REGINA, Sask. — The RCMP Heritage Centre is getting a major dose of funding for upgrades and improvements to the popular tourist attraction in Regina.
At that venue on Tuesday afternoon, Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, announced the Government of Canada will provide more than $7.7 million from the Build Communities Strong Fund to go toward rehabilitating and modernizing the facility.
“This funding will upgrade critical building systems, modernize exhibitions, and improve accessibility, making the Centre safer, more sustainable, and more welcoming to visitors for years to come,” Belanger said.
“But ladies and gentlemen, as we all know, this investment is about more than upgrading a building. Canada is home to many public institutions that have helped shape our country and the way in which our country is seen around the world. The legacy of the RCMP is one of those things. Its history is an important part of the Canadian story.”
He said venues like the RCMP Heritage Centre allow Canadians a “place to come together, ask questions, learn about our past, and better understand how it continues to shape the country we are today.”
Belanger said the funding is part of the $6 billion direct delivery stream of the Building Canada Strong Fund, with the government investing directly in projects that have regional and national significance.
Sam Karikas, CEO of the RCMP Heritage Centre, welcomed the funding, which will allow the Centre to “create a more modern, engaging and accessible visitor experience.”
“This investment will support regional economic growth, sustain skilled trade jobs, enhance tourism on the Prairies and will improve the community infrastructure, making it more accessible, secure and sustainable. With this funding, we will replace critical building systems and enhance the visitor experience through exhibit renewal, allowing us to incorporate even more diversity of voice and contemporary stories of service in what makes us uniquely Canadian.”
She said the RCMP Heritage Centre welcomes tens of thousands of visitors from countries around the world and serves classrooms from every province and territory in Canada.
“Today's announcement is not only about our past but also our future. As we continue to build momentum towards being established as a national museum, this announcement represents an exciting and important step forward for us. It supports continued growth and sustainability and allows us to continue to build our vision as a place of discovery, exploration, reflection and reconciliation. A place where every Canadian can feel welcome. This funding is an investment in Canadian stories, in spaces where we learn and in the places where we can explore our shared humanity.”
Mayor Chad Bachynski welcomed the investment and what it means for Regina.
“The RCMP Heritage Centre is much more than a museum. It is one of Saskatchewan's top five tourist attractions, welcoming tens of thousands of visitors every year from across Canada and around the world. It tells a uniquely Canadian story, one that is deeply connected to Regina's identity and our place in the national narrative.”
Bachynski said the Centre provides educational programming to more than 15,000 students from every province and territory, “helping young Canadians better understand the history, traditions, and evolution of one of our country's most recognized institutions.” He also said it contributes “approximately $11 million in economic impact to the region annually, supporting jobs, businesses, and growth in the local economy.”
“Looking ahead, the vision for the RCMP Heritage Centre is an ambitious and exciting one. Efforts continue toward achieving National Museum status, a designation that would make Regina home to one of only three national museums located outside the National Capital Region, and only the second in Western Canada. That would be a remarkable achievement for our city and recognition of the Centre's national significance.”
Bob Smart, president of the Friends of the Mounted Police Heritage Centre, pointed to the importance of the announcement.
“I think sometimes we take things for granted, but recent events have made us appreciate those who protect us, from the Prime Minister and the Government of Canada, right down to all the police officers who serve across this country from coast to coast to coast. That history needs to be saved, and we either celebrate it, or in some cases, make sure we learn from it.”
Smart said the funding “will allow the Centre to undertake significant facility renewal and modernization, helping ensure that the Heritage Centre can continue to welcome visitors, deliver meaningful experiences, and preserve and share Canada's story for generations to come.”
