Regina residents gather to bid farewell to Capital Pointe hole

As the deadline approaches for when the Capital Pointe hole needs to be backfilled, a small gathering was held in jest Saturday afternoon to say goodbye to the gaping abyss in Regina’s downtown.

They were invited to try filling the hole on their smartphones using an augmented reality app. When an image on one of four posters was scanned, a narrated animation would appear.

Residents had the option to fill the Capital Pointe hole with ball, creating a giant ball pit. (Joseph Ho/980 CJME)

“We interviewed four people in the city and turned their whimsical ideas about what could fill the hole into short animations that overlay over top of the hole,” explained Eric Hill, an artist who helped design the display.

“We want to just showcase that almost anything could go here. It’s been a hole for seven or eight years and I think the citizens of Regina would like to see it filled with just almost anything.”

Animations depicted filling the hole with balls from a ball pit, an orchestra pit, an upside-down building and gelatin — all ridiculous ideas for what’s seen as a ridiculous situation.

“We’re trying to match the absurdity of the pit with equally absurd ideas from just everyday citizens of Regina,” Hill said.

It wasn’t the first time Capital Pointe has been the object of a stunt like this. Last year, people gathered to gaze at the hole and said “wow” in unison, like the actor Owen Wilson. This time, they all waved and said, “kthnxbye.”

The event was also a chance for people to talk about what they preferred to see the hole replaced with.

“There should be a hub of activity. It’s right in the heart of the city, the intersection of the two busiest streets of the city; there could be something that actually brings people together here. At the moment, it’s just an eyesore,” Hill said.

“Maybe a mini-mall with a lot of good stores in it, nice restaurants, a little coffee shop on the corners would be great — just anything with a purpose.”