Soaking up the sun in the Queen City

There were plenty of ways to soak up the sun in Regina on Thursday.

Wascana Pool opened for the season on a sunny day. With temperatures reaching the high 20s, many took the chance to head to the pool and cool off.

“We always look forward to the first day the pool opens,” said Laurie Clark, who with her husband, John Clark, has been a longtime poolgoer. “We wanted to take advantage of the really nice weather. This is the first nice day we’ve had in a bit.”

This is the last year for Wascana Pool before construction begins on a new pool in 2020. Maple Leaf Pool is also closed this summer for renovations.

“We’ve been waiting and waiting and waiting,” said Jeannie Mah. “The weather’s been really great so we’re really happy to be swimming outside again after a long winter.”

“I’ve been coming here since the pool opened in 1947,” added John Clark. “This is one of the best places in town. It’s wonderful, it’s out in the air … it’s one of the highlights of our summer.”

With such warm temperatures, swimmers welcomed the opportunity to be able to swim outdoors as opposed to indoor facilities.

“Swimming inside is swimming inside,” said Mah, “but part of the joy of swimming in Wascana Pool is the visual, the beauty of the sunshine on the water, being in the trees, breathing fresh air … For me it’s one of the best things about Regina.”

Wascana Pool is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and is free of charge from noon to 8 p.m. Access to the pool is only available from Broad Street due to construction off of College Avenue.

Cheryl Gadu’s dog, Sinbad, catches some rays at the Cathy Lauritsen Memorial Off-Leash Dog Park on June 13, 2019. (Nathan Meyer/980 CJME)

For those wanting a drier way to spend their days, dog parks like the one at the Cathy Lauritsen Memorial Off-Leash Dog Park saw some activity with people wanting to spend some time with their canine companions.

“It’s just nice to be able to get a walk in and to know they’re free to do whatever they do,” said Cheryl Gadu, who is travelling across Canada but made a stop in Regina. “It could use some shade on a day like today but it’s really nice.”

Gadu added the dog park was one of the best she has seen, as her dog Sinbad ran in the open space.

“They can get out, enjoy the water, shake their legs … This is an awesome park,” she said.

With more warm weather on the way and Wascana Pool open for the season, Reginans will have plenty of ways to soak up the sun this summer.