach Band and Cheap Heat. Details →

👨‍👧 Family Dance Party | Regent Place Branch, Regina Public Library | 10:45–11:30 AM | Free. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: The Crater Lake Monster | Central Library | 4:30–5:55 PM | Free admission. Details →

🎬 RPL Film Theatre: I Love Boosters | Central Library | 7:00–8:55 PM | Free admission. Details →

🖼️ Strange Dark Memory | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Free, through Aug. 9 | Maia Stark's first major solo exhibition. Exhibit info →

🖼️ Death Boat and Other Stories | MacKenzie Art Gallery | Free, long-term exhibit | A long-term exhibit of Indigenous art. Exhibit info →

🚔 RCMP Depot Tours | RCMP Academy Depot Division, 5907 Dewdney Ave | Tues–Fri | Guided trolley tour featuring historic landmarks and Cadet drill demonstrations. Details →

🔭 Kalium Observatory Free Public Observing | Kramer IMAX Theatre | Ongoing through Dec. 11 | Free public stargazing sessions. Details →

🚣 Mystery at the Lake Outdoor Escape Room | Wascana Centre | Through Oct. 31 | Self-guided outdoor puzzle experience along the lake. Details →

🎬 Kramer IMAX now playing | Saskatchewan Science Centre | Daily | Current documentaries and features on Saskatchewan's only giant screen. Showtimes →

🏈 At Mosaic Stadium, boots and all
📺 Watching from home
🍺 Firkin Friday at Bushwakker first, then the game on the radio
✈️ Still sorting out my WestJet itinerary

Hit reply and let us know :)

Thanks for reading Queen City Digest. Glad the strike's behind us, good luck to the Little League team out east, and see you at again on Friday.

🗓️ Next edition: Friday, August 7.

-QCD