REGINA — One of the most iconic attractions in the City of Regina has been provided with temporary relief.
On Wednesday, Regina city council unanimously voted to approve $1.386 million from the general fund reserve for the Globe Theatre through a grant, an urgent financial transaction for the theatre to get through its 2026/2027 season.
The Globe underwent a five-year renovation project to transform the interior of the space into what was described as a state-of-the-art facility, including a modern theatre-in-the-round, theatre school facilities, production areas and more.
The project was initially estimated to cost $29 million, but the final price tag came in at approximately $50 million.
As Oz Weaver, executive director of the Globe, noted, restoring a historic building often uncovers additional repairs that need to be addressed.
“When we started disassembling the building, one of the things that popped up was the grand staircase. The original staircase was not held on by anything. As they moved things around, they wondered how it hadn’t collapsed already. So all of a sudden we had a new staircase.”
Weaver also said stabilizing the roof added another $3 million to the project's cost.
Beyond repair costs, the project began shortly before COVID-19 started, meaning tariffs and prices on goods played a role in landing at $50 million.
A June 2025 financial statement indicated that the increased costs had created significant financial pressures for the Globe.
“The Globe Theatre's current liabilities exceed its current assets by over $11.3 million. Current liabilities include a $9 million construction loan related to the building refurbishment,” noted the financial statement.
Details provided in the statement also indicate the Globe incurred an operating loss in its theatre fund of roughly $57,000, but overall net revenue over expenses was a surplus of nearly $925,000.
This left the Globe needing to secure $16.3 million to address outstanding debts and payables.
Council was first briefed on the organization’s financial situation during a closed-door meeting following the July 22 Regina executive committee meeting, where administration presented an option to transfer funds from the reserve.
The general fund reserve is primarily used for unanticipated activities, operations, projects or expenses.
With the transfer, the reserve is now at roughly $20 million, which is over $15 million below its threshold of $35.8 million.
Along with the city’s contribution, the Globe plans to cover the remaining approximately $14.9 million through $12 million in federal funding, as well as about $2.9 million in confirmed or pledged contributions from fundraising, sponsorships, consultant cost reductions and gift payments.
However, funding won’t be provided by the provincial government based on a previous agreement with the Canada Infrastructure Program, which provided $9 million between the feds and the province for the Globe’s renovation.
“The organization was advised that project costs, including overruns, are the responsibility of the recipient as outlined in the funding agreement,” said Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross in a statement.
Value
Mitch Molnar, a board member with Economic Development Regina, said continuing to study the Globe Theatre’s operations is important because it serves as a community asset in a city that faces harsh winters and limited indoor activities.
“We got some inherent challenges with 275,000 people living in the middle of the Prairies. The Globe is really not just a driver for the downtown; it’s an entire community asset.”
That value is reflected in the Globe’s economic impact, which reached nearly $23 million in 2025, almost double its 2024 total.
Beyond drawing people, the Globe can help put the city and province on the map.
Zarqa Nawaz, creator of Little Mosque on the Prairie, which will start playing at the Globe this fall, said stories told in theatres can introduce many people to Saskatchewan.
“When you look at Come From Away, it became a Broadway hit; it toured the world, and suddenly everyone knew about Gander in Newfoundland and Labrador.”
She also pointed to the hit TV series Corner Gas as an example of how television can shape global perceptions of a province, saying it is more effective than traditional campaigns promoting a region.
Hard decisions
Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli admitted he came into Wednesday’s meeting expecting to vote no, but his decision changed.
“I was being penny-smart and dollars stupid; the amount of revenue that this brings through is substantial.”
Mayor Chad Bachynski also said he was very conflicted on his decision, given the state the city is in.
“I look on the one hand, we know going through a very challenging budget, we have a very transparent picture of our city’s financial position, and it’s not great. We know where our reserves are at; we are trying to catch up operationally. And on the other hand, when you look at the economic impact of what the Globe brings, when you look at the impact it has on not just the Globe but the surrounding businesses, a lot of those businesses we've heard from today are successfully open because of the Globe.”
If Bachynski chose to oppose the grant, he worried about the downtown tax base shrinking, meaning other Regina residents would have to pay more in taxes.
With the city's funding secured, Weaver said the money will go a long way toward helping secure the additional funding needed to get the Globe project across the finish line as quickly as possible.
Weaver noted that if the $12 million in federal funding is not secured, the Globe will explore other options to obtain the additional money needed, including taking on a $2 million mortgage.
