Daily photos of Regina

January 25 - Our link to the Twin Towers

2012-01-25T13:33:00.002-11:00

I just found out today that the architect who built the World Trade Centre in New York (Minoru Yamasaki) also designed our Dr. Archer Library. Who knew? The building is listed in the Wikipedia article about Minoru Yamasaki.

The Y-shaped pillars and windows enclosing the main floor echo the design of th main entrance/lobby to the Towers. [It is even easier to see the resemblance when there is not snow piled up in the courtyard in front of the building. :-) ]

January 24 - We belong to one world

2012-01-25T13:26:00.004-11:00

The hallway in the South Residence Building features flags representing all the international students who have attended the University of Regina. It also contains a few provincial flags as well (yeah Alberta!)

It is very colourful and brightens my day every time I walk down it.

January 23 - Happy Chinese New Year

2012-01-25T13:24:00.003-11:00

Many locations around campus acknowledged the Chinese New Year. This photo was one taken outside a coffee shop in the Riddell Centre.

January 22 - Hallways of learning

2012-01-25T13:23:00.001-11:00

I work at the University of Regina. It's a lovely campus with many interesting architectural features. For the rest of this month and for the month of February, I will be taking photos of different aspects of the buildings I work in. I'll be trying new techniques - some will work - some will fail. But that's why I started this blog: to improve my photography skills and to create a record of Regina whether it be good, bad or ugly.

Today's photo is of the hallway in front of the Archer Library. It is a very dark entrance to get into the library (shown on the left) but the hallway always draws your eye past it to the light beyond.

January 21 - Feeling poorly...

2012-01-25T13:18:00.002-11:00

I've had a migraine for the past week, so I haven't been posting. I am feeling better today and will catch up on my posts.

This first pic is one I took of my best friend's dog, Charlie. Too cute for words and it always cheers me up.

January 20 - Leg. Building

2012-01-20T01:43:00.000-11:00

I am posting twice on the 20th as I didn't post on the 18th because of SOPA and have been running a day late since. After this post, I will be caught up again.

This was also taken from my car window after taking the January 19 photo. It is of the Provinical Legislative building at sunset. Because it snowed earlier this week and because it has been so cold, the snow in the gardens is pristine and untouched. No one is outside walking over it because they don't want to be outside.

However, it is supposed to warm up to a balmy -10C tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

January 19-Skyscrapers across Regina's skyline

2012-01-20T01:39:00.002-11:00

This was taken from my car (as it is still -40C with the windchill during the day). In the distance, across Wascana Lake, you can see the faint outline of a crane building the next skyscraper in Regina's downtown core.

Regina is different from other cities I've lived in. Their idea of a skyscraper is 20 storeys. Calgary's idea of a skyscraper is 50 storeys. But regardless of how you define a skyscraper, Regina is building another one. It will be interesting to see how it changes our skyline once it is completed.

January 18 - SOPA

2012-01-19T01:43:00.000-11:00

I agree with the SOPA movement, spearheaded by Wikipedia. Would we be able to take photographs of statues and monuments in our town freely, or would we have to get the permission of the artist or owner of the work first? Could blogs like this even exist?

That's why there is no photo for this date.

January 17 - Climbing the walls

2012-01-17T17:49:00.001-11:00

This is a photo I took in the summer of 2010. The store has since relocated, but I enjoyed the double-take when I first saw their "worker" hanging off the side of their building. It certainly caught my eye...He was certainly a dedicated "worker" patiently fixing that one spot, regardless of rain, sleet or snow.

January 16 - Memories of warmer times...

2012-01-16T18:00:00.001-11:00

I took this photo last summer of one of the best burger joints in town...the original Burger Baron. They make the best, juiciest burgers in Regina.

Something to remind us that summer will return as we shiver in -30 C weather.

January 15 - Training Centre for the Regina Fire Department

2012-01-15T03:33:00.003-11:00

I snapped this photo yesterday before the snow started to fall as I will not be at my computer after this morning.
This is a picture of the Education and Training Centre for the RFD. The building looks a bit boring, but off to the left-side is a cement tower. (I was driving too fast and missed catching it in the shot.)
The RFD fills that cement tower with combustable material and burn so recruits learn how to enter buildings and conduct search patterns. I've never seen them training in that building, but you can see the soot marks on the outside as you drive by.

January 14 - Victoria Park today

2012-01-15T03:29:00.001-11:00

You will see that I am submitting three posts in one day; it is because I wasn't able to get to a computer until this moment to download the pictures in my camera. (I'm going to see about changing the settings on my smart phone so I can upload and blog on the run.)
This photo is of Victoria Park from 11th Avenue and Lorne Street. City Council (why, I will never know) decided to change the free-flowing traffic in the downtown core to create a 'festival place' beside Victoria Park. They promised they would have traffic going down 11th once it was completed. They said it would be done in a year.
Well, after spending millions of dollars, this is what we got. Metal structures that look like the fence of a concentration camp. The lamp poles look like light sabres out of Star Wars. No one goes downtown because the traffic is so screwed. And no one goes to the festival place to hang out. (Do you see anyone in that picture? It was taken at 4 p.m. on a Saturday afternoon when the temperature was -5C [that's warm for Regina in January.])
What a colossal waste of money. I hope people remember that when it comes time to the election. Wasting that much money during tough economic times is a shame.

January 13 - Plains Hotel today

2012-01-15T03:22:00.003-11:00

Here is the vacant lot where the Plains Hotel used to sit (I blogged about it earlier this week and around this same time in 2010.) Sorry about all the poles, but I was behind some cars and couldn't make it to the front of the intersection to take the photo.
The empty lot makes the intersection look bare and uninviting. I hope they begin construction soon.

January 12: Honouring Regina College's war dead

2012-01-12T17:38:00.002-11:00

When you go in through the main doors of the College Avenue Campus, you see a brass plaque to the left that lists in the center panel the12 Regina College students who died fighting for Canada during the First World War.

The two side panels list all students who fought for Canada during the war, and whether they were injured in battle. There is over 100 names on the side panel.

Considering that Regina College only opened its doors to students in 1911 and Regina only had about 3,000 residents at that time...to have over 100 of your students/alumni fighting in the war would have been a significant number of people.

In today's hectic society, its easy to forget the sacrifices of past generations. This is my way to say thank-you.

January 11-last photo of the Plains Hotel

2012-01-11T14:27:00.001-11:00

Although it is just a dirt plot now, I was able to take this photo of the Plains Hotel while driving in my car. I took the photo just before it was torn down last month.
It looks quite run down when compared to the original shot of the Plains Hotel I took on January 10, 2010.
It will be refreshing to see a new building being constructed in Regina on that site.

January 10 - Early morning in downtown Regina

2012-01-10T04:08:00.002-11:00

My camera is on the fritz, so I had to use the camera on my cell phone to take this photo this morning as I waited for the bus. As you can see, there is no snow anywhere in the downtown core. No wonder since it was 5.7 C yesterday! Weare supposed to get a centimetre or two of snow this week, but I'm not holding my breath.

January 7 - Last year's snow storm

2012-01-07T02:18:00.003-11:00

Well, it is one of many storms experienced last winter. This is a photo I took while driving last January. It is certainly different than what it looks like outside today. (I'll post that photo tomorrow.)

January 6 - Pelicans on Wascana Lake

2012-01-06T15:41:00.003-11:00

It has been so warm the last few days that it could be spring. To remind us of how lovely spring and summer are in Regina, I am posting this photo I took last fall of the flock of pelicans swimming on Wascana Lake.
I heard that they were all males, just hanging around, cruising for chicks. Somethings just don't change, regardless of the species.

January 5: Wascana Park in the Fall

2012-01-05T02:54:00.002-11:00

I was walking around Wascana Park in October when I took this picture of the geese swimming through the water at sunset. You can faintly see the lights of the Albert Street bridge in the distance.

So very peaceful. I encourage anyone who is visiting Regina to walk around Wascana Park at sunset.

January 4: New year, new committment

2012-01-04T04:50:00.003-11:00

Hi everyone,

Sorry I haven't posted in so long; many things were happening in my life that my photography took a backseat. I'm also going my my new nickname "Kate".

Today's photo is one I took last year in Regina as I was travelling to Ottawa for a conference. I love the colour of the sky at sunrise and you can still see a star or two twinkling in the heavens.

June 19-Odd duck out

2010-07-07T17:31:00.004-11:00

Hundreds of Canada Geese descend on Wascana Park each year to nest and raise their young. This white goose was the 'odd duck out' in a flock resting and eating by the shoreline.

June 17-Centennial rose

2010-07-07T17:25:00.005-11:00

This is one of the many roses that graces my flower garden. It is a Morden Centennial Rose. This is one of the first blooms it had this season; right now (in July when I am posting this because I am behind) the bush is so full of roses, it can barely keep its branches from dragging on the ground.

June 15-Rider Pride on Tower II

2010-07-07T17:23:00.004-11:00

I took photos of the old Saskatchewan Roughrider logo on Tower I; this is the new Roughrider logo that adorns the face of Tower II. They finished it in early June. You can see both logos as you drive into Regina or walk around Wascana Park.

June 13-Wascana Marina

2010-07-05T16:58:00.002-11:00

Although Wascana is just a lake, the city does boast a marina where the local rowing clubs and dragon boat teams practice out of.

Every night, there are dozens of folks taking out kayaks, canoes, or sculls from the open bays shown in the picture above to skim across the waters of the mighty Wascana.

June 11-Joe Fafard cow (take 2)

2010-06-30T02:17:00.002-11:00

In my April 4 blog, I talk about the artist Joe Fafard and his cows (which he is famous for.) This is a close up of the cow in Tower 1 in Regina. When you look really close, you can see his eyelashes!

June 9-Burgundy Iris

2010-06-28T16:34:00.003-11:00

My mom gave me a slip of this burgundy iris a few years ago; now it graces my backyard with fist-sized blooms that can be admired from the sidewalk.

June 7-Skimming across the waters

2010-06-28T16:31:00.003-11:00

When it hasn't been raining, I've been walking around Wascana Lake. This is a picture of some rowers practicing out adjacent to the Marina.

June 5-Going to seed

2010-06-28T16:29:00.002-11:00

You can tell you're in Regina when you see the dandelions going to seed. These were just a few of the ones that took up residence in my backyard.

June 3-Statue at Regina Airport

2010-06-25T03:19:00.004-11:00

I had to go to the airport several times this month. I really like this statue that is in the arrivals area. It's interesting to see how many people take their photographs beside this piece of art.

June 1 - SGI building

2010-06-23T01:05:00.003-11:00

This is a photo if the SGI headquarters in Regina. I love its gold-coloured panes of glass. When the sun hits it, the light from the reflection brightens everything with its soft golden glow.

May 30-Mural on Broad Street

2010-06-23T01:03:00.004-11:00

This mural, by Hugh Fry, adorns the cement wall of a parking lot just north of the Tim Horton's on Broad Street.
It took the artist about a week to paint it last year. It brightens my day every time I drive past it.

May 25-Street cleaning

2010-06-22T01:45:00.002-11:00

I have been busy trying to cope with the rain and its effects on my garden. Over the next few days, I will be posting pictures I've taken over the past few weeks.

This one is of a street sweeping sign. Regina cleans its streets of the gravel it used as part of its sanding efforts over the winter. This sign was seen on Broad Street, near Northgate Mall.

May 21-Sherwood Plaza

2010-05-23T03:42:00.003-11:00

The Sherwood Plaza building is located on the corner of Albert Street and 12th Avenue. This is a picture of everyone waiting at the light to head north on Albert Street after work so they can start their long weekend.

May 20-Victoria Park

2010-05-23T03:40:00.003-11:00

The trees are in bloom in Victoria Park. However, this view may not exist much longer. The City is 'revitalizing' the downtown. This street view will be dramatically changed by next year.

May 19 - Reflection of the second tower

2010-05-23T03:38:00.003-11:00

They 'wrapped' the first tower with the older Saskatchewan Roughrider icon. Now they are wrapping the second tower with the new Roughrider trademark. This is a reflection of the work they've done so far on the second tower, reflected in the first tower's windows.

May 18-Assiniboia Club building

2010-05-19T02:00:00.003-11:00

Founded in 1882, the Assiniboia Club in Regina was THE gentlemen's club at the turn of the century. Deals were made; fortunes founded and lost by leaders in the community. It is one of the few buildings from this period that still exist in Regina.

To learn more about its history (and to see a photo of it from 1925), look at this Wikipedia entry about Regina's old buildings.

May 17-CK Pizza murals

2010-05-19T01:58:00.002-11:00

These murals are located on the outside of the CK (Copper Kettle) Pizzaria on Hamilton Street. Not only do they brighten up the downtown core, it also helps to prevent grafitti on our downtown buildings.

May 16-Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame

2010-05-19T01:53:00.003-11:00

Sorry for missing the last couple of days; have been taking pictures, but not been feeling well.

This is the old Land Titles Building in Regina, which is now the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame.

Acccording to its entry in Waymarking.com, the building was completed in 1910 and was the first public building commissioned by the Saskatchewan government. It is also a heritage building.

May 14-Tower is done!

2010-05-15T04:21:00.002-11:00

They were putting the last finishing touches on the Roughrider banner on the Tower yesterday. When you fly or drive into Regina, you'll know Regina has 'rider pride.

May 13-Lilacs are here

2010-05-14T02:36:00.002-11:00

Looking around my garden, my peas, onions, beans, turnips, sunflowers, and lettuce have all poked their heads above ground to welcome spring...but they are still too small to photograph.

However, my lilacs are a different story. In about a week, I will have my first bunch of lilacs to bring in the house. In my mind, once you see lilacs and irises blooming in your yard, you can put away all winter clothes because the warm weather has definitely arrived!

May 12-Albert St & 12th Avenue

2010-05-13T01:57:00.003-11:00

The City announced that in mid-June, 12th Avenue will become two-way instead of one-way and work will begin on 'revitalizing' Regina's downtown core.

So I took a photo of 12th Avenue - looking towards the downtown core - to record the way 'it used to be' before the changes take place.

May 11-Wrapping the towers #3

2010-05-12T01:53:00.002-11:00

Well, they are making good progress on wrapping the towers. They had to halt for a couple of days because of the weather, but they were back out there on Monday.

You can make out the old Saskatchewan Roughriders logo at the top, and where it will eventually say "100 years of pride".

May 10-Courtney Street

2010-05-10T15:39:00.002-11:00

This picture is of me driving along Courtenay Street in Regina's north end.

To your right is a fully developed neighbourhood. To your left is a farmer's field - literally the edge of town.

According to the City's northwest sector plan, this area to the left will be filled with houses within the next decade. The fields will exist no longer.

I wonder where people will go to ride their skidoos in the winter when houses are built in this field?

May 9-Nest buddies

2010-05-10T15:36:00.002-11:00

I was parked in a downtown parkade when I saw this pigeon's nest, with three little birds inside. Only one had its eyes open; the others huddled close to each other for warmth.

I didn't realize that pigeons were so ugly when they were little. They look nothing like their mom, who strutted and coo'd as I took this picture (just out of range of my camera.)

May 8 - 9th Avenue North (Ring Road)

2010-05-10T15:32:00.003-11:00

In Canada, you have to garden when the sun is shining ... so I apologize for not posting the past couple of days. I have been taking photos though.

This month I am going to take photos of some of the major roadways and collector streets in Regina, because as the city grows in the future, these roads will change dramatically.

This is a shot of 9th Avenue North heading westbound, just before MacIntosh Street. There's been a lot of roadwork in this area over the past couple of years. It is one of the easiest ways to get to the new subdivisions in the northwest area of town.

Unlike my previous postings of local streets, the trees are not yet mature enough to create a canopy over the roadway.

May 7-College Avenue

2010-05-08T06:18:00.002-11:00

This is College Avenue at Broad Street looking west.

The elm trees are starting to bud out; Regina has been very fortunate that its Dutch Elm Disease program has saved most of the 200,000+ elm trees that have been planted in the Queen City. Once you drive outside of Regina, there is hardly an elm tree to be seen.

May 6 - I love Regina

2010-05-07T03:19:00.002-11:00

You knew it was coming; a picture of the I Love Regina sculpture in front of City Hall.

Since 2002, this little symbol has appeared on everything imaginable in Regina. It was the basis of the "I Love Dog River" storyline in Corner Gas.

If you want to learn more about its history or how the City is trying to incorporate their new logo into this old theme, visit the City of Regina's website.

May 5-Frog at U of R

2010-05-06T00:57:00.003-11:00

The University of Regina original campus is located on College Avenue, near the downtown. It has some lovely old buildings and some great sculptures.

This frog is about 4 feet high and about 6 feet in length. It watches over the parking lot and east end of the College Avenue campus.

May 4-Wrapping the Towers #2

2010-05-05T01:36:00.003-11:00

I know yesterday's photo didn't do justice or show the scale of the signs that are being put on the two Hill Towers in Regina. (Although yesterday's shot showed how nice it can get here; not like today when it is cold and dreary.)

I took this photo from a friend's office who works in the other tower (which will also be wrapped later this spring.)

You can see how massive the logo will be. You should be able to see the logos as you come into Regina (whether by air or by car.)

May 3-Wrapping the towers

2010-05-04T01:35:00.003-11:00

In the April 1 edition of the Leader Post, the paper announced that a vinyl wrap would be affixed to the front faces of both the two towers in Regina to celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders' 100 anniversary.

I thought it was a April Fool's prank.

Nope ... It wasn't. They started to put the wrap on the windows Monday. This is the first six panes being wrapped. By the end of the day, he had completed two full rows downward. You can see the wrap as you walk around Wascana lake.

Roughrider pride certainly lives in Regina.

May 2-A Prairie Buffalo

2010-05-03T01:45:00.002-11:00

Felt better on Sunday, so I went out for a drive and passed this sculpture at the Access Communications building on Park Street. (They are our local cable TV and internet service provider.)

This sculpture called a Prairie Buffalo is by Daniel-Vincent Bernard, a Montreal artist and sculptor. It was dedicated on September 15, 1998 to "the pioneers of yesterday and the citizens of tomorrow." On the plaque it reads:

"Fashioned in coaxial cable, this unique statue combines cable technology with the symbol of Regina's glorious past."

May 1-Provincial Legislature

2010-05-03T01:44:00.004-11:00

Still not up to snuff ... so here is a picture I took a while back (when it was warm and not snowing outside!) of the Saskatchewan Legislature Building in Wascana Park.

April 30-Crocuses

2010-05-01T07:43:00.002-11:00

I'm still not feeling up to snuff, so I dug into my archives of photos to find this one I took a few years back. Enjoy!

April 29-Kanata Beach

2010-04-30T02:13:00.002-11:00

I haven't been feeling well (hence the photos being posted a day or two late.) I didn't feel well enough to take photos for yesterday, so I dug into my archives to show you how southern Saskatchewan can look like in all its glory when summer arrives (which isn't today because we are supposed to get 5 cm of snow in the next 24 hours.)

This was taken from the house of a friend who lives at Kanata Beach a few years ago. A storm had just ripped through the valley, leaving its mark on the sky. It's no wonder why our licence plates say "Land of living skies". It never looks the same twice.

April 28-April showers...

2010-04-30T02:11:00.001-11:00

April showers bring May flowers. Well, they also bring April flowers too. This is a picture of the first flowers blooming in my yard.

April 27-Big box stores

2010-04-28T01:34:00.002-11:00

This is the site that greets you as you enter Regina on the TransCanada Highway #1 from the east. Big box stores. Dozens of them.

I took the picture because this is a relatively new phenomenon in the past 10 years here in Regina. (This use to be an empty field.)

I hope that either a) they will plant trees or something to hide these ugly buildings or b) society will evolve so it doesn't want to shop in such a way in the future.

April 26-Birds of a feather

2010-04-27T01:37:00.002-11:00

Since I have a feeder AND a bird bath in my back yard, I have become quite popular with these fine feathered friends. (My cats haven't made up their minds yet; they love having birds around the house outside, but are quite frustrated that they never can catch one.)

I stepped outside yesterday for a quick walk and found them chirping up a storm on my fence.

April 25-Stained Glass at the Legion

2010-04-26T02:50:00.002-11:00

This stained glass window created gentle rainbows in the foyer of the Royal Canadian Legion #1 Branch in downtown Regina.

The banner across the top says "Saskatchewan for Freedom". Beside the main figure are four smaller banners that read Liberty, Truth, and Justice.

Below the main figure are four other figures, representing the Navy, Air Force, Nursing Profession and Army.

April 24-Expo 86 Cow

2010-04-26T02:45:00.002-11:00

Here is another Joe Fafard cow sculpture. This one was one of the focal points of the Saskatchewan Pavilion at Expo 86. It now lazily overlooks all those who enter Tower I downtown. (Since the building is locked at night, I had to take this through the plate glass windows.)

According to the brochure the City of Regina put out about downtown art, people visiting the sculpture at Expo 86 would rub the cow's nose for luck.

April 23-Ross Avenue

2010-04-24T04:23:00.002-11:00

Yesterday (yes, I am late posting again) I was driving around in the dreary weather instead of gardening like I wanted to. I took this shot of the Ross Avenue overpass to the Ring Road to show how dreary life was yesterday and how barren some places in Regina can look.

It's not a pretty photo, but it isn't meant to be. My blog is a portrait of Regina - warts and all - in 2010. A hundred years from now, I think this view will have dramatically changed. I want those people to know how things looked (and what we saw) in our ordinary, every day lives.

April 22-Anthropomorphism

2010-04-24T04:17:00.004-11:00

I was playing around with my camera at work, taking photos of these glass hearts that were on a shelf in a co-worker's cubicle.

When I showed her the photos, she noted my camera's flash created a 'face' in one of the top hearts. The other heart at the top looks like it is winking. I guess this photo is a good example of anthropomorphism...when you attribute human characteristics to inanimate objects.

April 21-Campion College

2010-04-22T01:45:00.002-11:00

Campion College, located on the U of R campus, was founded by the Jesuits in 1917. It was the first institution in Regina to offer a bachelor's degree when it obtained Junior College status in 1923.

This sculpture is in its main foyer. From far away, it looks like a weird looking cross. However, the horizontal arms have spines in them and are oval, which makes it look like a fish skeleton (i.e., Christ as the fisher of men.) It also looks like a map of a coastline, with the 'fish' skeleton at the end of a river that connects to the sea (Could it be representing Galilee?)

Definitely many layers to this piece.

April 20-Darling buds of May

2010-04-21T04:19:00.003-11:00

Well, actually it's still April, but the buds are coming out on the trees. I took this picture as I was walking last night (before heading back to study.) I'll be back to posting daily once my finals are over.

April 19: Live-in continues

2010-04-21T04:16:00.003-11:00

Day 28 of the Live-in at the First Nations University Campus in Regina. Students say they will continue to live there until the Federal Government reinstates funding to its previous levels.

When I went there to study for my finals this week, the sun was setting behind the teepees.

April 18-Regina Islamic Centre & Mosque

2010-04-19T01:43:00.002-11:00

I have been taking lots of photos of Christian religious buildings, so I thought I would show other types of religious buildings in Regina.

This is the Regina Islamic Centre & Mosque. I couldn't find out any history about when it was built on the Islamic Association of Saskatchewan's website, but I did find out more about the proud history of Muslims in Regina.

One of the first Muslim community leaders in Regina was named Muhammad Ali Tahaynee (Haynee), who immigrated from North Dakota. He and his wife raised 17 children in Regina. He owned Ali's Fancy Notions and acted as an interpreter for both new Muslim immigrants and the RCMP. Haynee Street in Regina is named in his honor.

April 17- Looking back

2010-04-18T05:42:00.002-11:00

I saw someone else on City Daily Photos do this on one of their postings and I have been waiting for it to get warm enough for me to try it as well.

This is a photo I took while waiting for a red light at the corner of 12th Avenue and Winnipeg Street. You can see in the distance the downtown core and the twin towers.

It's not as easy as it looks to take a photo of the reflection in your side rear mirror. I took 10 photos; this is the only one that doesn't show my camera or hands in the corner of the photo.

April 16-St. Matthew's Anglican Church

2010-04-17T10:08:00.003-11:00

Last weekend I went to a Caribbean Night fundraiser for Hope's Home (the first daycare in Canada to take both regular kids and medically fragile kids) at St. Matthew's Anglican Church.

While at the fundraiser, I found out that St. Matthew's is celebrating its 100 Anniversary this year. So I thought I would take a picture of how it looks in the cold spring sunshine.

Although there has been a church on this spot since 1910 (called the Grace Church), the building you see here (designed by Frank Portnall) was completed in 1926. Grace Church was renamed St. Matthew's Anglican Church in 1915.

For more information about its history, and to see beautiful pictures of its interior, please download their centennial brochure from the St. Matthew's website.

April 15-Limestone fossil

2010-04-16T01:57:00.003-11:00

Many Regina buildings are decorated with limestone (both inside and outside of the building.) This photo is of a fossil that is found in the Cornwall Centre (just west of the food court before you go into the parking lot.)

I think it is some type of coral fossil or a bryozoan, but I can't be sure. I will ask a friend at work (who is a rock hound) what type of fossil it is and report back.

April 14-Broad Street North

2010-04-16T01:53:00.002-11:00

Sorry for not posting the last 2 days; crazy hours. But I have remembered to take photos!

This is looking north at the intersection of Broad Street and 7th Avenue at 10:30 at night. It had just finished raining, so the roads were clean and shiny. A few cars in the distance, but most were safe at home, snug in their beds.

April 13-Rainstorm

2010-04-14T01:25:00.004-11:00

19.6 mm of rain fell on Regina April 13. From my own personal experience, I think most of the rain fell during the afternoon rush hour.

The photo above shows Victoria Avenue in the rain. Cars are backed up because most of the intersections and the curb lane were flooded. The waves from the water splashed oncoming traffic as you drove through.

The photo below shows an example of this water ponding. (The only reason why the windshield is clear is because I just used the wipers to remove the rain.) The rain is nearly covering both lanes of traffic that I am travelling in, has entirely covered the sidewalk, and is a quarter-way up the parking lot of the business to the right.

April 12-Canada's Flag

2010-04-12T18:59:00.003-11:00

Another Canadian soldier died in Afghanistan over the weekend. I thought I would honour Private Todd with a shot of a Canadian flag and explain a little bit about its history.

First of all, Canada's flag is not that old. It turned 45 this year on February 15. When this design, created by George Stanley and John Matheson, was first announced, it created quite a bit of controversy. But in the end, it was adopted. I think it is one of the best designed flags in the world.

By the way...I was told growing up that each point on the flag's maple leaf represented a Canadian province and one point to represent both territories; however, according to the Wikipedia entry about the Canadian flag...this is just a myth. (I'm crushed.)

April 11-SSLC & Sunrise Library

2010-04-12T18:48:00.003-11:00

This is the Sandra Schmirler Leisure Centre (known as SSLC for short) and the Sunrise Library in Regina's southeast.

According to the Regina Public Library's website, Sunrise Library opened in this location in 1990. The library boasts a collection of over 60,000 books and 3,100 CDs and DVDs. The staff are always pleasant and helpful. You can also surf the net for free from the library.

The SSLC features a main pool, tot pool, and whirlpool. You can also enjoy their co-ed dry sauna, activity rooms and their strenght and conditioning area. The City offers a wide variety of programs at the Leisure Centre; visit their website for details of what's happening today at the SSLC.

April 10-Regina Union Centre mural

2010-04-11T04:08:00.004-11:00

On 12th Avenue and Angus Street is the Regina Union Centre. It's a building that all unions in Regina use to hold meetings, training, and such. Unions have been very much in the news lately because of their fight against Bill-80 (see this Leader Post article for more details).

I took a picture of this mural that is along the side of the building. It features all the different tools, gloves and work that unions protect through their collective agreements. It is over 7 feet in height and about 20 feet long.

UPDATE (Thanks to NYC comments!)

The artist of this worker's mural is Crystal Howie. When she was 23, she was chosen by the Saskatchewan Centennial Workers Celebration Committee to create a mural to celebrate Saskatchewan's workers' history (which was suggested by Armand Roy.) In the "Our Times" story about the mural by Doug Taylor, he quotes Crystal's reasons behind incorporating work gloves as part of her 32 ft by 10 ft mural:

"The glove is a symbol of the hand," says Howie, "and shows every line and crease of history that has been placed on it or, rather, worked into it. The hand, like the glove, is a map of a person's history, work, history, life lived."

The work was unveiled on September 13, 2003 on the International Day of Action Against the World Trade Organization.

April 9-Windstorm

2010-04-10T04:25:00.002-11:00

Mother Nature socked it to Saskatchewan on Friday; the northern part of the province (including Saskatoon) had a blizzard with severe blowing winds. The southern half of the province (including Regina) were tossed and turned by a severe windstorm with sustained winds of 60 km/hr and gusts up to 90 km/hr. (That's hurricane force winds folks.)

Driving along Park Street I saw this house with its shingles being lifted and torn away by the wind. I heard reports of 3 semi-trailer trucks which were knocked to their sides as they drove along the TransCanada Highway. And SGI staff were evacuated from their building because of the wind blowing out their windows.

To read more about the damage, read this LeaderPost article.

April 8-SIAST

2010-04-09T03:03:00.003-11:00

This is a picture of the Wascana Campus of the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (or SIAST for short).

The SIAST Wascana Campus has been in Regina since 1972 and in this location (the old Plains Health Centre) since 1998. Over 12,000 students attend SIAST annually, taking one of their 160 core programs at either the Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw or Prince Albert.

For more information about SIAST's Wascana Campus and the programs it offers, go to the SIAST website.

April 7-Wascana Lake

2010-04-08T02:13:00.003-11:00

With the warm weather, the ice on Wascana Lake has been thawing. But in places, it is still frozen, as shown in this photo.

The poor Canadian geese thought they were going to land in open water, instead they broke through the ice. The ice is too thin (and they are too heavy) for the geese to take off. Instead they began to break a path in the ice with the forward momentum of their bodies. Once they reach open water, they'll be able to take off. (You can see the path of broken ice behind them.)

After today, there will be no ice on Wascana Lake; it's supposed to reach 19C.

April 6-St. Paul's Cathedral

2010-04-07T02:12:00.003-11:00

Above is a picture of the oldest, church building that is still active in Regina. Completed in 1895, this church has served the Anglican community for over 115 years.

Pictures of it from 1895, along with photos its interior and exterior (in different seasons) can be found in the St. Paul's Cathedral wikipedia entry. If you want to learn more about the congregation, go to the St. Paul's website.

April 5-Spitfire

2010-04-06T03:03:00.002-11:00

This is my other cat Spitfire. If you do a Google search on "Spitfire" as a name for cats, many cats come up in the listing. I guess there are a lot of owners (like me) who had a hellion for a kitten. He was so angry and clawed, hissed, and spit at me all the time (hence the name). Thank God he eventually calmed down and became the lovable cat you see here.

Both he and Minnie were in the yard yesterday exploring. Here Spitz is sneaking around my cedar trees to see what bird is chirping on the other side.

April 4-Potter the cow

2010-04-05T01:51:00.002-11:00

On the lawn of the MacKenzie Art Gallery is a sculpture from Joe Fafard featuring a trio of cows. When I went to the Wascana Centre walking tour online, I found out that this cow is named "Potter". Here's a direct quote from the online tour:

Just over the rise is the half-life-sized sulptures of a bull, cow and calf that were
created by Joe Fafard and donated to the MacKenzie Art Gallery by Claire Kramer.
The bull is named "Potter" after the well-known 17th century dutch animal painter
Paulus Potter; the grazing cow is named Valadon after the French post-Impressionist
painter Suzanne Valadon. The calf was named Teevo after a contest was held to name
the smallest member of this trio.

April 3-Minnie!

2010-04-04T00:02:00.002-11:00

This is my cat Minnie who - like all cats - is keeping her owner waiting as she decides whether or not to head outside and enjoy the warm spring day. While she was pondering, I took this photo. She did eventually go outside, as we all knew she would.

April 2-Seeing red

2010-04-03T04:49:00.005-11:00

My blog is picked up by City Daily Photos, an aggregate feed of photos taken by people around the world every day that shows their hometown. The theme for April was to take a picture of something red. This was the only thing (other than a red fire hydrant) that I could spot.

Sandwiched behind the Cornwall Centre and the rail yards is the main branch of the Canada Post Office. These mail trucks were parked in a row beside the building, waiting to be filled with mail for delivery on Monday.

To learn more about the services available by this crown corporation, go to the Canada Post website. To see other photos from cities around the world, go to the City Daily Photos website.

April 1-Oskana Ka-asasteki

2010-04-02T04:29:00.000-11:00

This sculpture by Joe Fafard is located on FW Hill Mall, between the Twin Towers. About 10 people can eat their lunch on the ledge found at the base of the sculpture.

There are two plaques on either side of this stylized metal cutout of a buffalo (in black, red, and white.) One side describes its unveiling on June 8, 1998. The other side explains what this Fafard sculpture is all about (in both English and Cree.) Below is what is found on the plaque:

oskana ka-asasteki

This sculpture has been given the name oskana ka-asasteki to honour the Cree language, to commemorate the history of our land and to honour the First Nations People of this province.

oskana ka-asasteki, pronounced "OOS-ku-nu KAH uSUS-tay-ki" is the Cree name for the site known as Regina. An approximate translation is "bones that are piled together." There are many different stories about how the site got its name and the origin of the bones referred to. Depending on the explanation, the name can refer to the bones of the First Nations People, the bones of the Buffalo Nation, or in a more figurative sense, the bones of the land itself.

One rendition depicts the bones as having been moved to a nearby hilltop from a 'pound' or kill enclosure that became so full of buffalo bones that bison would not enter. According to another version, the name refers to the death of the buffalo and the end of the Old Ways. Still another account reports that the bones were the bones of First Nations People who died from the scrouge of smallpox. The bones were actually a testament to those who had died and served as a warning about the dreaded disease. As with other legends, the history behind oskana ka-asasteki has become a sited blend of lore, linking a storied past with a vision of the future.

March 31-FNUC Live-in #2

2010-04-01T01:42:00.001-11:00

Students and faculty members of both the First Nations University of Canada and the University of Regina are still supporting a 'live-in' at all FNUC campuses in the province. This photo was taken in the main gathering area inside the university, looking out through the glass 'teepee' to the teepees erected outside. If you want to learn the latest developments on this story, read this Leader Post story on March 31st.

On another note, the drawing I blogged about on March 17 must have been saved by someone. FNUC students scanned the drawing and blew it up to a 10 x 10 ft poster to hang in their main gathering area, beside the inner glass ceremonial teepee. If you know the name of the artist who drew this, please tell me and I will give him or her proper credit.

March 30-Descent of the Holy Spirit

2010-03-30T16:11:00.000-11:00

This is one of the few Orthodox Ukrainian Churches in town. Located just east of downtown, the church features beautiful copper domes set in a magnificent brick building.

If you read Ukrainian, visit the church's website and download this week's church bulletin.

March 29-Pasqua Hospital

2010-03-30T02:21:00.000-11:00

In 1910, the 24-bed Grey Nuns Hospital was opened, which was run by the religious order of the same name. As the fourth hospital to be built in Regina, the facility quickly grew to include a nurses residence and an in-house cancer clinic by 1945.

In 1972, it was sold to the provincial government, who renamed it the Pasqua Hospital in 1973. over the past forty years, the province has made several upgrades to the building, along with new additions. That is why it looks a bit hodge-podge from the street where this picture was taken.

Regardless of how it looks, the staff inside are very professional and caring. When my friend was dying of cancer, the hospital arranged to have her daughter's wedding take place inside their large auditorium, so she could attend. Although it was all 'very-last minute' over 100 people were able to be with my friend and help her and her husband celebrate the marriage of their daughter.

Go to the Regina Public Library's website for more history about the Grey Nun's Hospital; and to the Pasqua Hospital's web page at the Regina Qu'Appelle Health District's website for services it offers today.

March 28-The geese have landed

2010-03-28T08:27:00.000-11:00

As I was driving past the U of R this morning, I noticed that hundreds (and I mean HUNDREDS) of Canada Geese have returned to nest around Wascana Lake and the university.

This quartet wasn't too scared of me as I took their picture in this field. You can see the University of Regina in the distance, just past the Ring Road where the cars are whizzing by.

Mother nature agrees with both the calendar and the Milky Way ... spring has officially arrived in Regina. Yipee!

March 27-Milky Way opens!

2010-03-28T08:21:00.000-11:00

To those who live in Regina or have in the past...the title says it all. You know spring has truly arrived when the Milky Way Ice Cream Spot re-opens for the upcoming season.

I realized the Milky Way opened when I was driving home from work Saturday night. (It might have opened earlier this week; I just noticed it last night.

This was the line up at around 7 p.m. (It was about 6C+ outside.) Anyone for a scoop of Tiger and chocolate peppermint ice cream?

March 26-Regina Cemetery #2

2010-03-28T08:12:00.000-11:00

Sorry for posting 3 days worth of photos at one time; had to work overtime this weekend. I took the photos on each day...just haven't had time to upload them until today.

So Friday's posting.

Headed back to the Regina Cemetery. It was vandalized a few years ago, so many of the monuments have been damaged. For some reason, the vandals left this one alone.

Mr. James Ormiston died on May 30, 1914, aged 31 years. I thought the fallen dove, at the base of a marble tree where another dove looks out over the cemetery was a bit creepy.

You can also tell that Regina does not have a lot of pollution; the lichen and moss are growing on the north side of this tombstone.

Continue to rest in peace Mr. Ormiston.

March 25-Downtown planters

2010-03-26T00:11:00.000-11:00

Throughout the Downtown Business District and the Warehouse District are large 1 metre x 1 metre black planters with distinctive reliefs on each side. One side usually features a pair of clasped hands; the other features this replica of a fossil.

March 24-Live-in at FNUC

2010-03-25T01:00:00.000-11:00

Although the First Nations University of Canada, the University of Regina, and the Provincial Government reached a deal yesterday to continue provincial funding of $5 million to FNUC, the students realize that the Federal Government must also reinstate its funding.

To show their determination to keep FNUC alive, 17 students started a "live-in" at the university yesterday. They set up their teepees in the front gathering area south of the University campus and were gathered in the student study area on the main floor when I went to class yesterday. They are sleeping in the teepees and tents at night...they must be freezing out there since the temperature really drops at night.

It's been a while since I either saw or heard of any group, regardless of their aims, actually take this type of stance and stage a live in (called a sit in back in the 1960s). I wish them all the best.

To learn more about the FNUC students' live-in, read this Leader-Post article.

March 23-Holy Trinity Church

2010-03-24T01:51:00.000-11:00

I've driven by this cute little church many times on my travels but didn't know much about it. So I thought I would feature it in my blog and learn more about it.

The Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church is located in Regina's inner city core neighbourhoods on Winnipeg and 12th Avenue. According to the Holy Trinity website, parishioners began building the church in 1915 and completed it in 1916.

The website shows its brilliant Byzantine murals of Christ's life that adorn its altar and nave...it's worth a visit to their site just to see those pictures in their gallery.

March 22- Rusty the elephant

2010-03-23T01:48:00.000-11:00

I remember seeing this sculpture outside the Regina Public Library the first time I visited Regina back in 1996. I thought it was a very cool-looking structure.

Created by Russell Yurisity in 1981, this was part of a temporary exhibit of the artist's work at the Dunlop Art Gallery...but the work stayed behind. According to the very large and a long-time-to-download brochure by the City of Regina, it took the artist 2 years to create this elephant.

March 21-Spring!

2010-03-21T11:34:00.000-11:00

What a great way to celebrate the equinox. It really is spring ... at least in my vegetable garden. My garlic has popped up from the ground to enjoy the first day of spring. Others say their tulips have popped out, but mine haven't yet.

March 20-Queensbury Centre

2010-03-21T03:50:00.000-11:00

Last night I attended an event at the Queensbury Convention Centre. Although the outside is not the prettiest building in Regina, their main hall is quite spacious and can seat over 600+ guests. The food is always good and the staff are great.

In the summertime, the hall is often used as a tradeshow location for major events like Buffalo Days, Agribition, and the Farm Progress Show.

for more information about how it looks on the inside, go to the Queensbury website.

March 19-Art at Work installation

2010-03-20T04:47:00.001-11:00

This is a close up of the "Art at Work" installation at the City of Regina's 4th Avenue Public Works Yard. The gates to the yard are made of cut sheet metal, of city workers in various poses; they in turn are topped with smaller sheet metal figures of citizens doing everyday activities. This is one of the smaller figurines of a skateboarder. I've search the City's website and their archived website on thew way back machine to try and find out who the artist is, but no luck. If anyone can tell me, I'll add his name here.

The gates were installed as part of an "Art at Work" initiative to help celebrate Regina being designated as the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2004. According to the Saskatchewan Arts Board, "(the) innovative Art at Work program (was a program) that would see professional artists working within the business environment...Ten Regina workplaces recruited artists to animate their diverse organizations with the goal of making Regina one of the most compelling places to work in Canada...The project nurtured the creative spirit in all Regina residents and exemplified the benefits of creating partnerships between the arts and other sectors."

March 18-Sunrise on Regina

2010-03-19T01:46:00.001-11:00

I usually take a back road to get into the downtown area. The sun was rising Thursday and painting the buildings downtown with a golden paintbrush.

As soon as I took this picture, the clouds rolled in and the day became dark and dreary. Snow fell, and instead of golden, the Queen City is covered in a thin blanket of white.

March 17 -FNU Student drawing

2010-03-18T01:38:00.001-11:00

Liberal Opposition Leader, Michael Ignatieff, was at the first Nations University campus Wednesday, vowing to continue the fight to restore funding to the university (see Leader Post newspaper article on the event.)

When I came to class later that afternoon, I saw this drawing left behind by someone ... probably a student. I am including it in this blog because it shows what is happening and how some people are feeling in Regina over this issue ... and I wanted this blog to be a photographic record of Regina and its people in 2010.

I took a close up of the artist's name and his/her drawing before the caretaker came by and threw this drawing in the garbage. Who ever you are, you should be a political cartoon artist; you are that GOOD! (I can barely draw a stick person.)

UPDATE: The artist's name is Adam Martin!

March 16-Regina Lace Sculpture

2010-03-16T17:11:00.000-11:00

This series of statues are part of a larger art installation in the Queen Elizabeth II Courtyard at City Hall.

The statues, which look like copper covered with verdigris, are not complete...they only show the front half, or one side of the person...the rest of the statue is an empty, ragged void. When you first see the installation (created by Canadian artists Stephen Braithwaite and Douglas Bamford), you don't notice that the statues are only half there...it's only when you get closer do you see the whole picture. Apparently they are cast from molds of real people too!

For information about Regina Lace, visit the city's website and read about the project under Culture & Arts.

March 15-Holy Rosary Cathedral

2010-03-15T16:31:00.000-11:00

Woo hoo. Found my camera...so now I have two. I was going to post this last weekend, but I couldn't find my camera.

This is a shot of the Holy Rosary Cathedral in Regina. It is a Roman Catholic church. It was a dominant feature in early Regina, so dominant that they named the neighbourhood that surrounded it the "Cathedral Neighbourhood."

It has lovely stained glass windows, but not as nice as the ones found in St. Mary's Church. For information about the history of the building or the services offered to its congregation, go to the Cathedral's website.

March 14-Metal Art Gazebo, U of R

2010-03-14T16:28:00.000-11:00

This is one of 6 panels that make up a 'gazebo' art sculpture on the shores of Wascana Lake adjacent to north University Drive (by the AdHum Building.)

I couldn't find any indication who created this magnificent piece of artwork while I was taking the picture; nor could I find any reference to it online. however, it looks very much like a Joe Fafard piece, so I will mention his name here and encourage you to go to this ArtSask website to see entries and other pieces by him in Regina.

When I find out the name of the artist who created this, I will update this post.