Regina is a city that has a lot to be proud of. From the finest stadium in the Canadian Football League to some of the best concert venues in the country, Regina is a city that is transforming and modernizing in a big way. It’s a surprise that Regina, or any city in Saskatchewan, did not make the list of the coolest cities in Canada.
A sports betting website called “CanadaSportsBetting.ca” looked at various criteria to come up with this list. They considered 19 different things like arts and culture, lifestyle, recreation, technology, and more and determined that Toronto is considered Canada’s “coolest city.” The website looked at city rankings across Canada and the United States, which means New York was number one, overall followed by Washington, DC, and Los Angeles. Despite being number one in Canada, Toronto placed 6th overall in North America. The second “coolest city” in Canada was Vancouver, followed by Calgary, Montreal, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, and Hamilton.
It’s a good time to remind residents why Regina is a cool city. We’re home to some of the finest local craft breweries in all of Canada and visitors always rave about the vibrant culinary scene of the Queen City. Wascana Centre around Wascana Lake is one of the largest urban parks in the western hemisphere, eclipsing both Stanley Park in Vancouver and Central Park in New York in overall size. We have the longest bridge over the shortest span of water (Albert Street Bridge) and one of the most stunning legislative grounds anywhere, thanks to the thousands of flowers in the Queen Elizabeth II gardens.
One of the most iconic Canadian symbols around the globe is our beloved RCMP in their red surge sitting on horseback. And where does one learn to become a member of one of the most respected police forces in the world? Right here in Regina. The RCMP Training Academy has called Regina home for generations and is home to one of the most compelling museums in the country.
Regina is no slouch in the arts and culture world either. Several actors have come from Saskatchewan’s capital like Leslie Nielsen and Tatiana Maslany and the Regina Symphony Orchestra is one of the oldest continuous orchestras in Canada, dating back to 1908. From live theatre to musicians and a vibrant First Nation’s culture, Regina is a pretty cool city.
Lets talk about technology. Regina is home to some of the biggest and most respected agriculture equipment manufactures in the world. Companies like Brandt, Degelman, and Riteway manufacturing just to name a few ensures Saskatchewan, and Canadian farmers, stay ahead of the curve in the world of agriculture.
It’s easy to bash Regina, especially if one visits certain social media pages dedicated to showing the worst of the city rather than celebrating what we’ve got going on. It’s not a bad city. Like all cities in the world, it’s constantly changing, evolving, and growing just as we humans are. Sometimes one must stop and remember that we live in a pretty great place…a pretty “cool” place, indeed.
