Whether you arrive by land or air in Regina, the community seems to sprout right out of the flat prairie.  Its skyline towers over the crops in the fields that surround it. Regina began as an agricultural community, providing a distribution point for farm materials and produce for a wide area.  In the early 1880s, there was little here, besides fertile land, a small creek and a great deal of potential.

Originally called Pile of Bones because of the huge piles of bones left in the area by First Nations hunters, the community was renamed REGINA (Latin for Queen) after Queen Victoria who was the monarch at the time.  It has been the "Queen City" ever since.

The arrival of the railroad in 1883 led to rapid growth of the small village.  Immigrants from Europe and the US brought fertile homesteads for just $10.  Regina became the capital of the immense, 2.5 million square mile North West Territories - a land larger than present day Europe.  Also in 1883, the North West Mounted Police moved their headquarters to Regina.  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police training facility is still in the city and Regina is proud to be "home of the RCMP."

Regina grew quickly during its first few years, becoming a city in 1903.  When Saskatchewan became a province in 1905, Regina was chosen as its capital.  Construction of the Saskatchewan Legislative building began in 1910.  The creek passing in front of the Legislature was dammed and the lake became the focus for a large park.  It later became the Wascana Centre Authority, one of North Americas largest urban parks.

Drought and poor crops slowed Regina's rapid growth in the 1910's and '20s.  A tornado in 1912 devastated much of the downtown.  The economy of Regina and region is now strong and diversified.  Though farming remains a core industry, oil, potash, finance, telecommunications, natural gas, filmmaking, steel pipe production, and technology are very important.  An oil up grader and refinery takes Saskatchewan's heavy crude and turns it into gasoline and other products.  Potash and nitrogen-based fertilizers are produced in plants west of the city.  A steel pipe manufacturing plant has been located here since the 1950's. 

The Research Park at the University of Regina is working on technologies vital to our future, such as greenhouse gases and their effect on global warming.  As provincial capital, Regina is also home to head offices of most Crown-owned operations, as well as many federal regional offices.

Population

2002: 187,441 - Saskatchewan Health

2003: 190,093 - Projected Population, City of Regina 16th largest city in Canada.

Regina's population is ethnically and culturally diverse, with immigrants from the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia, Africa and the United States.

Location

Latitude: 50 degrees 27' North.  Longitude: 104 degrees 37' West

Elevation: 577.4 meters above sea level

Area: The city covers 118.4 sq. km (45.7 sq MI)

Regina is situated in south central Saskatchewan on the Trans-Canada Highway.  It is

approximately midway between Calgary, Alberta and Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Saskatchewan sits above the American states of North Dakota and Montana.

Climate

Regina's climate is continental with warm summers and cold, dry winters.  It is the sunniest capital city in Canada with an average of 2,365 sunshine hours each year.  Precipitation averages 364 mm (14 in) each year, with most of it falling as summer rains.

Resources

Natural resources are a very important part of Regina's economy.  Oil and gas, potash, sodium sulphate, betonite, kaolin and other natural resources are found in southeastern and south-central Saskatchewan.

Industry

Regina has been named one of the most affordable places to do business in western North America several times over the past few years.  The Regina and Region Economic Development Authority has been established to attract new business to the area and to foster growth of existing businesses.

Here are a few of Regina's thriving industries:

• Insurance, financial and data management services
• Telecommunications
• Oil and natural gas exploration and production
• Agricultural chemicals and equipment
• Film and video production
• Call centers
• Potash and nitrogen fertilizer production

Housing

Regina has some of the most affordable housing in Canada.  The average selling price of a home in the first half of 2003 was $103,768 (according to the Association of Regina Realtors).

Education

Regina has two school boards and systems, each supports by property taxes.  The Regina Public School Board administers all public elementary and high schools, while Regina Catholic School Board runs elementary and high schools with a Roman Catholic affiliation.  There are 75 elementary schools and 14 high schools in the two systems.  A third school board, the Division Scolaire Francophone, administers the kindergarten through grade 12 school, French-language Monseigneur de Laval.

The Wascana Campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST) offers full-time or part-time training in agriculture, industrial and technical trades, health sciences, dental, adult basic education, business and general studies.

The University of Regina and its federated colleges - Campion and Luther - provide academic training and research in a variety of fields, from engineering to journalism.  The language Institute offers training in many languages to students from around the world.  The campus is also home to a large research and development park.  Important research into greenhouse gases, petroleum technology, and sustainable communities is taking place there.

The First Nations University of Canada (formerly the Saskatchewan Indian Federated College) is the only university-level institution in North America developed and run by First Nations peoples.

Libraries

The Regina Public Library system is one of the top ten in Canada, offering a wealth of resources to local residents.  There are nine locations serving the community, as well as online searching capabilities.  The library also has a top-notch art gallery and a repertory film theatre.

Transportation

Regina is located on the Trans-Canada Highway, about 100 miles north of the American border.  It is also on the CN mainline.  The Regina International Airport is the oldest in Canada and is served by six regular carriers, as well as charter service.  Over 100 trucking and courier companies provide transportation of goods.  Four scheduled bus companies also serve the community.

Utilities

Water, sewer and residential garbage services are municipally owned.  SaskPower and SaskEnergy are provincial Crown corporations, which provide electricity and natural gas, respectively.  Another Crown corporation, SaskTel, provides local telecommunications services.  Mobile or cellular and long-distance phone services are provided by a number of firms, including Sasktel.

Media

Eight English-language and one French-language radio stations serve the community.  As well, there are three English-language and French-language television stations, a community access cable station, one daily newspaper, a Sunday community newspaper, a French newspaper, and bi-weekly community paper.

Recreation and Culture

Regina's early settlers planted trees and shrubs that turned the community into a park-like oasis on the prairies.  We now have over 30,000 trees - most of which were hand planted.

Regina is also home to over 100 parks, the largest of which is Wascana Centre.  This 930-hectare (2300 acre) park is home to some of Regina's most popular attractions, including the Legislative Building, Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts, MacKenzie Art Gallery, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, and the Saskatchewan Science Centre.

Government House is the oldest building in the city and was formerly the home of the Lieutenant Governors of the North West Territories and the Province of Saskatchewan.  It has been returned to its Victorian Age splendor and offers free tours.

The Devonian Pathway is an eight-kilometer asphalt mutli-use trail running along Wascana Creek from east to west.  Designed for cycling, walking or jogging in the summer and cross-country skiing in the winter, it features rest spots and rain shelters.

The Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts is home to the Regina Symphony Orchestra, Canada's oldest continuously operating symphony orchestra.  Besides hosting traveling shows such as "Cats," the Centre also showcases local talent.

The RCMP's training academy and their Centennial Museum are among Regina's most popular tourist destinations.  The Museum offers the history of the worlds most recognized and most admired police force, from its founding in 1873 to the present.  Visitors can also see how recruits are trained.

Regina has many art galleries, both public and private.  The MacKenzie Art Gallery in the T.C. Douglas Building is the largest.  Each June it hosts Saskatchewan's largest outdoor art and craft show on the grounds.

Regina is home to hundreds of recreation facilities, from the 8,300 square meter Sportplex with its competitive-sized pool to Canada's best lawn-bowling green.  There are five municipally owned golf courses, over 200 athletic fields, an indoor and an outdoor skateboarding facility, a BMX track, biking trails, an Olympic-sized track, swimming pools, speed skating, oval, rugby and soccer fields, and a cricket pitch.  Whatever sport you're involved in, chances are you'll find the facilities in Regina.

Exhibition Park is Canada's second-largest trade show and exhibition facility.  Each summer it hosts the Buffalo Days exhibition, Saskatchewan's provincial fair.  It is also home to the Canadian Western Agribition, the second largest cattle show in North America, held in late November/early December.  Each June the park also hosts the Western Canada Farm Progress Show, a world-caliber showcase of dryland farming equipment and technology.

The Saskatchewan Science Centre provides a hands-on experience of science and the world around us.  Films shown on the five-storey screen at the IMAX Theatre make you feel you're part of the action - from aboard the Shuttle to thousands of feet below the sea.

The Royal Saskatchewan Museum showcases the natural history of Saskatchewan and other parts of the world, from pre-history to the present.  The First Nations Gallery gives glimpses into the life of the people who lived in this area before European settlers arrived.

Casino Regina is housed in the historic Union Station.  The new show lounge offers food, music and entertainment.  It's one of Regina's most popular destinations.

Jinan:  Our Sister City

Regina has been twinned with Jinan, in the Shandong province of China, since 1987.  The purpose is to develop exchanges that will lead to more co-operation in trade, science and technology, culture, education and civic administration.

Source - 2006 Regina: Profile of Our Capital City