Review the Mayor's State of the City Address
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Thank you. Another record crowd! That’s terrific!My friends … today I will deliver my last State of the City Address. I am profoundly grateful to have served as your Mayor for the last 12 years. Thank you for your support and your confidence.
While preparing today’s address I had mixed emotions.
My heart is a little heavy. I have immensely enjoyed the time I have spent as Mayor.
I have met some incredible people who have inspired me. And I have had opportunities I might not have had otherwise.
I will miss serving the citizens of Regina.
But I am also incredibly optimistic about what the future holds for the community I love so much.
I have seen Regina grow and prosper. I have seen Regina’s citizens achieve great things. I have seen Regina’s attitude change from being modest and demure to being bold and self assured.
And I am confident my successor … whoever that may be … will love this community as I do and will build on the strong foundation his or her 33 predecessors have laid.
Let me begin by thanking the Kiwanis Club of Wascana for hosting this annual State of the City Address. For the last 45 years … people from all facets of the community have come together to recollect the previous year … and celebrate the successes achieved.
As I’ve said in the past … the State of the City Address offers one of the few opportunities where my entire office team is able to attend together … and I’d like to take the opportunity to thank them publically.
There’s the old saying that “behind every great man is a great woman”. I don’t know about the great man part … but I am certainly blessed with some great women in my office. Patti … Lorrie … Faye … and Ann … thank you for all that you do.
And the greatest woman in my life … my wife Angie!
When Angie and I were deciding if I should run for Mayor for another term … we weighed many factors.
For me … one of the strongest deciding reasons was that I would have more time with my family.
I’m looking forward to being known not as Regina’s Mayor … but as Angie’s husband. That’s a title I cherish above all others.
I also extend my thanks to my Council colleagues. Thank you all for supporting me … and for challenging me.
With me today are … Ward 1 Councillor Louis Browne … Ward 2 Councillor Jocelyn Hutchinson … Ward 3 Councillor Fred Clipsham … Ward 4 Councillor Michael Fougere … Ward 6 Councillor Wade Murray … Ward 7 Councillor Sharron Bryce … Ward 8 Councillor Mike O’Donnell … Ward 9 Councillor Terry Hincks … and Ward 10 Councillor Chris Szarka.
Councillor John Findura is on vacation with his family and can’t be here.
We also have a large contingent of City employees here.
Led by City Manager Glen Davies … who is in Toronto and unable to be with us today … I believe our City administration is one of the best in Canada. Our employees are dedicated to service excellence. They provide the expertise and advise we as elected officials depend on to make tough decisions.
And I also have some special guests with me: Police Chief Troy Hagen … Ruth Smillie … Darlene Hincks … and Elmer Eashappie.
I’m proud to count these Regina business and community leaders among my friends.
Each year … we brainstorm themes for the State of the City. Some years it’s been about how far the city has come … some years it’s been about where we are going … and some years it’s been about the health of the community.
This year we kept coming back to the saying … it’s not enough to be liveable … you have be sustainable.
Well … what is it to be sustainable?
Sustainability is about balance.
It’s about balancing citizens’ expectations with the ability to deliver services.
It’s about funding growth … without jeopardizing sense of community.
It’s about progressing without forgetting our heritage.
It’s about prospering without putting our vulnerable at risk.
To maintain our excellent quality of life … we must fortify our future with the four pillars of sustainability: culture … economic … environment … and social.
Think about what Regina would be like without any one of these four pillars.
Think of Regina without culture … without the Globe Theatre … the MacKenzie Art Gallery … the RSO … or our many talented singers … novelists … dancers … or artists.
Think of Regina without manufacturers and processors like Brandt … Evraz … Alliance Grain Traders … or without retailers like Colin O’Brian … Stella & Sway ... Fresh Air Experience … or without transporters and distributors like CP Rail … CLS … or Jay’s … or our many entrepreneurs … mentors … trades people … or contractors.
Think of Regina without environmental stewardship … without Ground Effects Environmental … PTRC … or Innovation Place … or our many researchers … innovators … academics … or lecturers.
Think of Regina without social amenities … without the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre … the RCMP … or the UofR … or our many educators … caregivers … tutors … or law enforcers.
Without culture … or a strong economy … or a clean environment … or social conscience … Regina would still be a city.
It just wouldn’t be a city anyone would want to live in. It would be a bleak existence.
Fortunately … that is not the Regina we know.
The Regina we know is rich in culture and nurtures its artists.
Regina’s cultural community has had a wonderful year of celebration.
Artists like Ruth Smillie … awarded last year with Saskatchewan’s highest civilian honour – the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Ruth leads the Globe Theatre with passion and conviction.
The Globe Theatre is celebrating its 45th anniversary this season with the tremendous performances of The Black Bonspiel of Wullie McKrimmon complete with actors landing curling rocks with precision worthy of Sam Richardson.
The run of Robin Hood not only provided terrific family entertainment … Globe patrons raised record donations for the Regina & District Food Bank.
And I understand that the Globe’s latest production of The 39 Steps was one of their best ever.
Although not yet as well known as Ruth … Regina’s Austin Lam is one of only two Canadian dancers accepted into the prestigious Julliard School in New York.
Another young Regina talent is 16-year-old composer … Arthur Hamilton … whose choral and orchestra compositions have won him national awards.
The Royal Saskatchewan Museum was recognized for its Human Factor exhibit … the Saskatchewan Science Centre is hosting the Titanic: The Artifact Exhibit … the Saskatchewan African Canadian Heritage Museum installed the Honouring Tree sculpture near the Royal Saskatchewan Museum … and more than 20,000 people experienced the Tactile Desires: The Work of Jack Sures (sirs) at the MacKenzie.
And Regina is partnering with the City of Moose Jaw to host the 2013 Juno Awards. VIPs, participants and media will fill Regina hotels during the festivities.
When we talk about culture as a pillar of sustainability … we also consider sport and recreation as part of culture as well as the arts.
Regina has a solid reputation of hosting first-class sporting events.
Regina was swept up in the Ford World Men’s Curling championships last spring. Swept up in curling? Did I just say that?!
Team Canada led by Jeff Stoughton brought home the gold in front of a full house at Brandt Centre beating Team Scotland.
Curling may have been born in Scotland … but it was perfected on the Canadian Prairies. This was Jeff’s second world championship and the third year in a row for Team Canada.
Regina also won the right to host the 2014 North American Indigenous Games.
We will welcome 10,000 athletes, coaches, family and supporters … and we will witness some of North America’s outstanding young Aboriginal athletes competing in their field of play.
Team Saskatchewan has consistently shown their superiority … and we’re excited to see them compete in their own province for the first time in more than a decade.
Every hotel in Regina will be booked to capacity in November 2013 as we once again host the CFL championship Grey Cup game. Mosaic Stadium … Evraz Place and Regina’s downtown will be alive with activity during the week-long festival.
Even the few Reginans who aren’t football fans will get caught up in the excitement.
The impact of the arts … including sport … on a community is broad and sometimes difficult to measure.
It’s clear that performances at the Globe and the Artesian in 13th … or concerts at the Conexus Arts Centre and the Brandt Centre… or sporting events at Evraz Place and the University of Regina … draw people to our community who eat in our restaurants … shop in our stores … and stay in our hotels. That’s economic impact.
It’s believed that arts and sport programs help improve academic performance and provide alternate constructive avenues for at-risk youth. That’s social impact.
It’s also clear that prevalence of arts organizations and sporting activities plays a role in attracting residents and businesses. That’s community impact.
The Regina we know has a strong economy and fosters its entrepreneurs.
Regina’s business community celebrated significant success.
Business leaders like Gavin and Shaun Semple showed not only do they have the business acumen to reach a billion dollars in revenue … they have the generosity to show their appreciation to their employees … and their community who helped them achieve this success by giving back with the “Thanks a Billion” campaign.
Saskatchewan’s largest privately owned company showed its thanks by providing $100,000 to the United Way of Regina … $50,000 to the Children’s Wish Foundation and provided employees with profit sharing and pre-loaded VISA cards.
And the giving is going to continue throughout the year!
Business leaders across Canada have recognized Regina as a location of choice for building and expanding their business.
Regina’s Global Transportation Hub has been the venue for significant announcements and openings of late.
Canadian Logistics Services was the first tenant to officially open their distribution centre at the GTH. At nearly a million square feet … it’s safe to describe the building as mammoth.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper was on hand as Alliance Grain Traders announced a $50-million pasta and pulse milling plant. It’s the first of its kind in Canada and is expected to be open next year.The Yanke Group is building a $20-million intermodal and trucking terminal … container yards … and refrigerated warehouse on 40 acres in the GTH.
And CP Rail officially broke ground at its $50-million intermodal facility. Its current terminal covers only 17 acres … its new one will be 300 acres and will handle about 250,000 container loadings per year … more than four times its current activity.
This relocation has opened up a generational opportunity for Regina. Regina Revitalization is the largest inner city redevelopment in the history of Regina … likely one of the largest in all of Canada.
As you know, housing is a critical concern in our community, as well as the need for expanded commercial space. This project will provide a variety of housing options and commercial and retail space in the heart of Regina.
The initiative is planning to deliver a replacement for Mosaic Stadium … and will add to our current sports and entertainment options, including a new anchor facility that will attract future development to the area.
In December, City Council unanimously approved Administration pursuing a Public Private Partnership approach for the replacement of Mosaic Stadium.
This P3 approach to the construction and operation of the entertainment facility will allow the City to achieve its objectives of an effectively designed replacement for Mosaic Stadium that delivers on community needs.
It would be expected that the private sector partner would also contribute significant financing toward the upfront capital costs.
Prior to moving forward … the City’s Administration will seek Council’s direction on the type of entertainment facility design – open air versus fixed or retractable roof.
While no commitments have been made … the Premier has said the status-quo is not an option for Mosaic Stadium. They are looking forward to receiving a proposal from us … and we are looking forward to working with them on this significant endeavour.
Regina’s downtown saw the opening of the City Square plaza and work is underway on the Hill Tower III … Capital Pointe Plaza … Centre Square Place … Avison Young … and plans for Saskatchewan’s largest office building.
We haven’t seen this kind of building activity in the downtown in two decades.
And we haven’t seen this kind of vibrancy in the downtown for longer than that.
It wasn’t too many years ago … when the office towers emptied at the end of the work day … the activity in the downtown was nearly non-existent.
Today … people are drawn into the heart of the city. Terrific restaurants and nightspots like Flip … Crave … Beer Brothers and O’Hanlons are bringing a young, sophisticated crowd into the downtown.
The City Square plaza … which opened last summer in time for Folk Fest … will play host to festivals … farmers markets and a magnitude of various events. For now … pending a traffic study this spring … the plaza will remain pedestrian only. It’s our hope that the plaza will see programming more than 200 days a year.
Retailers across the city like Lowe’s … Leon’s … and a multitude of others have opened their doors. It seems like new stores and shops are popping up all over the community.
Regina companies were recognized for their achievements. Companies like Magna Electric Corp. … Knight Archer Insurance … Alliance Energy … the Co-operators … and many more were highlighted throughout the year.
And the private sector and all three orders of government have finally all come together to address the national infrastructure crisis by developing a long-term infrastructure plan. I’m proud that Regina has taken the lead in bringing the stakeholders together.
The Regina we know is environmentally conscious and cherishes its surroundings.
Regina entrepreneurs and researchers are leading the charge in environmental innovation.
American microbiologist, Rene Dubos (de-boze) … credited for the axiom “Think globally, act locally” … also said “Man shapes himself through decisions that shape his environment.”
The Canadian Environmental Technology Advancement Corporation named Sean Frisky its Entrepreneur of the Year for h
is company’s achievements in wastewater treatment and disposal specifically for the oil and gas industry.
is company’s achievements in wastewater treatment and disposal specifically for the oil and gas industry.A recent national survey reported that public awareness and acceptance of carbon capture and storage is higher in Saskatchewan than in the rest of Canada.
There’s no doubt the research taking place at Innovation Place and U of R have helped increase the level of knowledge here.
IPAC CO2 is developing the world’s first standard for geological storage of CO2 … the NRC opened its $1-million testing facility for drinking water infrastructure … and the hydrogen plant at the U of R could set the stage for the commercialization of a catalyst that could revolutionize the production of hydrogen for the energy sector.
Regina continues to enjoy a national reputation as the centre of expertise in carbon capture and sequestration and enhanced oil recovery. Much of that work is taking place at Innovation Place and the UofR.
Communities of Tomorrow is working with the City of Regina to develop a new technology that will substantially reduce the excavation required to replace leaking residential water pipes. Perfection of this system could save Regina and other cities millions of dollars in replacement costs.
The City of Regina will be implementing curb-side recycling service next year. Several months ago … City Council voted to include a benchmark in its request for proposals for the recycling program.
We’ve issued the RFPs … one for collection and one for materials recycling facility … both close in March. Our administration will review the proposals in March and award the contract in April. So we’re on track to start picking up your recyclables in July 2013.
The Regina we know is socially responsible and empowers its vulnerable.
Shirley Schneider was honoured with a Saskatchewan Order of Merit for a lifetime of contribution to Regina’s youth … and the Balfour Special Tutorial program, which she established to help pregnant students and teen mothers was renamed the Shirley Schneider Support Centre.
Shirley is an incredible role model for the many lives she’s touched through her work. The babies who were part of the first years of the tutorial program are now grown and building families of their own.
Many of those moms can likely attribute their success today directly to the impact Shirley had on their teen years.
The Regina Youth for Christ is building a new home to assist homeless youth … the ground was turned at an affordable housing project in Coronation Park … and Street Culture Kidz opened the province’s first youth shelter.
Although affordable housing is not part of our mandate … the City provides $1 million annually in tax exemptions to promote housing development through the Neighbourhood Building Blocks Housing Incentives Program.
Projects range from private single family homes in Regina’s inner city to major developments like Maple Leaf Estates near Regina General Hospital.
This year … the City will undertake a Regina Comprehensive Housing Strategy.
Mother Teresa Middle School opened … students and staff at Douglas Park and Arcola Community schools will soon be going to work and learn at new facilities … and the Prince of Wales Library reopened in its new location.
I know Regina’s future is in good hands when I hear about Regina students stepping up to help those less fortunate.
Henry Janzen School collected 1,600 pounds of food for the FCC Drive Away Hunger food drive to benefit the Regina & District Food Bank. The food bank feeds more than 11,000 people each month and more than half are children.
The University of Regina celebrated its 100th anniversary … and its largest enrolment. The First Nations University of Canada turned 35 and welcomed its new president … Doyle Anderson.
The Regina General Hospital’s Mosaic Heart Centre now has the most high-tech electrophysiology lab in the country … construction is underway on the STARS air ambulance service base at the Regina airport … and Regina EMS has a new state-of-the-art neonatal ambulance.
The Treaty 4 and Métis Nation flags now fly together with the Canada, Saskatchewan, Regina and Union Jack flags in front of City Hall. These historic flag raisings recognize and honour the contributions First Nations and Métis people have made … and continue to make in our community.
There are many, many more stories about the tremendous generosity and selfless acts of Regina’s citizens.
There are many, many more stories of creativity and imagination of Regina’s talented artists.
There are many, many more stories of ingenuity and resourcefulness of Regina’s environmental stewards.
And there are many, many more stories of the hard work and determination of Regina’s business leaders and workforce.
I am incredibly proud to be Mayor of Canada’s greatest city … proud to share my citizenship with people like you … and proud to have been witness to the tremendous renaissance Regina is experiencing.
Thank you and God bless.