REGINA, Sask. — A new floral conservatory in Wascana Centre is still a few steps away from becoming reality, but the Regina Garden Associates are hoping a night of music, conversation and fundraising will help bring the vision into focus.
The organization is hosting its Wine and Roses fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 13, at the MacKenzie Art Gallery. The event will feature a jazz trio and Latin jazz, along with appetizers and a complimentary glass of wine for guests.
For Mariana Hinojosa Centella, vice-president of the Regina Garden Associates, the evening represents an important milestone in the effort to build a new home for the Regina Floral Conservatory.
“It's our first event outside the Floral Conservatory,” she said. “We're working really hard. We just hired a project manager to make the Floral Conservatory even more of a tangible thing on the horizon.”
The money raised will support plans for a larger, modern facility along Lakeshore Drive in Wascana Centre. The proposed building is intended to provide more room for public displays, educational programming and community activities.
The current conservatory, located on Fourth Avenue, has served Regina for decades, but its size and aging structure have increasingly limited what the organization can offer. The Regina Garden Associates say a new facility would create more opportunities to welcome visitors and expand its programs.
The project has been estimated to cost tens of millions of dollars, with funding expected to come through a major campaign involving government, corporate and individual contributions. The organization's latest presentation to Regina city council outlined a proposed 42,000-square-foot facility with an estimated cost of $48 million. Its plans include 26,000 square feet of public space, with additional areas for administration and operations.
The proposed conservatory is also intended to incorporate environmentally friendly features, including geothermal heating, solar panels and water retention and recycling systems. The organization says accessibility is a priority, with the goal of making the building fully wheelchair accessible.
Hinojosa Centella hopes the fundraiser will help more people see themselves as part of the project.
“For us it's really important to have the people join us to continue showing the support that the community has towards having this new Floral Conservatory,” she said.
She believes the impact could extend well beyond the people who attend the event or visit the gardens today.
“It's not something only for us, but the heritage, what we're leaving for our kids,” she said. “We hope that that is something that we can leave behind, like a staple as the crown jewel of the Prairies.”
The group is working toward a project that could eventually offer more space for seasonal flower displays and educational opportunities for generations to come. Its construction timeline will depend on how quickly the necessary funding and approvals can be secured.
In the meantime, Wine and Roses offers residents a chance to support that long-term goal while enjoying an evening out.
“It's just a lovely evening for good company, delicious food and great music,” Hinojosa Centella said.
The event runs from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Nov. 13 at the MacKenzie Art Gallery, located at 3475 Albert St. Tickets are $125, plus applicable fees, and are available through Eventbrite or the Regina Floral Conservatory website.
Hinojosa Centella says the organization is grateful for the support it has already received and is looking forward to sharing more updates as the project moves ahead.
“Every day we're working really hard to make it a reality,” she said.
