Wascana Freewheelers

When I said that I was moving to Regina many people felt obligated to inform me that there are in fact no mountains in Saskatchewan. I took this information into serious consideration but the job offer was just that good, I couldn't refuse. Mindful of the likelihood my previous extracurricular activities would be somewhat curtailed I started looking into alternative fun stuff. Riding bikes is a universal pastime and this is no different in the good old flatland's. Unfortunately both of my bikes were stolen within a week of my bringing them to Regina but thanks to a great friend in Edmonton I returned hooked up and ready to ride again.

The Wascana Freewheelers are a recreational cycling group I found out about from my roommate who invited me to join her while she tried out one of their regular Wednesday evening rides. They meet at the legislature steps and ride around the city for an hour or 2 before stopping for coffee, ice cream or whatever they feel like. It is a self admitted food eating group with a cycling problem. Since then I've been able to join them on a couple of other fun events they plan to keep themselves busy including a progressive dinner ride, scavenger hunt and a Freedom Friday ride out to a small town called Pilot Butte and back.

The yearly progressive dinner ride is just that. We started at one house for appetizers, rode via the scenic route to the next for the main course and off to the last stop for dessert and a hot tub soak. It had such a big turnout this year we had to split into 2 riding groups.


On Her Majesties Service was a scavenger hunt type ride where we rode for nearly 4 hours from government building or area of significance answering obscure questions before meeting back for burgers and bevies. I can easily say that I've seen more of Regina by bike then anything in doing these rides and the people are great!

The teams starting out planning their routes and some of our 27 stops included the Public Library where they show nightly films, Taylor Field where the Roughriders play to see the wall of fame, a local park where we crashed a grad celebration, the Lieutenant Governors House where the kind commissionaire had looked up the answer to our question before we got there (thanks team 3!), the Wascana Center and the Legislature.

Regina Beach

I woke up this morning to the sound of rain and decided that it would be a great day to finish unpacking. Having accomplished that and discovered the clouds had dispersed leaving it sunny and hot outside I went back to plan A and drove out to Regina Beach 70km from Regina. Regina Beach is best described as an active summer village although many folks live there year round. Between summer and winter fishing derby's, their very own triathlon, art festivals and fowl dinners it seems like a fairly happening place to hang out at.
It was your typical beach scene, beach volleyball, families spread out on blankets and towels, bikinis and board shorts, boats with tubes trailing behind them and kids splashing around in the water.
Not being much for crowds to begin with I started to explore a trail the seemed to border the lake. Turns out it wasn't the short trail I had anticipated it to be. The South Shore Trail follows what used to be railroad tracks. The rails are gone leaving behind a decent pathway joining the communities along Last Mountain Lake.

The real reason I decided to turn around was my need for food. Having heard from multiple sources that if one were to ever make their way to Regina Beach then a stop at the Blue Bird Cafe for "the best ever" fish and chips would be in order.
They didn't disappoint!

Wascana Lake

About 2 blocks from my house is a man-made lake with a 4km trail around it known as the Blue Trail. Needless to say it makes it extremely easy to get away for a quick run or walk or sit by the lake on one of the many benches around it when the mood strikes. It even hosts a couple of neat little islands and viewpoints that create some hidden areas of tranquility in an otherwise extremely well used area.

I'm convinced that the rest of Regina agrees with me that it is a great place to be because there doesn't ever seem to be a time that there is no one else around. This at times makes for some interesting dodging of fellow pedestrians, rollerbladers, cyclists and geese. This photo is looking back towards Albert Street where the dam lies under the bridge keeping the water in the lake and my house from flooding. Yeay dam!

This guy is hanging out by himself just behind the dam along some trails bordering the creek even closer to where I live. It's a bit more solitary back there and that is a very good thing sometimes.

Apparently the lake was created way back in 1883 by damming the creek and the name was derived from the word Oscana which means "pile of bones". The Cree would place the bison bones along the creek when working with the hides and drying the meat. It was most recently dredged and deepened in 2004. I'm sure glad I missed that construction and got here this year fully able to enjoy it.

The grounds include the legislative buildings and are nicely maintained and a number of picnic table area's with cement BBQ's are scattered around. All you do is bring your charcoal, food and friends and family and enjoy the day. There are always big groups using the tables or sitting on the grass on the weekends. Of course its pretty hard not to notice the resident geese;

The Wascana Center actually extends way past this 4km loop that I've been using as my running route. In fact it is one of the largest urban green spaces in North America at 2300 acres. The water within the loop I described is used for water sports such as dragon boat regatta's, kayaking, canoeing and sail boating. Beyond this body further along the creek are protected marsh ecosystem lands for birds and other living things.

There are so many things to be explored within this area so this is only meant to be an introduction to this amazing green space within Regina. As the summer progresses I'm sure I'll be adding more about what is in and around the area as I explore and enjoy it myself.

Mosaic Festival

I officially have moved to Regina now having arrived last Friday afternoon. My roommate Kristin suggested that we head out to the Mosaic Multicultural Festival for supper that evening. What a fantastic event! For the past 43 years Regina has hosted this local festival that incorporates the various cultures making up the fabric of the city.


Each pavilion is hosted at a different Regina venue dispersed along 4 bus routes. The cost of bus transport is included in the passport that you get stamped at each pavilion before entry. For a $12.00 passport we traveled to Greece, Kyiv Ukraine, Philippines, Italy, Laos and finished off in Ireland Friday night. I didn't have to drive and so tried out the local food and drink of most countries en route. There were some excellent bevies too, Zorba's Kiss with ouzo, hot pepper infused Vodka and Harp beer although Guinness was also an option.


I spent Saturday riding around Regina and traveling the world by bike. I had the goal of hitting every country by the end of the festival at midnight and can proudly say that I biked and drank my way around the world in record time and filled my passport with all available stamps. My mom was very proud! From India to Chili, Romania, Scotland, Hungary, the Caribbean, Ethiopia, Germany, China, Poltava Ukraine, the Aboriginal Pavilion, Latin America and finally Austria the good food and dancing continued.


I can't say which were my favourites but when the dancing was happening or the show just starting at any particular pavilion I found I stayed longest. The dancing was amazing to watch, the costumes spectacular and many of the pavilions showcased kids of all ages dancing up a storm and without a doubt extremely proud of their heritage.