A Regina non-profit is exploring an opportunity for youth to build, and later live in newly developed homes in the city’s North Central neighbourhood. The Growing Young Movers (GYM) non-profit plans to use the property located at 1202 Retallack Street as its “Building Futures Collective Hub.” The space would be utilized to support youth employment, workforce development, neighbourhood revitalization, housing rehabilitation, and future housing construction in North Central. “It’s about opportunities for young folks,” explained GYM’s executive director Brian Lewis. “We frame it in a positive way where if we give opportunities to people that maybe have more barriers than others and are dealing with more challenges than many in the city, they will flourish.” Students from Scott Collegiate high school who currently work at the organization will be part of the project. At Wednesday’s meeting, Regina executive committee unanimously approved transferring the property on Retallack Street from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation to the city for a nominal cost of $1 to support building the hub. The property has sat vacant since 2022 after the previous building was damaged by a gas explosion. Lewis said obtaining the property is the first step towards supporting youth in North Central for decades, while also improving the area’s overall quality of life. “This piece of growing our Building Futures Collective Hub and having an opportunity to teach the trades and get young people potentially building and renovating homes is just another opportunity,” Lewis added. “It’s another opportunity to grow and think maybe that’s a pathway for [them] as a career, but it’s also allowing young people to have a safe space to live.” As part of executive committee’s recommendation, the city will also allocate a one-time $300,000 grant from its Housing Accelerator Fund Mayor Chad Bachynski said the proposed project aligns with the city’s overall plan to improve the conditions of the neighbourhood. “The work that Growing Young Movers is doing is a core part of North Central Revitalization. I think that’s where some of my questions came from today is: how do we lean on that model?” Bachynski told reporters. “The city can’t do everything. We can’t do it alone and I think this is a great a piece of momentum that we can use and a group that we can leverage to help do more of this — where we partner with community.” Bachynski added the proposed hub is a “great example” of the city advancing North Central improvement initiatives. “We’re actually putting investment into Growing Young Movers as a group who is going to be out there visible with equipment in the community, investing time and effort,” he said. “[They will be] working on the things that we’re hearing from community, looking after vacant lots, looking after the garbage, looking after the graffiti as a starting point. Not to mention the future goals of looking at building and standing up homes for people within the community.” Currently, Growing Young Movers employs over 70 students and graduates from Scott Collegiate. Lewis said he’s hopeful to get shovels in the ground by spring 2027 for the hub. Final approval for the transfer of property ownership at 1202 Retallack Street will be presented to Regina city council on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
