Judging by its journey from a flat, featureless swath of empty Prairie land, to an attractive, modern political and industrial hub, Regina is an example of Canadian ingenuity and adaptability.

LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION

Located in south-central Saskatchewan, it sits in the heart of the Prairie wheat belt. Regina is Saskatchewan's capital city and the province's second largest city. Once bald-prairie grassland, Regina now boasts 350,000 trees-all hand planted, and a beautiful freshwater lake (Wascana Lake) in its centre, formed by damming Wascana Creek, the city's only river. Wascana Centre, a 1,000-hectare park, surrounds the lake and includes a number of important buildings, such as the Legislative Building, the University of Regina and the Royal Saskatchewan Museum. Wascana Lake is also home to Wascana Waterfowl Park, which features hundreds of water dwelling birds and animals.

CLIMATE

Weather in Regina is typical of northwestern Canada with cold winters and short summers. Regina is the sunniest capital city in Canada, enjoying an average 2,365 hours of sunshine annually. Summer temperatures average 23° C with occasional rain (annual rainfall is 398 millimetres). In winter temperatures range from -22° to -11° C. Annual snowfall is about 116 centimetres.

ECONOMY

Regina's economy has historically depended on farm-related industries, and the city is a major agricultural trade and distribution centre. The Saskatchewan Wheat Pool, the world's largest grain-handling co-operative, is headquartered in Regina. Local mineral resources like oil and potash also help sustain the city's economy, as does manufacturing, with more than 250 manufacturing plants. Cement, fertilizer and steel are among Regina's top exports. As the political centre of Saskatchewan, the provincial government is an important Regina employer. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police has its national training centre in Regina. The RCMP Museum details the history of Canada's national police force.

PEOPLE

Regina's people are predominantly of British ancestry. There are large groups of people of German, Irish and Scottish descent as well. A good chunk of Regina's population is indigenous people.

CULTURE AND RECREATION

Although small in size, Regina boasts cultural and recreational attractions typical of a much larger city. The Museum of Natural History, the Norman MacKenzie Art Gallery, the Globe Theatre company, a casino and more than 700 retail stores, restaurants and other attractions form Regina's vibrant cultural scene. At Taylor Field, the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders entertain football fans renowned for devotion to their team. Music lovers can enjoy a concert by the Regina Symphony Orchestra at the Saskatchewan Centre of the Arts.