City administration to bring back options on what to do with REAL

Financial struggles, requests for more funding and concerns over its business model have raised further questions about the future of the Regina Exhibition Association Ltd.

REAL is home to Canada’s Farm Show, the Canadian Western Agribition, Mosaic Stadium and the Brandt Centre.

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During Wednesday’s meeting, Regina City Council voted unanimously to continue to explore its options on what to do with REAL going forward.

Ward 3 Coun. David Froh initially brought the motion to council, which he subsequently amended so that council could make a final decision on the municipal corporation in the future.

The amendments would add two council seats to REAL’s board of directors, (making it four total seats instead of two), and would change REAL’s mandate to allow council to receive monthly financial statements.

City administration has up to 18 months to return to council with options on how to handle REAL – whether that’s integrating some of its assets, changing its governance and business model, or simply dissolving REAL entirely.

After the meeting, Froh said he hoped the process would bring a fresh start for the organization.

“REAL is likely one of the most important civic assets we have,” he told reporters.

“It’s also seen as one that is putting increasing financial pressure on our residents at a time when personal disposal income is shrinking and we’re likely to see a mill rate increase.”

Froh said it’s important for council to make a final decision on REAL, though he acknowledged that it may take some time.

“It’s something that we can’t rush and, quite frankly, we have to get right. Over three million people use that facility and that campus every single year,” Froh said.

Froh added that council owes it to taxpayers to get the decision right, especially in light of past and present requests from REAL for more funding.

Froh said the 18-month window would give the new city council time to properly understand the depths of REAL’s finances. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Mayor Chad Bachynski said he didn’t have a preference for any particular option city administration might bring to council, but he agreed that this process could represent a fresh start.

The mayor said it’s imperative to get started on rethinking REAL.

“We all heard it when we campaigned that people had concerns about REAL and, I think (it’s important) not only to determine what that future looks like, but also to start to turn the page,” Bachynski said.

The organization’s 2025 budget request is around $12.7 million — representing a 2.21 per cent mill rate increase and about $6.85 million more than last year.

“This newly appointed board is in agreement with council, and moreover the citizens of Regina, that all viable options regarding the future of REAL need to be explored,” said the organization’s new board chair Jaime Boldt.

Affinity Plex at the REAL District is home to Regina F.C. “We need to start looking at it as the positive entity that we really want it to be looked, which is – it provides a great asset to our city and many people enjoy it every year,” said Mayor Chad Bachynski. (Daniel Reech/980 CJME)

Council rejects bylaw amendment on zoning near airport

Council also circled back to a tabled discussion about zoning bylaw amendments to allow for the development 18 living units between three buildings at 4125 and 4129 Queen St., which is near Regina International Airport.

Ultimately, the vote to amend the bylaw failed in a 5-5 tie, with councillors Dan Rashovich (Ward 1), George Tsiklis (Ward 2), Froh, Mark Burton (Ward 4) and Clark Bezo (Ward 10) voting against it, while councillors Sarah Turnbull (Ward 5), Victoria Flores (Ward 6), Shobna Radons (Ward 7), Shanon Zachidniak (Ward 8) and Bachynski voting in favour. Coun. Jason Mancinelli was absent.

The initiative was linked to the intensification goals of the federal Housing Accelerator Fund – a program from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation that provides money to municipalities for the construction of new housing units.

Regina Airport CEO James Bogusz said he was adamantly opposed to the motion’s reconsideration because of how close it was to the airport.

“Development is what we want in this community. I want more than almost anyone, more residents to move here,” Bogusz said while speaking as a delegate.

“As a resident. I want us to have taxes as an airport. I want us to have passengers, but we have to develop in the right areas. Residential development is incompatible with airport operations.”

It was Tom Isted of Wave Developments who proposed to develop the buildings, which would have each been 10.8 metres in height.

Isted said he had no intent of imposing on the airport’s operations. He also said he has reduced the height of the buildings to appease the community and the airport.

The developer explained that he could construct the buildings to accommodate 16 living units under the current zoning bylaws, but he’d be unable to provide on-site parking for all suites.

“Moving forward, it is crucial to continue supporting developments like this to stay committed to the city’s goals and ensuring the residents of Regina have access to a place they can call home, both now and in the future,” Isted told council.

Isted also said he would take a loss on all the costs he’s incurred to this point after council rejected the amendment.