January 23-SaskPower Building

In addition to designing City Hall (see January 2 entry), Joseph Pettick also designed the SaskPower building, seen in the photo above. It is curved in an 's' shape, with the upper part of the s (on the left-hand side of the building) splitting into two to form a Y shape. The columns that grace the front of the building are shaped like dinosaur leg bones. It's a really quirky building - especially when it was built in 1963.

For more information about SaskPower or its headquarters in Regina, visit the Power Museum website.

January 22-Regina's rush hour

I think many people feel Regina's claim of having a 'rush-minute' instead of a rush-hour is a ... bunch of hooey (to put it politely.) Having lived in most major western Canadian cities, I didn't believe it either. That is, until I lived in Regina and saw it for myself.

Above is the intersection of 12th Avenue and Scarth Street. 12th Avenue is one of the four main east-west arteries in the downtown core. This photograph was taken just before 5 p.m. - the height of rush hour in Regina. NOTE: The cars along the right-hand side are parked; they are not part of that rush-hour traffic.

With the construction boom in the last few years, more people (and cars) have moved to Regina. I have heard longtime resident moan about waiting every once and a while for TWO lights to get through an intersection. They truly don't know how good they have it here in Regina.

January 21-Regina Public Library

The bylaw to establish a public library for Regina was passed on January 17, 1908. When the branch opened a year later in City Hall, it boasted three rooms filled with books.

During its 112 year history, the Regina Public Library (or RPL as locals call it) has expanded its mandate to include an incredible children's library, First Nations Branch (called Albert Library), two art galleries [Dunlop & Sherwood] and a film feature that shows world cinema.

The Central Library (shown here) was built in 1961 and officially opened on December 5, 1962. The architects - Izumi, Arnott & Sugiyama - ensured the new building incorporated features of the original Carnegie building: a medallion containing the library's crest is located beside the front doors and columns from the building are scattered around its lower courtyard.

The library's website lists all current programs, its library catalogue and a detailed description of its colourful history.

January 20 - Northern Bank Building

This building is one of the oldest commercial buildings in the downtown. Built in 1906 at a cost of $115,000, this building was the Regina's branch office of the Northern Bank which was based in Winnipeg. At the time, this five-story structure towered over all other buildings in Regina's downtown core.

Northern Bank amalgamated with Toronto's Crown Bank two years after it was built. The site was designated a Provincial Heritage Property in 1989.

To learn more about the building, read the history of the Northern Bank compiled by the Manitoba Historical Society. The bank's description is found halfway down the page and features a picture of the bank taken over a hundred years ago.

January 19-Cornwall Centre

As I was walking through the Cornwall Centre today, I noticed how well the architects incorporated the facade of old buildings along the mall's walkways and storefronts.

This entrance way from the old Bank of Commerce features what I would describe as a dental entablature (everything that rests above the columns) and a capital in the Corinthian style. (Yes, I had to research this to include it in this blog.)

This picture does not provide a sense of how large these columns are; it would take three people holding hands to encircle one of these columns at the column's base.

According to the Government of Saskatchewan's Ministry of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, the building was erected in 1900 in Winnipeg but was dismantled and moved to Regina in 1911 (Regina: The Early Years lists everything a year later.) I like the Government's site better because it shows the building before and after it was incorporated into the mall.