January 12 - Hotel Saskatchewan

This photo is of the east entrance of Hotel Saskatchewan - Radisson Plaza on a balmy winter day. From this angle you can see the classical style clock on the corner, as well as the style of this grand railroad building.

CPR built and opened the Hotel Saskatchewan in 1927 to much fanfare. If you ever visit the lobby of the Hotel Sask (as it is referred to by locals), you can read the newspaper articles announcing the hotel's opening. I think one of the articles boasts about all the modern features the hotel has, one of which is automated washing machines for laundry (!).

For more information about the history of the Hotel Saskatchewan, I recommend you read the hotel's Wikipedia entry. For information about the hotel itself as it is today, go to the Hotel Saskatchewan website.

January 11 - Downtown skyline

One of the most striking memories of Regina when I first arrived here in the 1990s was the fact there were very few high-rise office buildings downtown. I heard from some 'old-timers' that it was planned that way; this allowed the few tall building downtown to have an unencumbered view of Wascana Lake. (Again, I have no verification of this tale ... but when you look at how the city is laid out, it might be true.)

This is a picture taken from one of the few tall office buildings in Regina - the McCallum Tower II - looking west. Some of the taller buildings you see in the picture (from left to right) are:

- Concentra Financial

- Knox Metropolitan United (older reddish-brown building adjacent to park)

- Office tower containing law offices and SK Liquor & Gaming

- City Hall

- Old Revenue Canada building (squat grey building before City Hall)

- Regina Masonic Temple (dark brown building before previous building)

- Regina Public Library (snow-covered roof that is adjacent to park)

- DirectWest/CGI building (far right in the distance)

On a sunny day you can literally see for miles in any direction, if you are in one of the taller buildings!

January 10 - Plains Hotel

I had to take this photo today, as I learned that this buiding is scheduled to be demolished this month and replaced with a hotel and high-rise office/condo complex (see City of Regina website to view development application.)

The hotel, built in the 1960s, is a landmark for locals. The 'tower' on the hotel serves as a weather indicator. If the forecast was for pleasant weather, the neon tubes in the tower would be green. If the forecast was for unpleasant weather, the neon tubes would glow red.

To learn more about reaction to the redevelopment, see this CBC story and this blog about Good Time Charlies (the bar in the hotel).

January 9 - Fire & Ice Festival

The Olympic Flame passed through Regina last night. The photo I have isn't great because it was so dark and the camera adjusted for the reflective stripes on the runner's clothing.

Therefore, I am posting a photo of a snow sculpture I took at the Fire & Ice Carnival which was part of the Olympic Torch Relay festivities.

The snow sculpture is called "Fun in the Snow: Snowball Rolling" by Anna Greenwood and Art 350 at the University of Regina. The sign beside the sculpture said, "With this sculpture, the artists wanted to depict the fun of playing in the snow, taking the childhood activity of building forts and snowmen to a humorous extreme." (The sculpture was sponsored by Alliance Energy.)

For more photos from the current and past Fire & Ice carnivals, go to Flickr at http://www.flickr.com/groups/ice_fire_regina/.

January 8-International Iron Workers' sign

I pass this sign on Dewdney Avenue East every day I go to work. It seems small as you are driving by; however, when you stop to take a picture, you realize it is over 3 feet in diameter. At night, this sign can be seen from blocks away.

I like this sign promoting the headquarters of the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers union in Regina because of the detail in the logo.

To learn more about this 113 year old union organization, go to the International Iron Workers' website.