In his first state of the city address Thursday, Regina Mayor Chad Bachynski said Regina is in a place of strength.
“The state of our city is strong,” Bachynski said during his address. “And it’s only getting stronger.”
“It was once said, ‘The best way to predict our future is to create it.’ So let’s work together to create a future,” the Mayor added.
Bachynski, who was elected three months ago, reiterated the four pillars he ran during the fall’s civic election, saying addressing community safety, affordability, infrastructure investment and homelessness continues to be his, and council’s, goal now and for the next four years.
“Today was about perspective and mindset,” Bachynski told reporters following his address. “We have lots of challenges. But if we’re in the right mindset, we’ll be in a good place.”
He added the last three months has been eye-opening as he works to address the issues residents elected him to solve.
“The perspective hasn’t changed a lot,” Bachynski said. “But I am more informed and starting a path on how we get there.”
Despite the challenges ahead, the city wants to highlight all the good in Regina.
“Our city’s strength is not measured by the heights of our buildings,” the Mayor went on to say. “But by the depth of our passion and the scale of our mission.”
In collaboration with Economic Development Regina (EDR), the city launched a new campaign in an attempt to highlight the positives.
Dubbed ‘Regina 25’, the program aims to celebrate the people who make Regina a place of opportunity, innovation, and community pride.
“The city is ready to pop off economically,” said EDR President and CEO Chris Lane. “[Regina] has one of the fastest growing economies in the in the country.”
Regina 25 is a, “grassroots initiative created by Regina people, for Regina people,” EDR’s website said.
A selection panel will choose 25 individuals who best represent the values and achievements of Regina in five categories: growers, game-changers, grassroots, quick studies, and mentors.
EDR is calling on members of the community to nominate individuals who embody Regina’s vibrant spirit and have made a lasting impact.
Lane also hoped the campaign attracts growth.
“It’s burgeoning the civic pride we have and being a little bit evangelical about telling people how great it is [in Regina],” he added.
“Maybe we’ll not be as humble as we were in the past,” Bachynski joked. “We have a lot of good things to showcase for Regina.”
Lane also believes past city campaigns, like the Experience Regina experiment, have not cast as long a shadow on the city as some may feel.
As Regina touts itself as one of the most affordable places to live in Canada.
“When we talk about the truths about Regina … people who are motivated to look for a better or more fulsome lifestyle – what Regina has to offer, really hits home,” Lane said.
