March 29-Pasqua Hospital

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

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!

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

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

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.