REGINA, Sask. — The University of Regina is taking the next step toward developing 33 acres of land along Grant Road, selecting Forster Investments Inc. to lead planning for the property.
University president and vice-chancellor Dr. Jeff Keshen says the site was chosen after the university assessed the potential benefits, costs, risks and development challenges of its available land.
“It's the best site we hold,” Keshen said.
He says the Grant Road property stood out because it is less complicated to service and has strong potential because of its location and proximity to existing services.
The university has been examining the possibility of development for more than a year. A request for proposals was issued in December 2025 to find a third-party developer capable of creating land-use concepts based on local demand.
Keshen says potential uses have not been finalized, but the university could see a mix of retail and housing on the property.
“I don't know the details at this stage because the developer who we're working with has to produce an actual business proposal,” he said.
Keshen says a grocery store is one possibility, while mixed housing could help address demand in the community, including for graduate students and families.
Any proposal will have to serve more than the university’s financial interests.
“We have criteria that we had set out that has to serve the surrounding community,” Keshen said. “It has to serve the students at the university.”
He says generating revenue is not the primary reason for pursuing the development.
“The driver is about the services for the community and services for the students,” Keshen said.
The university does not yet know how much revenue the project could generate. Keshen says it is not expected to produce “millions and millions of dollars,” with the broader value coming from the services and amenities that could be added to the area.
Forster Investments was selected through a process that included a scoring matrix and interviews with prospective developers. Keshen says the company’s experience, resources and track record helped make its proposal stand out.
The project is still subject to several approvals, including a traffic assessment, community consultation, review by the Provincial Capital Commission, City of Regina approvals and approval from the university’s Board of Governors.
The university is also working with the South Zone Community Gardener Association on relocating its gardens as part of the process.
Keshen says the development could eventually reach the construction stage in late 2027 or early 2028, although there are still several steps to complete before that can happen.
“This is not the end of the road yet,” he said.
For now, the university says community engagement is expected in spring or summer 2027 as planning moves forward.
Keshen says he hopes whatever ultimately takes shape on the property will have a lasting impact on both the university and Regina.
“It is my hope that we leave a lasting legacy that the community will be very happy with and it will be even more of a support for, and a magnet for attracting, students to the U of R,” Keshen said.
