Executive committee approves North Central Shared Facility

There was a celebratory atmosphere inside Henry Baker Hall as Regina’s executive committee approved funding for the North Central Shared Facility.

When complete, the facility will contain Scott Collegiate, a library, an infant-toddler centre, a community centre and a community policing facility. It will be owned and operated by the City of Regina, the Regina Public School Board (RPSB) and the Regina Public Library.

“One of the things that we’re very excited about is the opportunity for our young people to feel a sense of belonging and to feel a level of engagement in North Central Regina,” said Greg Enion, RPSB deputy director of student achievement.

The executive committee — made up of the mayor and all city councillors — congratulated the stakeholders on Wednesday for their extended efforts before agreeing to fund $8.8 million ($9.2 million exclusive of a $400,000 GST rebate) to construct the facility and an additional investment of $390,900 in ongoing operating costs.

The matter will be addressed at the Sept. 22 city council meeting for a final vote. It also appears before the library and public school boards this month.

Integration has been the key component to bringing the $42-million facility out of the conceptual stage. The RPSB will provide around $30 million, the majority of the building’s cost. The RPL will cover just over $2 million.

The facility will be in the heart of North Central, on the north end of the block bordered by Athol and Elphinstone streets, and 6th and 7th avenues.

The idea first emerged in 2003, and planning and consultations began in 2006.

“It takes a long time for good things to happen, and I firmly believe this is a good thing,” said Dana Folkerson, Regina Education and Action on Child Hunger executive director.

In other motions that appeared before the executive committee on Wednesday:

■ Instead of forwarding the option to govern the development of city-owned lands to city council, the executive committee referred the matter back to the administration. During the meeting, Mayor Michael Fougere expressed reservations about creating a municipal land development corporation to handle major land projects on behalf of the city.

“That was to decide the manner in which we’re going to develop the southeast lands,” Fougere said. “Is it going to be by selling it off and just letting the revenue potentially go to the private sector? Are we going to joint venture to receive some return on investment, or are we going to be the developer on the land?”

Fougere said referring the matter back to the administration allows the city to select from those three options before deciding whether or not to form a corporation.

■ The executive committee put its support behind a bid for the Wascana Country Club to host the 2016 LPGA Canadian Pacific Women’s Open. If the bid is successful and the event receives provincial funding, the City of Regina will provide a $50,000 cash grant and city services of up to $50,000.