REGINA, Sask. — Beyond the headline-making debates, Regina council heard how community programs are reaching vulnerable residents, strengthening cultural connections and creating opportunities.
While housing, road safety and a proposed artificial intelligence data centre drew attention at the Oct. 28 meeting, several other reports offered a closer look at how city-supported initiatives are working, where they have made progress and what could happen next.
One of the clearest examples came from Regina’s Emergency Treatment Fund program, which helped non-profit organizations expand transportation and outreach for people affected by substance use challenges.
The program funded 14 vehicles for eight local non-profits and provided temporary employment for 25 peer outreach workers with lived experience of substance use disorder. Five workers secured permanent employment as a direct result of the program, according to the city’s report.
Deputy city manager Deborah Bryden highlighted the results when presenting the findings to council.
“We think these are some pretty impressive outcomes for relatively small investment and should be celebrated and serve as a good footing and inspiration for future funding opportunities,” Bryden said.
Between April 2025 and March 2026, participating organizations reported completing 4,708 transports involving 2,222 unique community members. They also provided 7,877 hours of direct outreach and distributed supplies 5,295 times.
The transportation helped people get to medical appointments, hospitals, detox centres, emergency shelters, housing and supportive programs. The vehicles also gave organizations more flexibility to reach residents who may face barriers accessing services through conventional transportation.
The reported results exceeded several targets established for the federal funding program. The target for transportation was 3,000 trips, while the participating organizations reported more than 4,700. The target for direct outreach was 1,000 hours, compared with the 7,877 reported.
However, the numbers come with limitations. The city’s evaluation relied on information submitted by funded organizations and could not definitively establish that the program caused improvements in access to services. The end of the federal funding period also leaves questions about how peer outreach employment and other elements of the program can be sustained.
The city reported that all eight participating organizations planned to continue operating their vehicles as of April 2026. That offers some continuity, but keeping vehicles on the road does not necessarily guarantee that every service or outreach position can continue at the same level.
Cultural site sees more participation
Another report presented to council showed increased use of Regina’s Cultural Site, which provides space for Indigenous ceremonies, cultural teachings and land-based learning.
The site hosted 20 events in 2026, including 15 sweat lodge ceremonies and five cultural teaching events. More than 350 people visited the site, with participation increasing by 81 per cent compared with 2025.
Feedback collected for the report suggests the site’s value extends beyond the number of events held. One participant described the opportunity to reconnect with culture after growing up in the city and away from reserve life.
“It's amazing that the City of Regina provides an opportunity for Indigenous people, like myself, to reconnect with culture that was not taught to me, having grown up in the city and off reserve,” the participant said.
Another described the experience as more meaningful than expected, thanking the city and the people who organized and took part in the ceremonies.
The report also found that 90 per cent of participants were very interested in taking part in more programming at the site. The same proportion said they felt connected to nature and grounded in their spiritual, mental, physical and emotional selves while visiting.
One participant reflected on the broader potential of the space, saying it could become meaningful for communities in and around Regina to connect with and celebrate Indigenous culture if it continues to be used and developed.
The findings point to demand for more accessible cultural programming and ceremonial space. They also raise a practical question for the city: how to support that interest and maintain the site as participation grows.
Reconciliation work moves into city operations
Council also received an update on kâ-nâsihcikêwin, Regina’s Indigenous framework, which is intended to guide municipal work and relationships with First Nations, Métis and Inuit people.
Since December 2024, the city has delivered 25 introductory sessions on the framework to more than 450 employees. The work is designed to help staff incorporate Treaty principles and Indigenous worldviews into municipal operations rather than treating reconciliation as a separate initiative.
The city reported several other steps, including support for seven Indigenous university student internships through the Mitacs Indigenous Pathways Program and efforts to incorporate Indigenous perspectives into planning and policy work.
A further change is planned inside City Hall, where the city intends to create a smudging space and smudge-safe meeting rooms. The work was expected to be completed in December 2026.
The annual report describes the framework as a guide for everything from everyday municipal operations to engagement with Indigenous communities. The longer-term test will be whether the commitments translate into lasting changes in how city services are designed, delivered and evaluated.
The Cultural Site and framework reports offer different measures of progress: participation at ceremonies and teaching events, staff training, internships and changes to city spaces. Together, they show how the city is attempting to make Indigenous cultural recognition and reconciliation part of its ongoing work.
Other decisions from a busy meeting
Council made decisions on or received updates about several other matters, even as the larger debates dominated attention.
Council unanimously approved its Housing Accelerator Fund recommendations after a 10-1 vote to amend the funding split. The change allocated $1.5 million to a downtown market-housing grant pilot and $1.5 million to Parkdale Park. The final recommendations were approved unanimously.
Council also debated a proposed change to the Official Community Plan that would have required council approval before certain planning requirements could be waived in the collaborative planning area near the city. The amendment was defeated 8-3. The debate raised concerns about public transparency around the Bell AI data centre, but the vote did not approve or reject the project itself.
Road safety was another major issue. A motion called for the city to develop a Pedestrian and Cyclist Protection Strategy Action Plan, with a report due to council in the third quarter of 2027. It also called for any immediate policy changes requiring council approval to be brought forward as soon as possible.
In a separate leadership decision, councillors unanimously appointed Chad Jedlic as the next city manager, effective Jan. 4, 2027. Jedlic currently serves as the city’s director of land, real estate and economic development. Mayor Chad Bachynski also recognized acting city manager Jim Nicol’s work during the transition, saying, “We’ve been very fortunate to have him steady the helm here in the last almost two years.”
Council approved a zoning amendment for 3800 Rochdale Blvd., aligning zoning with property boundaries for a car dealership that had already received discretionary-use approval. Amendments involving signage on Chuka Boulevard were also approved.
Other matters remain unresolved. A proposed work camp at 1102 North Fleet Street was tabled until a special council meeting, with a date still to be determined. The Mayor’s Heroism Award Policy was postponed to the Nov. 18 meeting, while a proposed amendment to Regina’s water bylaw was withdrawn for possible changes.
