‘A symptom of other issues’: Advocates in North Central calling for more supports amid violence

Community advocates say recent violence is not reflective of Regina’s north central neighbourhood and are calling for more help. Sierra D’Souza Butts reports.

Community advocates are calling for more supports to help Regina’s most vulnerable following a homicide in the city’s North Central neighbourhood.

Just after 1 a.m. on Monday, April 13, officers with the Regina Police Service (RPS) were dispatched to the 3100 block of 5th Avenue for a report of an injured man.

Shortly after arriving at the scene, police found the man and attempted life-saving measures. However, he was declared dead at the scene.

In an update Monday afternoon, police determined the death was a homicide. The investigation is ongoing.

• Homicide investigation underway after man dies in central Regina

Those working at the North Central Family Centre, an organization that offers housing outreach programs and services for youth and families, told CTV News they’ve noticed an increase of violence in the area.

“I would say the violence is really a symptom of other issues that we’re seeing in the neighborhood, like poverty, mental health challenges, addiction issues, unstable housing,” housing director Maggie Redstone Davies explained.

“I think along with all those challenges, we’re definitely seeing an increase in violence and people in really desperate situations just trying to survive.”

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Redstone Davies added she has seen “a lot of hidden homelessness” and people living on the street near the 5th Convenience Store.

“I would say that sort of became a hub because there were support services being offered 24 hours out of one of the buildings in that location,” she said.

“They did a really good job of de-escalating a lot of the issues that would come up and supporting people in the evenings when all the other services on 5th Avenue shut down. I think definitely the fact that service is no longer being provided at night, is probably adding to the increase of safety issues in this area.”

The 2025-26 provincial budget allocated $1.1 million to the City of Regina in support of community-led homelesses and priorities and strategies.

More specifically, the funding went towards supporting warming shelters for the winter months at Seven Fires Warming Shelter, Carmichael Outreach and All Nations Hope Network’s Awasiw.

In a statement to CTV News, the the Ministry of Social Services said it plans to continue conversations with the City on community-led responses for the coming year.

“For those in immediate need of shelter, emergency shelter spaces are available year-round,” the ministry’s statement read. “As well, the province provides funding for street outreach services, which serve as a first point of contact for unhoused individuals and provides connections to community services such as shelter, supportive housing, recovery, stabilization and other health and mental health programs and services.”

Kimberley Wenger, the centre’s executive director, said the incident should not define the community as people come together to help one another all the time.

However, she said funding for services is falling short.

“In this neighborhood we have some services, but definitely not enough,” she argued. “We have a strong need as a non-profit sector and a community all together to really band together to improve access to services and improve the different types of services and work together so that we can address the challenges more adequately and impactful.”