Frost Regina has big plans in Wascana Centre this weekend — but so do some other groups.
The Provincial Capital Commission announced Friday that “to ensure the safety of all pedestrians visiting the festival hub in the park,” all streets in Wascana Centre will be for pedestrians only and barricades will be erected to keep traffic out of the area.
The barricades are to remain in place until Sunday.
Meanwhile, the leader of Saskatchewan’s Liberal Party, Jeff Walters, earlier this week issued a media release calling for a protest Saturday at the Legislative Building to criticize Premier Scott Moe’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walters invited anyone who feels the same way to join his protest, which was scheduled to begin at noon.
Then, at 1 p.m., the Truckers Freedom Convoy 2022 is planning to “surround the Legislature” to protest COVID mandates in the province.
A similar event was held last Saturday at the Legislative Building in support of the protest currently underway in Ottawa.
A statement on the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan website said access to the building was temporarily suspended for all of visitors as of Friday “due to a security risk.” The statement said all tours, education events and public events in the building were cancelled until further notice.
Frost Regina is to begin Friday at 6 p.m., with Hockey Night on Wascana.
Activities in the park over the weekend are to include dogsledding, a light display in the Queen Elizabeth II Gardens and a variety of skating and hockey events on the new rink on Wascana Lake.
“The park areas around the Legislature and Queen Elizabeth II Gardens are no strangers to large events and crowds,” Ryan Whippler, the acting CEO of the Provincial Capital Commission, said in the release.
“We’ve learned over the years that events with thousands of families and children don’t necessarily stick to walkways, and the only way to minimize the risk of a traffic accident is to divert vehicles around the area. This also allows for a more enjoyable event for visitors and increased accessibility for those who need it.”
Events on the Frost Regina schedule include an outdoor Skins Game curling event Saturday at Mosaic Stadium featuring Saskatchewan’s Matt Dunstone and Alberta’s Kevin Koe, a figure skating exhibition featuring Canadian icon Elvis Stojko on Feb. 12 at Mosaic Stadium, live music at an ice bar in the Warehouse District, and other events at Wascana Centre and in downtown Regina.
More information on the Frost Regina festival can be found here.