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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

Regina #yqr #yqrcc Join undergraduate students from GES 346 Urban Planning to hear their project ideas for how to build a more attractive Regina. April 2, 10-11am in the Ad Hum Pit. All are welcome! This is a come & go event.

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Vote on Flores' amendment to introduce a tax subclass to deal w/ nuisance & derelict properties: Carried 6 to 5. Wait? What? Carried????!! Mayor, Froh, Turnbull, Radons, Flores & Zachidniak vote in favour. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 26/03/2026

Third reading of the 10% transit fare increase. There is no discussion at this point. Just a vote. It passes 6 to 5. Froh, Turnbull, Flores, Radons & Zachidniak vote against. You transit fares will now go up. #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 25/03/2026

Today, Regina City Council will debate whether to continue status quo with derelict and nuisance properties or whether to introduce a new property subclass. #yqrcc #yqr 1/

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

Pulled out this t-shirt for a seminar on cycling equity today. I’m missing biking (I generally don’t bike in winter) & I’m finding walking tough these days with all the ice. Tomorrow, Regina City Council will debate a 10% increase to public transit. #yqrcc #yqr

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

I'll be speaking today at #yqrcc on two important agenda items. First is the Growth Plan Review as part of the OCP. While I welcome a strategic sequencing of new neighbourhoods tied to infrastructure provision, I feel the update falls short on intensification. Here's my delegation:

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

Also, charging more for surface parking lots and derelict housing GENERATES MORE REVENUE that you can put toward covering the cost of whatever extra staff you need to enforce this. And maybe have some mad money left over for municipal improvements. #yqrcc /5

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 25/11/2025

The beauty of implementing a tax class where you can make derelict properties and surface parking lots more expensive to hold onto is it shifts the incentive structure we currently have & makes property owners WANT to develop they're land. Less wheedling necessary. /4 #yqrcc

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

Further to this thread, I now have an more complete list of organizations receiving Community Investment Grant Program Funding. It's 146 names long & it doesn't even include community associations. I'm going to post the list I have so far to bsky right now. Hold on to your hats. It's enormous… /1

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

The cuts in Appendix M13 are haunting. If this budget cut were to go ahead it would mean the loss of the downtown clean up team, heritage incentives/grants, the Cathedral Neighbourhood Centre, the Floral Conservatory, Neil Balkwill Arts Centre, the Massey Pool, outdoor rink programs. #yqrcc #yqr 1/

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 24/11/2025

The video of Rashovich asking admin to game out a 5% budget reduction is pretty long so I've added chapter titles to help with the jumping around. youtu.be/BXC7FNft0G4?... #yqrcc

youtu.be

Sep 16 2025 - Clr Rashovich Imagines A Diminished City

YouTube video by PD City Hall — Paul Dechene

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 10/10/2025

Calling all designers, planners and creative types! Today is the last day to register for the Finding Middle Ground Regina housing competition. You’ll have until November to finalize design. Open to all Canadians. #housing #HAF #designcompetition #infill www.regina.ca/home-propert...

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 09/10/2025

Vote for consent to move to third reading… (needs to be unanimous; if it fails, 3rd reading goes to next council meeting): Fails. Clrs Flores & Zachidniak vote against. So this delays passage of Safe Public Spaces bylaw to next council meeting. #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 25/09/2025

Tabling motion failed. Councillors were not given much time to think through the implications of this provincially drafted act. I'm worried about its adoption on our most vulnerable (as delegations eloquently noted). The unhoused in #yqr must negotiate yet another round of cruel regulations. #yqrcc

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 24/09/2025

Read the thread for context but I just need to stress that we discovered yesterday that, almost by accident, the City Of Regina is BUILDING A BASEBALL STADIUM ON THE YARDS. The project is in the budget. It's happening. You thought this was coming to council for approval? SURPRISE! #yqrcc

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Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

This data is public if you want to take a look yourself pikeplacemarket.community.highbond.com/document/025...

pikeplacemarket.community.highbond.com

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Gordon Padelford @gordonofseattle.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Great news: Sales at Pike Place Market were up 7.5% in August too! That's three months of solid data showing the pedestrianization pilot is good for business. Add your ideas for how to keep the momentum going into the fall: actionnetwork.org/letters/pike...

people sitting and walking on the street

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

I like doing positive, constructive stories about cool city stuff but I can see the podcast stats & our numbers go way up when council's embroiled in a controversy or we're cranking about something dumb. Well… anyway… this week's housing discussion w/ Bill Neher is one of those positive eps…

youtu.be

QCIB Sep 18 2025 - Train House, New Physics & Everywhere Football

YouTube video by PD City Hall — Paul Dechene

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

The arbitrary power afforded by this act will likely result in increased surveillance/harassment against non-white bodies in #yqr. This (unequal law enforcement) is what happened during COVID lockdowns across Cda when police were given similar types of power to "protect" public space. #yqrcc

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Breen Ouellette (he/him) @breeno.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

Among those harmed, Indigenous people will face the greatest criminalization. If anything has held true, it's that police will give a pass to non-Indigenous users of drugs. Especially white and white passing.

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 23/09/2025

A 🧵 on Saskatchewan’s Safe Public Spaces Act (Safety of Public Urban Spaces CR25-113) vote to take place at Regina's City Council meeting on Wednesday. I urge councillors to vote against this act. This act further criminalizes poverty & homelessness through the arbitrary power given to police 1/

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

While cities around the world are striving for green city status, Regina, SK is paving the way for grey city status. #yqrcc #yqr #parkinglots

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 20/08/2025

About thirty minutes in, you can listen to Kiké Dueck, who speaks eloquently and passionately about the need for the current city council to take action re: the Energy & Sustainability Framework. #yqrcc #yqr

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 02/06/2025

The Urban Planning GES 346 Report is now available! Wondering what a youth-friendly Downtown #yqr might look like? Have a read through four excellent undergraduate papers that engage with best practices from other municipalities & offer solutions tailored to Regina. www.uregina.ca/arts/geograp...

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Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

A reminder that Good Trouble is currently trying to purchase a unused building for $1 so that they can deliver food to vulnerable people. This request also comes a few weeks after the city council voted to declare a homelessness crisis in the city.

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 10/04/2025

Bezo’s questioning during the motion for a Food Security Initiative was inappropriate. Shout out to Good Trouble Network for the important work they do in our community to address a range of issues including houselessness & food insecurity. They are on the ground making tangible change. #yqrcc 1/

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 09/04/2025

Great to hear that Scarth Street Mall in Regina will remain a pedestrian-only public space! I couldn't be at the meeting today so submitted a communication alongside @whitneyblaisdell.bsky.social on the importance of this space. I look forward to upcoming plans for future activation! #yqrcc #yqr

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 01/04/2025

I joined Adam Hunter today on CBC Morning Edition to discuss third places & their role in combating social isolation. With multiple crises at play, it's more important than ever to protect & create democratic spaces of exchange & communities of care. @uregina.bsky.social www.cbc.ca/listen/live-...

cbc.ca

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Paul Dechene @pauldechene.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

On Regina scoring future Housing Accelerator money if Carney's Libs win... worth nothing that 8 days ago the feds gave out $74mil in HAF bonuses to the 27 cities that performed best on meeting their housing goals and Regina DID NOT MAKE THE LIST. /1 #yqrcc

cmhc-schl.gc.ca

Government of Canada awards $74 million to top-performing Housing Accelerator Fund communities

Top-performing Housing Accelerator Fund communities will receive additional funding as part of the first round of the program.

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

@geographers.bsky.social #AAG Detroit was a space for reflection, a crossing of physical/theoretical borders. Delighted to receive the “Pub” award for excellence in scholarship @winebeerspiritsaag.bsky.social speciality group for my article on Planning for Craft Breweries. @uregina.bsky.social

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Larissa Kurz @larissakurz.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

NEW: I've started keeping a tally of some of the ways Regina city councillors are attempting to alter the city's budget on the floor of the meeting — but failing — b/c they're generating some interesting debate this week. Stay tuned, as there's likely more to come. #yqrcc #yqr

tinyurl.com

On the cutting-room floor: Motions that missed during Regina’s 2025 budget talks

Here’s a roundup of the motions that ultimately died on the floor of Henry Baker Hall this week, during Regina's 2025 budget deliberations.

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Alexander Quon @alexanderquon.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

This is the issue the cost conscious councillors have to grapple with. Cutting DEI saves you nickels on the dollar but if you want serious reduction of mill rate increase then you will need to deal with the police or capital budget.

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 19/03/2025

Zachidniak: I first want to clarify that I did NOT campaign on reducing taxes & so I think it would be really helpful if people spoke about themselves & what they campaigned on instead of making statements about what all of council did. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 18/03/2025

Where does $100 in municipal taxes go… CFO: When we survey residents on how they want their property taxes spent, this matches that. #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Catching up on yesterday’s meeting of #yqrcc. There was a reconsideration motion for land on Queen St (which was voted down). The land in question is indicated on the first map (red box). I note the range in the NEF 25 zone (which is what ultimately led to half of council voting this down) #yqr 1/

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

In #yqr with #yqrcc it's one step forward two steps back. Yesterday, they voted down rental housing units (compliant with HAF $35M) b/c of proximity to airport (not an issue). In Jan. they moved forward on a report to tax underutilized lands (much needed to > housing). leaderpost.com/news/local-n...

leaderpost.com

City of Regina to consider upping taxes on derelict houses, downtown parking lots

In an effort to encourage development over deterioration, the city is looking at increasing taxes on derelict properties.

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Jon Lorenc @jonathanlorenc.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

My letter to Councilor David Froh regarding his vote against apartments in Albert Park #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 06/02/2025

Community Safety & Well Being Plan needs full support to address safety/crime differently (esp. after vote to dissolve Community & Social Impact Regina). Today, I encountered this video on campus. I'm lost for words. RPS is asking for a 2.25% increase this year. Is this approach working? #yqr #yqrcc

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Amin Asfari @aminasfari.bsky.social · 04/02/2025

Colleagues in Regina, SK, please consider joining me as I host @crimdocbrown.bsky.social for the endowed LFS lecture at the @uregina.bsky.social later this month. As a prominent policing scholar, Dr. Brown will discuss the impact of Race on policing (broadly). See you there! RSVP now.

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

On discussion of potential 8.5% mill rate in #yqrcc. Safety/crime among priorities from public survey. Police asking for increase of 6.9million (2.25%) on mill rate. Reminder that policing doesn’t address the systemic/structural conditions that lead to crime. #yqr

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

Deadline for applications is Feb 17. Reposting as there are a lot of new people on this site. Tenure track position in Climate & Environmental Change. Geography & Environmental Studies at U of Regina. Please share widely among your networks. #cangeog #geography #climate

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Glad to see the fare free pilot for a Regina high school motion pass. Hopefully this pilot allows the city to extend this to all 18 and under in due course! #yqr #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 30/01/2025

Nuisance & Underutilized Properties motion passes! Incentives haven’t worked to encourage different behaviour for owners of problem properties & surface parking lots. This places the “cost” of these spaces (environmental, social, economic) more squarely on the property owner. #yqr #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Stevens: I value people in homes over parking. #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Stevens: Most important issue is accessibility, walkability, get people developing. You're tapping into how to make spaces safe and inviting for all people. #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Listening to Andrew Stevens on the Nuisance and Underutilized land motion - “Stop making it so agreeable to do nothing with land”. This motion is a great first step in creating a vibrant core #yqr #yqrcc

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PD City Hall (Paul Dechene) @pdcityhall.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Delegation is former councillor Andrew Stevens. He's speaking on the Nuisance & Underutilized Property motion which he advanced before election. Says it represents 8 years of work, speaking w/ community & admin. #yqrcc

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Vanessa Mathews @vanessamathews.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

There are some great housing related motions coming before #yqrcc today. Nuisance & Underutilized Properties (MN24-12), Regina Housing Needs Assessment (CR25-5), 2025 Housing Incentives Policy Pilots & Revisions (CR25-6), Office to Residential Incentive Pilot (CR25-7). #yqr

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